IMProving ACcess to Text
The IMPACT project, which has started on 1 January 2008, aims to significantly improve access to historical text and to take away the barriers that stand in the way of the mass digitization of the European cultural heritage.
Development technologies
IMPACT will therefore focus on the development of several innovative technologies for the improvement of Optical Character Recognition (OCR), ranging from cutting edge approaches such as collaborative correction to innovative language technologies to remove the historical language barrier. The project will ensure the interoperability of the results by defining an overall technical architecture and monitoring technical integration across all parts of the project. Furthermore, IMPACT will provide Best Practice guidance about the operational context for digitisation and deliver a coherent programme of dissemination, training and demonstration aimed at capacity building in and beyond participating institutions.
Organisation
IMPACT is coordinated by the National Library of the Netherlands (KB) and brings together fifteen national and regional libraries, research institutions and commercial suppliers from Europe, Israel and Russia. IMPACT is funded under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission (FP7) and has a duration of four years. More information is available on the IMPACT project website.