Anhitz, to investigate linguistic technologies in Basque

2007/04/01 Aztiria Urtaran, Josu - Adimen Artifiziala Hizkuntzan Unitateko koordinatzailea Elhuyar Fundazioa Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Elhuyarren berriak

In the Knowledge and Information Society, multilingualism is increasingly important. And language technologies have a lot to do with developing the tools that need to be used for this.

However, these types of tools are primarily designed to work in English, so other language communities, especially small ones, should make a special effort. Basque, for example.

On the other hand, the objective is that communication between people and machines, in addition to in natural language, is done in an intuitive and enjoyable way. This is a great scientific-technological challenge, since it involves the integration of all aspects of language: voice, text and image.

The AnHitz project was created with the aim of promoting research and development in linguistic technologies in Basque, so that interaction between people and devices and knowledge management is natural, intuitive and enjoyable. The lines of research defined in the project are:

· Textual communication: understanding natural language, linguistic creation and advanced extraction of information.

· Development of knowledge management systems: question-response systems, information search and advanced information extraction.

· Dialogue systems: knowledge and creation of emotions, dialogue rules and voice integration in advanced devices.

· Image communication with the user: lip movement, language for the disabled.

· Machine translation: applicable to user-related interaction modules and knowledge management.

In addition to the lines of research, AnHitz has other general objectives.

On the one hand, take decisive steps to develop and stabilize the language industry, adapting research results and devices to market needs and making commercialization of products viable. On the other hand, the creation of new technology-based companies and the stability of those already created. Finally, the generation of knowledge through the formation of a solid research team that responds with autonomy to the challenges and objectives of R&D&i in this strategic line.

The project has a duration of 30 months and is composed of: the research centers VICOMTech and Robotiker, the groups IXA and Aholkularitza of the UPV and the Elhuyar Foundation. The Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of the Basque Government has declared the project as a line of research of strategic interest that will collaborate through the Etortek program.