Tamil Internet Browser Launched

Techtree.com India > News > Software > Tamil Internet Browser Launched: "A Tamil internet browser, "Valaiyodi," that promises to help rural people understand the hundreds of millions of Web pages, has been developed by R. Duraipandian, software engineer, Panacea Dream Weavers Software (Chennai).

Distributed free-of-cost, "Valaiyodi" is designed to translate English data on Web sites into Tamil. However Duraipandian warns that the translation would be only 70 percent accurate, and that his company is in the process of making the browser more accurate.

During the launch of this freeware, Duraipandian said that any software related to a language should not be commercialized, and hence he was not charging for even the CD loaded with the software. Duraipandian expressed the view that technology should reach every nook and corner of the country, at an affordable cost and in the local language.

The free CD distributed by Panacea also contained other software; including Tamil word processor R4U, Tamil documentation software Valluvan, Tamil to Tamil dictionary Pulavan, English to Tamil dictionary Paalam, Tamil text editor Olai, compilation of 250 Tamil fonts Pathippu, Tamil address book Mugavari, accounting software Selvam, and management software Sangam Pro. Apparently a team of software engineers has created these software, after studying the needs of SHGs, accountants and others.

At the launch of "Valaiyodi," S. Rethinavelu, president, Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, offered help in promoting the effort; while N. Nanmaran, MLA, Madurai East, assured that he would bring the initiative to the notice of the government and the concerned minister"