ICT solutions for immigrants
Migrants arriving in European countries experience major difficulties when searching for information that gives them access to their official rights. This causes a major problem for both the migrants and the host countries due to multiple language barriers and cultural barriers. The easyRights project aims to help provide tailored information and language support to migrants, using the following ICT components:
- Pathway generator: is a software application that generates easy instructions to lower the bureaucracy level for migrants. This application takes as inputs textual documents underpinning a given service. It is based on state-of-the-art technologies for document analysis, information extraction and document generation. The output of this application follows the structure of a multi-step procedure with key information in each step, i.e. where, when, how and what, thus facilitating knowledge access in an understandable and actionable way
- Language Training: The tailored courses are offered in a gamified mobile app, freely downloadable from app store/google play, and localised to some of the most common migrant languages. The courses help migrants overcome language barriers when dealing with local bureaucracy and therefore enable migrants to access their rights easier. Artificial intelligence is used to process the relevant documents provided by the municipalities and to extract the most crucial vocabulary, selecting the words and phrases that are essential to memorise in order to successfully access the requested service and interact with the service providers. Additionally, it is possible for the end users to practice their speaking skills in realistic dialogues simulating real-life interactions.
- Pronunciation Training is offered by CALST (Computer-Assisted Listening and Speaking Tutor) for the four target languages in the easyRights project: British English, Greek, Italian and Spanish. Besides exercises based on Capeesh vocabulary, a comprehensive set of exercises is based on a phonological analysis of the sound systems of the target languages, taking into consideration language acquisition theory. Using a database of over 500 languages, the migrant’s target language is compared to their native language to determine which sound contrasts each specific user must practise. The exercises increase migrants’ comprehensibility and enable smoother communication when they exercise their rights, for instance in dealing with administrative procedures.