It is now possible to play games and at the same time learn a local language on the mobile. This innovative technology was on display at the Bhasha 2011 design competition organised by Nokia Research Centre (NRC) here on Friday.

Nine teams from four colleges across India presented their projects. National Institute of Design (NID), Srishti, Symbiosis Institute of Design and IIT-Kanpur were the finalists.

‘Kaccha Limbu’ from Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology was adjudged the best entry for its innovative application on mobile phone.

‘Pitara’, another project from Srishti School won the second place, while the third prize was shared by IIT-Kanpur for its project ‘Vijeta’ and NID for its project ‘Word of Snake’.

Rohan Gupta of ‘Kaccha Limbu’ from Srishti School of Art, said the idea was to help migrant students like him to travel around Karnataka using the application. Users playing the game will slowly learn to communicate in Kannada or any other local language.

Y Jung, head of NRC in Bangalore, said Bhasha’s idea was to make it possible for mobile phones in India to support vernacular languages.