Technology To Help Close The Digital Divide

Since its inception six years ago, La Familia Technology Week has hosted hundreds of computer classes, technology expos, Internet cafes and workshops, providing thousands of Hispanics across the United States with access, training and, in many instances, their first introduction to technology. The goals of La Familia are to introduce Hispanic families and their children to the power and potential of technology by:

• Reaching out to Latino parents and students to inspire them to choose careers in science, technology or engineering.

• Providing students and their parents access to Latino role models who have succeeded in achieving their dreams.

• Generating a discussion about the importance of nurturing innovation in the youths and promoting careers in science and technology.

This year, IBM is featuring an innovative translation technology, ¡TradúceloAhora!, to help improve communications between Spanish-speaking parents and English-speaking teachers in schools throughout the U.S. Through an enhanced version of IBM WebSphere Technology, the tool translates e-mails bidirectionally-English to Spanish and Spanish to English-and translates Web sites automatically from English to Spanish. The easy-to-use technology is helping meet IBM's goal in increasing technological literacy among underserved populations.

"¡TradúceloAhora! eliminates language barriers between Spanish-speaking parents with limited English skills and educators," said Pamela Dennis, a math teacher in New York. "It's like a veil has been lifted. Now I can directly communicate with these families about the progress their sons and daughters are making in my class."

Visit www.traduceloahora.org to learn more about the program

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