Welsh language tech pioneer is now an award winner

A LEADING pioneer in Welsh language and speech technology has won a prestigious award at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham.

- By ERYL CRUMP

The Science and Technology Medal was presented yesterday to Dewi Bryn Jones, who has done more than anyone else in recent years to develop language tools and resources, enabling the public to use Welsh on their computers and in digital communication.

His technologies also help disabled individuals and those with additional needs to communicate in Welsh.

Dewi leads a team of software developers at the Language Technologies Unit at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University. His vision and contributions have driven innovation in Welsh writing technology, Welsh speech technology and Welsh machine translation in the digital world.

The medal, first awarded in 2004, recognises and celebrates an individual's contribution to science and technology through the medium of Welsh. Fittingly, the first recipient was Professor Glyn O Phillips, a prominent scientist from Wrexham and the founding head of the North East Wales Institute - now Wrexham University.

The aim of the medal is to honour and celebrate outstanding contributions to the science and technology industry through Welsh.

Professor Delyth Prys, former head of the technology unit at Canolfan Bedwyr, said: "The award is thoroughly deserved by Dewi.

"I would go so far as to say that without his contribution, we wouldn't have any Welsh software today."