Microsoft unveils Windows 8 in Kinyarwanda
Software giant Microsoft on Friday announced that the newest version of its flagship product, MS Windows 8, will also be in Rwanda’s main language, Kinyarwanda.
Microsoft said in a statement that MS Windows 8 is available in 14 new languages, bringing the total number of languages supported to 109. The US software giant released Window 8 in October last year and has since been working on producing the software in different languages to cover the global market.
The Minister of Youth and ICT, Jean Philpert Nsengimana, said the release in Kinyarwanda will go a long way in building information and communication technology literacy in the country.
It means Rwandans with minimal knowledge of either French or English will be able to use their touch-screen gadgets that support the system without having to worry about language barrier.
“It will help us in taking ICT to the common man. ICT has to be owned by every Rwandan and not be seen as a preserve by some,” he told The New Times yesterday when contacted for a comment.
The minister added that the development would encourage, especially the youth to learn new products.
The application can support any of the languages with language interface packs as long as it supports one of 12 application certification languages, said Microsoft in the statement.
Credit: New Times, Rwanda
