Mahiti launches 'Bangla Bola' eSpeak (Bengali Speaking eSpeak)
Summary: Inclusion of Bengali in eSpeak - Text to Speech Software (Open Source)– Enabling the visually impaired to access information through technology
In the process of adding a few Indian languages to eSpeak, we decided to include Bengali, a language that witnesses about 250 million total speakers. The base for the language, as for most of the Indian languages is Hindi. The pronunciation rules and the inherent vowels however have been modified to adopt the typical pronunciation of Bengali words. Inclusion of Bengali in eSpeak There is a detailed process on eSpeak to add new languages ...
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Reading without Seeing: Mahiti's work on eSpeak
Summary: Espeak - Text to Speech Software (Open Source)– Enabling the visually impaired to access information through technology
About Text to Speech Software (TTS) People who are literate and can see, are blessed with the ability to read. To them information of any kind, be it political, social, or even about entertainment are easily available through various forms of media. Those who are challenged with visual impairment are not so lucky to be able to read a newspaper, magazine or a blog post. They have to use their hearing ability to read, understand and comprehend. This ...
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IVR SMS platform enables efficient collection and dissemination of data
Summary: When a system like IVR (Integrated Voice Response) SMS system is made accessible to the masses, it leads to quick deployments and can be easily customised to the local needs.
My journey with Mahiti began at the time of its inception. I currently head the technology department of Mahiti. My core work area includes working on conceptualising the IVR (Integrated Voice ...
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The Magic Slate
Summary: Teaching leaders of women collectives in sex work to use ICT
Why this is important and you should support it too! Our experience of training grassroots activists to use technology and the internet has always proven that access to information and means to connect to like-minded people and the world is powerful. Though it may not always be as earth shattering as an Arab Spring, it can be a catalyst to change. Says Sumathi, a dalit rights activist, “I used to be scared to use the computer... this ...
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Celebrating Mahiti Times!
Summary: Mahiti team got together at Visthar, Bangalore for the annual retreat
27th July: We sang and danced together! We even played sports in the playground! It was indeed a memorable day for all of us. We began the day with discussing the roadmap and future course of action of Mahiti. The day was action packed with numerous group activities. Starting from dumb charades, to role plays, sports and dancing, we were on a roller coaster ride. Visthar is a non-profit organisation, working with women, children and other marginalised ...
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A Farm Ground for the Groundnut Farmers
Summary: Developing commodity cooperatives requires large-scale database management and analysis for which MIS has proved to be an appropriate tool.
Sustainable Agriculture, as we all know goes hand in hand with nature, along with its available resources and human habitation, which depends on it for the day-to-day living. But what happens when nature is not so generous and creates obstacles where one struggles very hard to produce a crop out of dry hard soil... that is when sustainability becomes equivalent to survival. I have seen this struggle as well as the spirit to move on, in Anantapur. I ...
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