For languages written in unique scripts, being added to the Unicode standard is only the beginning. SILICON* aims to accelerate the next steps: font and keyboard design, OCR algorithms, AI development.
* Stanford Initiative on Language Inclusion and Conservation in Old and New Media
SILICON is hiring!
How do writers actually create text in a comfortable, fluid way using their language? Keyboard layout is essential to make this happen.
Unicode approval is just the beginning: skilled designers must create the fonts that allow writers to convey their thoughts in several different styles.
We train algorithms to successfully recognize scanned printed sources, as a step towards building corpora for these languages that can be incorporated into AI development.
We work towards developing workable LLMs for underresourced languages whose scripts have recently been approved by Unicode.
SILICON research assistants have the opportunity to work across several areas of the project, developing a portfolio that can lead to grad school, into tech, into design, or elsewhere. We are looking for current Stanford students with a passion for languages beyond English and a curiosity about technology. No prior technical experience is required for many project roles! Application coming soon!
SILICON RAs serve as liaisons to tech and humanities classes, raising awareness about the crucial role of Unicode in communicating digitally.
Collaborating with experts, SILICON RAs will work on font and keyboard development, OCR algorithms, corpus-building and AI.
SILICON RAs will get to attend project workshops, and will have the opportunity to train and mentor the next cohort.
SILICON is developing partnerships with tech companies to place SILICON RAs into summer internships where they can support digitally-disadvantaged language work.
For internship announcements and other updates, please join our mailing list.
For other inquiries, contact the PIs at silicon_project@stanford.edu.