Soon, voice-activated technology for all

Kolkata: State Information Technology & Electronics department (IT&E) is trying to develop a voice-activated technology, which can be interpreted easily even by the economically weaker sections of society.

"The service of app-based technology can be availed only in case a person has a smartphone. However, if you need the service of a toto, a rickshaw or a phucka seller at your doorstep, you cannot contact them like incase of the app cabs or the food delivery apps. We are trying to find out means by which voice activated Artificial Intelligence (AI) related commands and devices will enable the rickshaw puller, a toto driver or the phucka seller understand your command language," state Additional Chief Secretary IT & E, Debashis Sen said addressing Digital Success Summit organised by a leading digital service company.

The effort is a part of the state's strategy of 'being inclusive' in the use of technology, enabling all the sections of society to reap benefits.

In a message to the leading technology and marketing services company across the country participating in the summit, Sen said: "For the corporate world, the success may mean making a hefty profit but for our government, the real success lies in the spread of technology for the benefit of every single people and we are committed to it," Sen added.

According to Sen, it is only because of language affinity that a lot of investment from Taiwan is going to China. "If we can come up with a solution like automatic audio translation of language, then a lot of investment from Asian and South Western countries can be attracted to Bengal," he maintained. It may be mentioned that Bengalathon 2018 that has been recently launched by state IT minister Bratya Basu is also inviting software-based solutions from students, technical professionals and

common citizens,