Accordingly Google on Wednesday launched a free app called "Bolo" that parents can download to help primary grade children improve their Hindi and English reading skills. It was launched in India first, the app is designed to work offline and comes with a built-in reading buddy, "Diya", who encourages, aids, explains, and corrects the child, as they read aloud.
Meanwhile Google said it would not collect any data on children through the app and it would not have any advertisement. Nitin Kashyap, Product Manager, Google India, told adding that the app is meant for just 10-15 minutes of daily use “Nothing is ever sent to Google through the app not even the voice samples”. Furthermore he added that because the app works offline, there is less chance that children would get distracted and they would start doing something else online.
Kashyap said “Google said it has been piloting Bolo with over 900 children in 200 villages in Uttar Pradesh with the help of ASER Centre, a research and assessment unit of Pratham Education Foundation”. Moreover with the app, 64% of children showed an improvement in reading proficiency in just three months.
