Translation Commons has assembled a group of volunteers from industry and academia to assist Indigenous communities
to digitize their language. One of the first necessary steps in language digitization is to have a keyboard so that
users can enter the characters and symbols used in their language.
Supporting Indigenous Communities Through Digital Language Tools
This project is a collaboration with individual Indigenous communities that want their language digitized
and our experts in the design and implementation of virtual keyboards. It is a free service that offers communities:
Keyboard design and layouts for desktop, mobile and other devices
Keyboard implementation
Keyboard publication for easy access
User documentation
Training and workshops for communities that prefer to do their own design and implementation
The keyboards we develop are generally open source; however, for communities that are concerned about cultural
appropriation or other issues, we can accommodate their privacy. Translation Commons intends to eventually
develop a streamlined and scalable framework to assist communities in the design, development and adoption
of keyboards for their languages.
Thanks to the availability of a digital keyboard in their language, Indigenous communities are able to access digital
information, document their language with all its nuances, share personal and collective stories, and preserve
the cultures and histories of their communities.
Learn more about how a keyboard in one’s own language can impact an Indigenous community.
Education
To learn more about creating digital keyboards, we invite you to review the Keyboard Creation Tutorial Videos
on our YouTube channel.
