Multilingual touchscreen directory launched
INNOVATION: The first ever multilingual touchscreen directory will be launched on the Bellville Campus on Friday
Wednesday, 27 September 2017
The Language Working Group, together with the Institutional Language Unit, will be launching the first ever multilingual touchscreen directory on the Bellville Campus.
The directory was designed and developed by iPoint, a company which specialises in developing touchscreen directories for shopping malls across South Africa.
“The touchscreen earmarked for the engineering building appears to have the same features as those one would find in malls but offers much more than just directions,” says Theodore Rodrigues, the Acting Institutional Language Co-ordinator at CPUT.
This device promotes multilingualism by allowing end-users to engage with the device in their home language from its welcome screen.
Rodrigues adds that after the end-user decided on a preferred language, they are now enabled to continue their search in that language. In addition, the device also acts as a ‘language teacher’ by providing users with equivalents of certain words in various languages. This intelligent device currently provides service in the following languages: Afrikaans, English, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sesotho.
“To fully embrace the concept of inclusivity within a multilingual context other languages are also considered for the future,” says Rodrigues.
“The possibilities of such an innovation are endless, and its launch should be celebrated as a step in the right direction to promote the human linguistic rights of all South Africans.”
The procurement of the directory is part of a multilingual signage project which aims to have signage on all of the university’s campuses translated into the province’s official languages. This launch will take place from 12h00 on the 29th of September.
Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: butanak@cput.ac.za
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