The Hewlett-Packard (HP) Labs has introduced a gesture-based keyboard in India. The technology allows the recording and storage of the Indian languages that are derived from Devanagari and Tamil scripts directly on the computer. Analysts believe that this technology will enable people without prior knowledge of English or typing to use computers easily. It can surely benefit more than 1.5 billion non-English-speaking people, including Indians, Nepalese, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis and other phonetic-script users.

 

This pen-based technology consists of a digitised pen and a touch-sensitive pad packaged with handwriting-recognition software. It allows users to select Hindi script on the digitised pad that transmits them to a computer screen. The pen can also be used as a scanner to capture signatures, pictures and other visual elements. It can run on Windows XP, Linux and Office 2002 or later.

 

The technology was developed at the company’s Bangalore research laboratories by a team of about 15 engineers. HP Labs India was established in Bangalore four years ago and has been working on technologies uniquely designed to fit the needs of Indian society. Dick Lampman, a senior researcher with the company, stated that the technology would help HP to get access to a billion customers.

 

However, it is interesting to note that the product was demonstrated shortly after HP disbanded the Emerging Markets Solutions Group, which was created technology for emerging nations such as India, China and Africa.

 

HP spends around $3.5 billion on research and development annually and around five per cent of that amount is allotted to research for products like gesture-based keyboard. Nonetheless, industry analysts believe that the amount spent on innovating such products is only a fraction of the company’s budget.

 

The device is likely to be manufactured and distributed by a third party. The product will be available in the market by the end of this month at an estimated price
of Rs 2,000.