Lucknow software firm sees prospect in new package

The year 2004 may turn out to be a breakthrough year for Prologix, a Lucknow-based software development company. Its text-to-speech Hindi software "Vachak" is being widely sought by a diverse range of users.

Microsoft was its first user. The firm used it for traffic regulation at the ardha kumbha mela held in Hardwar in the beginning of the year. "Twelve of our systems were deployed, and these gave live traffic update," said IIT Kanpur alumnus Vibhu Agarwal, managing director and a promoter of the firm.

Prologix has some 25 professionals, all engineers.

The company is on the panel of Microsoft as an independent software vendor.

"However, our target is the telecom firms with the interactive voice response system," says Agarwal. A telecom company that wants to offer railway reservation details on mobile phones can use this software.

By dialling a number, all details will be available and the booking can be done through credit card. Vachak has been selected by this telecom company. Approval from the Railways is awaited.

Another area that is opening up options for Vachak is automobiles. Agarwal gave the example of Scorpio, where a tape-recorded voice welcomes whoever opens the door. With the help of Vachak a lot more facilities can be created, particularly in traffic jams.

The National Association of the Blind, an organisation run by about 10"�15 blind professionals, requires a screen reader. The text will be read out using Vaachak. The programmes also are prepared by blind people.

This segment internationally is dominated by Jaws, a US company, whose systems cost about Rs 40,000"�50,000. Its cheaper Indian version will be ready by the end of the year and it will be using the Prologix-developed text-to-speech Hindi software. Each package will cost about Rs 2,500.

Someday, every blind person will carry a copy of the system, hopes Agarwal. Meanwhile, the company has developed basic building blocks for seven other Indian languages. If there are firm orders, the system can be delivered in any language, Agarwal says.

Similarly, the Election Commission can inform voters, with the help of Vachak, whether their names are there on the roll, the location of the booth, etc.