Natural Language Processing, or simply NLP, is a field of research that specializes in analyzing, understanding and generating human languages. An amalgamation of linguistics and computer science, it aims to develop applications for machine translations, information retrieval, and spell checking to name a few, posing a very strong and direct influence in the development in the area of business, education and more.
September 4, 2014. The University of the Immaculate Conception, in partnership with the Computing Society of the Philippines – Special Interest Group on Natural Language Processing and the Center for Language Technologies, College of Computer Studies of De La Salle University, played host to a research training initiative that aims to up the endeavors of Philippine research and jumpstart the orientation of NLP entitled, BLAZING THE TRAILS: Introduction to Natural Language Processing and Research Talks in Mindanao. The event primarily focusing on introductory topics in the applications of NLP.
The event was presided by Mr. Nathaniel Oco and Mr. Leif Romeritch Syliongka. Instructors hailing from the College of Computer Sudies, National University and from the College of Computer Studies, De La Salle University, respectively, where the former is also a researcher of the Center for Language Technologies in the latter university.
Attended by faculty from the host’s very own Information Technology Education Program and guests from colleges and universities in Mindanao. The guest speakers shared topics and means in utilizing NLP in it’s practical uses and indicating the benefits it has to offer, equipping the attendees with concepts, tools and resources to help establish the foundations of NLP amongst researchers.
The first in Mindanao, Blazing the trails aims to revolutionize the the quality of research on a much wider spectrum and establish leverage for researchers in the academe. Hopefully, more trainings of this kind will land it’s mark here on Mindanao — paving the way to a better and more developed system for research and keep researchers themselves updated and well-versed in NLP.
Written by: Dustin Hyrel Lim