Khmer keyboard layout: Bringing Cambodia's vulnerable online

A Khmer keyboard which follows the logic of the language to simplify typing. The current keyboard is slow to use, as Khmer has 120 characters, so not many Cambodians type Khmer. As Cambodia ranks 69/72 countries for English literacy, this is critical, as vulnerable Cambodians are unable to access knowledge.

Cambodia ranks 69 out of 72 countries for English literacy. The Khmer language has the longest alphabet in the world, therefore, it is slow and difficult to type. As a result, educated Cambodians with access to information that could benefit their communities prefer to write in English. As a result, the most vulnerable Cambodians, with no to little English proficiency, are isolated from information, especially females, ethnic minorities, remote communities and people with disabilities, due to disparity in literacy rates. The current layout uses the shift key roughly 20% of the time, the new layout reduces that to 6%.

Learning English (main information language) requires resources, access to education and networks which the most vulnerable in Cambodia do not have access to. We aim to increase the use of, and information in, Khmer. The difficulty in typing Khmer decreases the use of the language.

We will:

1) Refine keyboard technology to make typing easier

2) Typing tutorials to reduce barrier to using keyboard

3) Typing competitions and promotions to increase value of Khmer

4) Partner with Education institutions to raise profile of Khmer

5) Target Cambodian youth, as we are youth, and youth are the change agents/early adopters.

We aim to provide Cambodia's most vulnerable (English illiterate) a platform to participate in the digital sphere and access information to improve their livelihoods, by increasing the use&value of the Khmer language. We aim to change the habits of young Cambodians, as 65.3% of Cambodians are under the age of thirty and are the change makers of today.

 96% of Cambodians currently own a phone, however many are isolated due to the lack of use of Khmer- Cambodia is 69/72 countries in English proficiency.

The keyboard will be available on iOS/android and computers.

Track downloads in the app store - 15,000 people download the Khmerism keyboard on the app store/apple store

We will track high level, high engagement stakeholders - We are able to engage 6 education institutions and relevant government ministries to actively promote and support our cause

There is currently a Khmer keyboard layout available, however: 

1) It requires 3 keyboards to fit all the keys, this layout requires 2- and has been programmed to predict which characters fit together

2) It uses shift 14% more than this layout

3) It is 4 times slower than this keyboard to use (after practice)

4) The previous layout was based on the English keyboard sounds, which do not correspond to the Khmer ones, this keyboard relies on an in-depth study of Khmer linguistic

This solution is designed by me, a Cambodian who found typing Khmer difficuly, like my friends around me. I have taken endless feedback from peers and language experts, for a truly Cambodian centric solution. I want to build up the use of Khmer in Cambodia, to serve vulnerable communities, especially to allow Cambodian youth to self-study and live a life of opportunity, free from poverty. 

On the app store or apple store, and on the internet- like where the majority of Cambodians download the currently available Khmer unicode. 

We aim to subsidise the fees for youth by partnering with NGOs, large innovative private businesses, education institutions and government.

We will: 

1) Provide for-cost (affordable) training programs for wealthier Cambodian youth in engineering and professional skills to subsidise the project costs

2) Partner with NGOs, government, innovative private businesses and government groups, and request funding and in kind technical or promotion/policy assistance 

3) We will pursue proposals in order to sustain future, and invest smartly in excess funds/our personal savings

1) Limited access to technical information/courses/mentors, for some software development sections 

2) Access to technical mentors to support

3) Access to funds to expand project team- currently 2 main members, with students volunteers helping, while improving their professional/IT skills (part time, while studying full time)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oQJQbUeeH7NEQhzjEJLOGhWLBeEX9vIPm5OSESKX8Ro/edit?usp=sharing

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL_dCH28DUQ_SA6szutY93g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3ytqC58GZU

We have come this far with minimal assistance and guidance, relying on the network of innovators in Cambodia. We would greatly benefit from the great minds in the SOLVE community- we want to bring what we learn back to the new generation in Cambodia, to build our country! We want to equip Cambodians to access information and create their own solutions to problems! Please help us! :)

Engineers without Borders Australia in Cambodia

All others are mentors in personal networks

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