Vernacular language software need tech boost to bring more users on board

There are concerns that little or no standardisation has taken place to ease access for new-to-internet and vernacular users, and digital platforms continue to rely on made-for-English user formats

Initiatives like Digital India have provided technology platforms with a great incentive to celebrate Indian language scripts, keyboard and input formats as they welcome the next 500 million internet users on board. However, there are concerns that little or no standardisation has taken place to ease access for new-to-internet and vernacular users, and digital platforms continue to rely on made-for-English-speaking user formats and script.
 
According to a report by research and consulting firm RedSeer, about 80 per cent of India’s digitally monetisable users prefer their content to come in vernacular languages, not English. Vernacular monetisable Internet users have three