Stylus reads Koran in four languages

A DIGITAL device that reads the Koran aloud in any of four languages is now available in South Africa.

The thick electronic stylus, dubbed the “Koran Read Pen”, uses translation technology and is sold with a copy of the holy Muslim scripture that has been embedded with microchips.

The stylus reads the text aloud when it is run over the page.

It was launched locally by Esquire Technologies, a digital products distributor with headquarters in Gauteng.

“I came across the product and was amazed by the features and what it was capable of doing,” said company managing director Asgar Mahomed.

The device has English, Urdu, Arabic and French settings.

“The manufacturers mentioned that they have been selling to Muslim countries such as the United Arab Emirates and had sales of about 200 000 units a quarter. We realised this product had greater potential in South Africa, where the prevalent language is English, not Arabic.”

He said the product, which costs R699, was proving popular with Muslim adults who cannot speak Arabic but want to teach themselves to do so. So far, the company had sold “about 400 units”, said Mahomed.

“We have noticed an increase in interest from scholars as well, due to the fact that the pen can assist and improve their pronunciation of the Koran.”