Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Oct 6: A new keyboard that allows users to type directly in the Tulu script has been launched for Android smartphones, marking another significant step toward bringing the coastal Karnataka language into the digital space.
Named 'Kural Tulu Touch', the keyboard was developed by software developers Harshith Devadiga and Chaithra Poojary. It was officially launched during the Tulunada Janapada Sambhrama organised by the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy in Bengaluru recently.
The keyboard is currently available to Android users via the 'Baravu Saravu' app. Once enabled through the "New Keyboard" option, users can type in the Tulu script across various applications, including WhatsApp, switch between Tulu and other keyboards, and even convert their typed text into shareable stickers for digital chats.
Bringing Tulu script to everyday communication
Designed with a familiar mobile keyboard layout, Kural Tulu Touch simplifies typing in the Tulu script. It supports Tulu letters, numbers, gunithakshara, and votthakshara, allowing users to accurately form words and combinations required by the script.
According to the developers, the goal was to make the Tulu script practical for everyday digital conversations rather than confining it strictly to educational or archival purposes. The team completed the keyboard's development in about two weeks, utilizing Flutter for the application and Firebase for the backend.
The project is an extension of a Tulu learning application the team built approximately three years ago. Harshith Devadiga noted that one of the main technical challenges was accurately mapping the Tulu font to the keyboard layout, which is crucial for users to correctly identify and type characters on a small screen.
Sharath Kodavoor, a founding member of Jai Tulunad, stated that the initiative aims to bring the CIIL-approved Tulu script into the digital realm, emphasizing that correct character mapping is essential to prevent user confusion.
A comprehensive learning platform
Beyond the keyboard, the Baravu Saravu app serves as a comprehensive learning resource. It features a Tulu dictionary, basic sentences, audio-based learning materials, and heritage photographs to provide cultural context. Users can also suggest new words for the dictionary, which are reviewed before being added.
Banashri Avinash, who contributed Tulu-script learning content and videos to the app, highlighted that the platform offers practical tools for those interested in learning and practising the traditional script.
Building on Unicode recognition
The launch of the keyboard capitalizes on the recent inclusion of the Tulu-Tigalari script in the Unicode Standard. In 2024, the Unicode Consortium added 80 Tulu characters in Unicode 16, establishing the technical foundation needed for digital platforms to support the script and for developers to build fonts and keyboards.
This technological advancement—achieved through years of dedication by Tulu scholars and organisations like the Tulu Academy—allows young people, who primarily communicate via smartphones, to use their traditional script instead of relying on Kannada, English, or Latin transliteration.
While the Kural Tulu Touch keyboard is currently exclusive to Android platforms, the developers plan to release an iOS version in the future to cater to Apple device users.