Google has found a new tutor to help your child read.
The tech giant on Wednesday unveiled an app called ‘Bolo’ to help primary grade children improve their Hindi and English reading skills.
Launched in India first, the application features an animated character ‘Diya’ who helps the children read aloud stories in English and Hindi. ‘Diya’ will laud the children when they read it out correctly saying ‘Shabash’
Google has said that with the help of ASER, a non-profit centre, they have been piloting ‘Bolo’ across 200 villages in Uttar Pradesh.
With the app, they claimed, 64% of children showed an improvement in reading proficiency in just three months.
Google added that the move “will contribute in shaping the future of India’s young learners & readers.” According to ASER report 2018, only half of the students enrolled in the 5th standard in rural India can confidently read textbooks for Class 2.
Social media has hailed this new application with many requesting for its regional versions.
Great! @google launches #bolo app. I hope you guys will come out with #Telugu and other regional languages. I believe it would make a huge impact in rural children’s lives. Kudos.
— Vishnu Manchu (@iVishnuManchu) March 6, 2019
@Google thanks Google.#bolo #boloapp
My nephew is in love with his new app.#jee_bhar_k_bolo…
We love you @Google pic.twitter.com/S1sJv8FhBA— JAYESH… (@JAYESHTIWARI) March 6, 2019
According to Google, the app has been designed in a way that all personal information stays on the device itself.
“Nothing is ever sent to Google through the app – not even the voice samples,” Nitin Kashyap, Product Manager, Google India, told IANS. The app will be available in all Android smartphones having Android 4.4 (Kit Kat) and higher versions.
The free app uses speech recognition, and text- to speech technology. The app has 50 stories in Hindi and 40 in English. To make it more interactive they have also added the word games, in-app rewards, and badges.
