1. Project proposal for standardization of Ethiopic script encoding, Keyboard layout and transliteration to Latin
Dawit Bekele
Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Addis Ababa University
Ethiopian Computer Standards Association
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2. Introduction
ICT brings new hopes for Ethiopia and the developing world
Improves the efficiency of the administration and the working force in general
Brings information to the users at a small cost and at a high speed
Breaks the distance barrier that is currently one of the major hindrance for development …
However, currently the pace of computerization and the popularization of ICT is slow (even though computers are being imported in mass)

3. Introduction . . .
One of the major reasons for the relatively slow computerization and popularization of ICT is the lack of standards for the Ethiopic script that makes information interchange in local languages very difficult
Unless this serious problem is solved no breakthrough in the ICT area is possible
The objective of today’s meeting is to initiate a project for the development of Ethiopic standards

4. Ethiopic and ICT
Ethiopic is the script used by many Ethiopian and Eritrean languages (Amharic, Tigrinia, …)
Currently, Ethiopic can be used with ICTs but:
There is no compatibility between products (ex: a text written using one software is not readable with another)
Communication of Ethiopic text is difficult since the sender and the recipient must have the same fonts
For the above reasons, computerization of government organizations, the use of computers in schools , popularization of ICT is difficult

5. Solution for the problems
It has been agreed that standards are the only solutions for these problems
Why standards?
Standards provide industry and users with:
The framework of economies of design
Greater products and service quality
More inter-operability
Better production and delivery efficiency

6. Solution for the problems …
Many standards can be suggested but the Ethiopian Computer Standards Association has proposed the following four standards:
Character set definition
Since there was no official list of Ethiopic characters different software products use different sets
Encoding system
There are more than 30 different encoding systems.
Incompatibility ex:
Power Geez AlxEthiopian

7. Solution for the problems …
Keyboard layout
There are as many keyboard layouts as the encoding systems
Transliteration to Latin
Everybody creates his/her transliteration method
Ex: Berhanu, Birhanu, Berhanou, Birhanu, Brhanu, Brhanou

8. Past and current standardization efforts
At National level
ECOSA made a proposal for the development of the 4 Ethiopic Standards to the Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia(QSAE) two years ago; the proposal is accepted
The first standard on the definition of the character set has been approved by the QSAE
At international level
ISO and UNICODE included Ethiopic in UNICODE 3.0

9. Problem in the standardization works
The pace is very slow: It took 4 years for QSAE/ECOSA to get one standard
The need is urgent (there are very large projects that will not be successful if these and other standards are not developed)

10. Project proposal Development objectives
To create an environment that Enables:
interpretability of Ethiopic based software products
easy communication using Ethiopic over a LAN or WAN
To Foster the development of the Ethiopian software industry by limiting the redundant work of the developers and facilitating reuse and integration of the software products
To foster the effective computerization of government and private organizations for better overall efficiency

11. Project proposal … Specific objectives proposal
To produce first draft national standards for:
-         Ethiopic characters Encoding
-         Ethiopic Key board Layout
-         Ethiopic / Latin transliteration
To develop subsequent draft documents up to the final document following the national standardization procedures

12. Project proposal …. Methodology
Review of existing local and international products, systems and standards
Research on linguistic properties of Ethiopic and the languages that use it
Interview of users and software developers
Workshop involving all stakeholders
Collection of public comments by distributing the draft document

13. Project proposal …. Staffing
The consultant and the team leaders will be selected from highest experts within and outside the country
QSAE will take the coordination of the secretarial service and should provide the offices and meeting rooms for the project members.
Project
Leader
Secretarial
Service coordinator
Encoding sub-
project team leader
Key board sub-
project team leader leader
Transliteration sub-
project leader
ICT
Consultant
Linguist

14. Project proposal …. Financial requirements (preliminary version) #
Title of Expense
Total cost (Birr) 1
Consultants
500,000 2
Research assistants
60,000 3
Communication (Internet, telephone)
20,000 4
Travel expenses 5
Miscellaneous (5%)
30,000
Total
630,000

15. Conclusion
This project deals with issues that are vital for the development of ICT in the country
It also has a wider impact since other African countries may learn from the Ethiopian experience
This project will be prepared in consultation with the various stake holders in order to eliminate redundant work and maximize efficiency
Thank you