AI-assisted flick-input keyboard simplifying the Arabic alphabet by reducing the 38+ characters to eight to enhance reading and writing skills.
H’aarf is developing H’aarf, an AI-assisted flick-input keyboard and an immersive language learning app. It simplifies the Arabic alphabet and provides contextual understanding reducing the 38+ characters to eight to enhance reading and writing skills. Haarf enhances literacy and bridges the gap between spoken dialects and written Arabic.
Digital Arabic writing tools often overlook the script's complexities and historical nuances, sidelining non-Latin languages and reinforcing English as the dominant computing language. This neglect leaves Arabic inadequately served, exacerbating low literacy rates in the SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa) region, which stem from conflict, economic challenges, gender inequality, and inadequate educational infrastructure.
As a result, students struggle to learn Modern Standard Arabic, presenting significant challenges to the 660 million speakers globally. This leads to a 62% adult illiteracy rate in the region, costing the SWANA region £12.15 billion annually.
By integrating Arabic script rules, the haptics of calligraphy, and the anatomy of typography, H’aarf is challenging the computing status quo and using design as a problem-solving tool.
H’aarf is founded by Global Innovation Design MA graduate, Maroa-Isabell Alsahlani.
