Kupu, the breakthrough mobile app that helps people learn Te Reo Māori by translating photos of objects around them, includes some exciting new enhancements for 2019 – signaling the ongoing commitment Spark has made to its relationship with Te Aka Māori Dictionary and Google.
The enhancements to Kupu 2.0 include ‘My Kupu,’ a feature that lets users save their favorite translations and set push notifications so they’re repeatedly prompted to learn a new word throughout the day. Kupu’s also now optimized for use on tablet and desktop as a web app, making the app an even more powerful learning tool especially in classrooms.
Spark’s Māori Strategy Lead, Lisa Paraku says the launch of a desktop and tablet friendly version comes off the back of overwhelming requests from teachers nationwide who have been wanting to use the app across a broad range of devices within schools.
“The enhancements mean more teachers will be able to use Kupu as an educational tool and readily incorporate Te Reo Māori learning into their lessons with the use of smart technology – something we know our tamariki have embraced.”
Dr. Dean Mahuta of Te Aka Māori Dictionary and Senior Lecturer at AUT, says the app has helped showcase how technology can play a role in keeping Te Reo Māori thriving by making it available across different means of communication.
“Integrating the push notification capability on the Kupu mobile app is a great step to empower individuals to keep up their journey of learning Te Reo Māori. Repetition is a technique frequently used for learning and in the context of language, learning new material can be enhanced through spaced repetition and practice.”
Originally launched this time last year by Spark in conjunction with Colenso BBDO, Te Aka Māori Dictionary and Google, the app has had over 177,000 downloads, over 2.7 million translated images and circa 6,000 daily users since the start of Māori Language Week 2019.
Kupu is powered by Google Cloud Vision technology, combined with Te Aka Māori Dictionary translations. Te Aka Māori Dictionary brings with it a reputation for quality Māori language research and a pool of invaluable knowledge which has guided the project to ensure Spark had the right cultural engagement, awareness and guidance around the concept and creation of Kupu.
“Bite-sized language learning that fits our daily habits is the benefit,” says Colenso CD Mike Davison. “But the long-term collaboration with the best technology, Māori language and digital platform experts our country has – that’s what has made this project humbling and memorable.”
Kupu in numbers 2018 – 2019
- Over 95,000 downloads during Maori Language Week 2018
- 177,000 downloads since launch
- 2,700,000 images translated
- 5,000,000 word pronunciations played
