Coolphabets app uses AI to teach Indian languages to children abroad
Since 2016, Kollu Ranjit, a software engineer from Vijayawada now settled in the United States, and his friend Venkat have been working on a single goal: making language learning easier for children living outside their native state or country. Their efforts culminated in the creation of 'Coolphabets', an app designed by the duo with a small team.
Ranjit, whose father was a Telugu journalist, moved to the US in the 1990s and now works at Dell Technologies in Boston. He says writing is a dying art and intrinsic to Indian languages and culture. Many children living outside their home states or abroad gradually lose touch with the script of their mother tongues.
The app works offline and helps users build foundational language skills in a fun way. It is designed for children aged three to ten but can be used by anyone learning a new language. The idea was conceived in 2016, but development stalled due to technological limitations. Recent advances in artificial intelligence provided the missing piece.
AI helps trace a child's strokes, scores handwriting on the device, and reads every letter back in a native Indian voice. The app includes 45 games to make learning easier. Currently available on iPhone and iPad, it supports Telugu, Hindi, and Marathi. An Android version and support for all major Indian languages are planned. The app complies with the US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
Ranjit is in Vijayawada discussing with the Andhra Pradesh government to provide the app free to government schools on a subscription model.
