Ivory Tower: GNDU Prof develops bilingual Gurmukhi OCR App

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has achieved a remarkable milestone in digital language innovation with the launch of a Bilingual Mobile OCR App designed for fast and accurate recognition of Gurmukhi and English text.

The application, developed by Dr Pushpinder Singh, currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science, Guru Nanak Dev University, enables the conversion of printed Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and English text into editable digital text, a crucial and significant development for non-English speakers in the digital ecosystem. This is especially beneficial for visually impaired users through integration with Text-to-Speech and Braille systems. The core development of this app was carried out during Dr Pushpinder's PhD research at Punjabi University, Patiala. The project is launched under the Bhashini Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.

A special inauguration ceremony for the app was held recently at Punjabi University, Patiala, during which three major accessibility applications for the visually impaired were introduced - Drishti Library, Drishti Dot, and the Bilingual Gurmukhi OCR app developed by Dr Singh. These applications aim to enhance language accessibility through advanced digital tech.

Dr Pushpinder Singh said that this AI-based language model and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) app allows users to convert printed Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and English text from books, documents and images into editable digital text, enabling access for students, researchers, media professionals, government departments and especially for visually impaired users to access vast printed information, through future integration with Text-to-Speech and Braille systems. "It is an inclusive application that will enable those earlier with limited access, to engage with e-governance services, government applications and even archives. It is also a significant step towards making Indian languages technology accessible and inclusive," he said.

Vice-chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh congratulated Dr Pushpinder Singh for his significant technological achievement that brings pride to the university. He stated that such initiatives play a vital role in strengthening Punjabi language technologies and promoting inclusivity in the digital era.

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