Giving Language a Voice Through AI | Sana Shams | TEDxSICAS DHA Youth

Quick Overview

Dr. Sana Shams details her extensive work in Local Language Computing (LLC) research in Pakistan, emphasizing that access to information in one's mother tongue is a fundamental human right, a conviction that drove her career trajectory from 2003 onwards, culminating in projects like creating an Urdu Screen Reader and fostering local language technology development.

Key Points: Access to information in one's mother tongue is a fundamental human right, a principle that has guided Dr. Shams' work since 2003. Dr. Shams' career trajectory was significantly shaped by this belief, leading her to focus on Local Language Computing (LLC) research in Pakistan. The PAN Localization project, funded by IDRC Canada, involved 21 organizations across 11 South/Southeast Asian countries, including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of China. The PAN Localization project focused on developing language technologies for local languages, exemplified by creating an Urdu Screen Reader for visually impaired users. The core objective of the PAN projects was building capacity and creating tools for local languages, ensuring digital accessibility and socio-economic benefits. Recent work includes developing Speech-Based Citizen Services platforms, which feature Urdu voice integration and localized content, often contrasting with English-only interfaces.

Context: Dr. Sana Shams, a computer scientist, presents her journey and research in Local Language Computing (LLC), specifically focusing on the need to develop digital tools and technologies that support the numerous local languages spoken in Pakistan and the broader South/Southeast Asian region. She frames this work not as a luxury but as a basic human right, highlighting the digital divide caused by the dominance of English in technology interfaces.

Detailed Analysis

Dr. Sana Shams begins by stating her core belief that access to information in one's mother tongue is a fundamental human right, a realization that started around 2003 and profoundly shaped her career trajectory. She recounts that at that time, computing infrastructure and tools for local languages in Pakistan were very rudimentary, often lacking basic features like spell checkers or even appropriate fonts. Her early work involved pioneering the establishment of the first Language Research Center at FAST-NUCES Lahore. A significant part of her work involved the PAN Localization project, funded by IDRC Canada, which spanned 11 countries in South and Southeast Asia (including Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of China) and involved 21 organizations. This multi-year project focused on building capacity and developing language technologies for local languages, aiming to create socio-economic benefits. One key outcome mentioned was the development of an Urdu Screen Reader to provide accessibility and independence for the visually impaired community. She notes that even today, many digital systems default to English interfaces, creating a language barrier. Her recent work involves Speech-Based Citizen Services, where they are building Urdu voice-integrated language models to provide essential services directly to local populations, ensuring that technology serves the people in the languages they speak, rather than forcing them to adapt to English.