Many startups deal with language translation, but Israeli company Lingu.ly wants to help users improve their knowledge of a language they are interested in. Lingua.ly offers surfers a smart dictionary they can use to collect new words from any Internet page. While students surf the web, the system assesses their existing vocabulary, helps them practice the new words they have learned, and finds Internet content suitable for their level, current vocabulary, and the words they wants to practice.
The company provides service through an applications for Chrome browsers on a computer, for Android, and in the next few days also for an iPhone. The difference between the application for Chrome and the one for a smartphone is that it the computer version can translate words directly from the text (by clicking on the desired word), while in the smartphone version the word has to be typed, and the purpose is mainly to practice the words from the user's personal stock.
Dr. Orly Forman and Dr. Ian Imels founded Lingua.ly in 2011. The company has nine employees, has raised $800,000, and is in the process of raising $1 million more. "We select articles that are interesting and appropriate for the user's vocabulary, so that he will read what interests him," Forman says. At a later stage, the company plans to also use songs and jokes. The company will provide a collection of songs based on words that the user still wants to learn.
"Lingua.ly is suitable for people with a very basic knowledge of the language they want to learn. I suggest that users who want to use it to learn a language should first acquire a basic knowledge of the language," says Forman. "The user won't have to stop using the application, because it isn't an experience like a single course; it is an experience that constantly adapts itself to the user."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 20, 2014
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