The Humanities Computing Laboratory

What The Humanities Computing Laboratory does

The Humanities Computing Laboratory (HCL) is a U.S. nonprofit education and research corporation, founded in 1979 as the Humanities Computing Facility of Duke University by Prof. Frank Borchardt, and reorganized as an independent entity when it moved off the Duke campus to Durham, NC in July 2000. The organization is dedicated to promoting global standards in the encoding, exchange, and preservation of written and spoken language data, and is currently led by Director Richard Kunst, Ph.D. Its core technology is Unicode-compliant (ISO 10646) multilingual computing built on the proprietary CALIS (Computer-Assisted Language Instruction System) programming language.

HCL's product portfolio centers on three core products: WinCALIS, a Windows-based multimedia authoring system that lets teachers create language learning lessons without programming; WebCALIS, a Java-based cross-platform variant (PC, Mac, Linux, UNIX) that runs as a web applet and adds Text-to-Speech via FreeTTS; and UniEdit, a multilingual Unicode text editor supporting hundreds of languages across more than twenty orthographic scripts, with virtual keyboards, a Unicode Browser, and DLL integration for developers. Supporting products include Java UniEdit, UniEdit DLL, Unibox, animated Han character stroke-order GIFs, and the legacy DOS CALIS application. HCL also delivers services — scanning and OCR (up to 99.8% accuracy), CD-ROM production, video digitization, multilingual desktop publishing, and an annual WinCALIS Summer Seminar — and runs commissioned projects such as the 2003-2006 SOAS Wa Dictionary Project funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council.

HCL monetizes through one-time software licenses (quote-based), per-page/per-hour service fees, and summer seminar tuition ($550/week/person). Customers are primarily academic institutions, individual scholars, and language educators in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences; notable clients include Duke University's Perkins Library and Music Department, SOAS University of London, and the U.S. Special Operations Forces at Ft. Bragg. Distribution is via direct sales, free trial downloads from humancomp.org, an annual Summer Seminar, conference presence (CALICO, CAUSE, Unicode), and a regional channel partner (Centro Blas Pascal in Argentina).

Name

The Humanities Computing Laboratory

Legal name

The Humanities Computing Laboratory

Website

https://humancomp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Humanities Computing Laboratory is a nonprofit education and research corporation that develops Unicode-compliant multilingual language learning and editing software (WinCALIS, WebCALIS, UniEdit) and provides scanning, OCR, and digitization services to academic institutions, scholars, and government clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Educational Technology Software (Language Learning and Multilingual Editing)

NAICS

Language Schools (61163), Educational Support Services (61171), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Classroom & Institutional Language Learning Platforms (Schools/Universities) (EDAFAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language Learning Apps & Self-Study Platforms (EDAFAOAA), Translation, Language Accessibility & Reading Support Tools (e.g., TTS, Captions, Immersive Reader) (EDAFAOAL), Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation Materials (EDAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Language learning software
• Multilingual text editing
• Unicode text processing
• Language authoring tools
• Document scanning OCR

Headquarters

HQ city

Chapel Hill

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: Licensing fees for WinCALIS and UniEdit software products sold to educational institutions and individuals worldwide. Products include WinCALIS Author Workstation and UniEdit with various licensing options.
2. Training Seminars: Yearly WinCALIS Summer Seminar for author training at $550 per week, per person. Personal introductions and training sessions also offered.
3. Scanning and OCR Services: Document scanning and optical character recognition services with pricing from $0.50 per page for loose sheets up to $10.00 per page for full-service editing and proofing. Also includes Adobe Acrobat PDF production.
4. CD-ROM Production: One-off recordable CD-ROM production starting at $25 for the first CD, $10 for each additional copy. Mass replication services also arranged (approximately 500 copies for $1500).
5. Digitized Document Sales: Sales of digitized publications such as Parsee Prakash on DVD or CD-ROM ($100 for complete set of 3 volumes, $40 per individual volume).
6. Video Digitization Services: Video conversion and editing services at $50/hr standard full-service fee. Converts analog video from VHS, laserdiscs, or camcorder to digital formats (AVI, MPEG, Quicktime, etc.).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Humanities Computing Laboratory develops and licenses Unicode-compliant multilingual language learning and editing software for academic, government, and individual users worldwide. Its core products are WinCALIS (a Windows multimedia authoring system for language lessons), WebCALIS (a Java cross-platform variant), and UniEdit (a multilingual Unicode text editor). The lab also sells related services including document scanning and OCR, CD-ROM production, video digitization, and multilingual desktop publishing, and offers paid annual training seminars.

Product overview

The Humanities Computing Laboratory (HCL) offers a suite of Unicode-compliant multilingual language learning and editing products. The core products are WinCALIS (a Windows-based multimedia authoring and learning system), WebCALIS (a Java-based web variant), and UniEdit (a standalone multilingual Unicode text editor). These are complemented by UniEdit DLL (for developer integration), Java UniEdit (browser applet), and CALIS (the legacy DOS version). HCL also provides on-line bilingual dictionary generation tools, the SOAS Wa Dictionary project, and language learning content such as character stroke-order animations. Beyond software products, HCL offers services including scanning and OCR (supporting nearly any language), multilingual desktop publishing, CD-ROM production, video digitizing, and professional training via WinCALIS Summer Seminars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WinCALIS: Computer-Assisted Language Instruction System for Windows - a multimedia, multilingual authoring system for language learning
• WebCALIS
• UniEdit
• CALIS
• UniEdit DLL
• Java UniEdit

Products and services

• WinCALIS WinCALIS (Computer-Assisted Language Instruction System) is a multimedia, multilingual authoring system for Windows that enables teachers to create and present language learning lessons. It supports Unicode (ISO 10646) character encoding, allows authoring without programming knowledge, and includes multimedia integration of images, sound, and video. It is aimed at foreign language teachers, academic institutions, and language departments.
• WebCALIS WebCALIS is an experimental Java version of WinCALIS for PC, Mac, Linux, and UNIX platforms that supports web-based language learning without requiring local client installation. It includes Text-to-Speech via FreeTTS, runs as a Java applet via browser, and supports approximately 60% of WinCALIS features plus cross-platform capabilities. It is targeted at academic institutions and language educators wanting browser-based delivery.
• UniEdit UniEdit is a Unicode-compliant multilingual text editor that allows multiple documents in any combination of languages and character sets to be written and printed. It supports hundreds of languages across more than twenty orthographic scripts, with features including virtual keyboards, Unicode Browser, on-line dictionaries, code conversion utilities, and clipboard integration with MS Office. It is aimed at scholars, translators, and language professionals.
• Scanning and OCR Services Document scanning and optical character recognition services using Fujitsu ScanPartner 600C and HP ScanJet equipment with Omnipage Pro, ReadIris, and TextBridge software. Supports recognition of nearly any language of the world with accuracy rates up to 99.8% for clearly printed documents. Customers include universities, libraries, and academic researchers needing digitization of scholarly materials.
• Multilingual Desktop Publishing and Data Conversion Services Conversion of print materials to electronic format and multilingual data conversion services. Handles files in various character sets, languages, and formats, with translation arrangement services to/from English and most world languages. Targeted at academic publishers, libraries, and scholars needing multilingual data conversion.
• CD-ROM Production Services One-off recordable CD-ROM production services starting at $25 for the first CD-ROM and $10 for each additional copy of the same CD. Assistance with design and packaging decisions, plus mass replication arrangements. Targeted at academic institutions and publishers needing multilingual CD-ROM distribution of language learning content.
• Video Digitizing and Editing Services Conversion of analog video from VHS, laserdiscs, or camcorder to digital formats (AVI, MPEG, QuickTime, etc.) for computer and web use. Standard service fee of $50 per hour for video capture and conversion. Targeted at academic institutions, libraries, and researchers digitizing video materials.
• WinCALIS Summer Seminar Yearly one-week training seminar for WinCALIS authoring at $550 per week per person, providing a personal introduction to the program and hands-on authoring skills development. Targeted at foreign language teachers, academic faculty, and instructional designers.
• Parsee Prakash DVD/CD-ROM Digitized facsimile edition of the multi-volume Parsee Prakash series in Gujarati with passages in English, Arabic, and other languages, available on DVD or CD-ROM at $100 for the complete set of three volumes or $40 per individual volume. Targeted at scholars, libraries, and members of the Parsee/Zoroastrian academic community.

Quantifiable outcome

• OCR accuracy of 99.8% or higher for clearly printed documents (approximately 2 characters incorrectly recognized per 1000)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, minor and historical.

• SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCL serves as the technical development partner for the SOAS Wa Dictionary Project (2003-2006), a three-year effort funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council to produce a high-quality Wa language dictionary with Burmese, Chinese, and English glosses. HCL designed the Unicode-compliant flexible interface for the dictionary database and Internet resource.
• Centro Blas PascalregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional channel partner in Buenos Aires, Argentina responsible for WinCALIS and UniEdit distribution in Argentina. Located at Bacacay 705 - piso 11 B, Ciudad de Buenos Aires.
• Toyama National College of TechnologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational Center of Information Processing at Toyama National College of Technology in Japan is identified as a WinCALIS development partner for language learning technology.
• Duke University (Former)historicalStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCL originated as the Humanities Computing Facility of Duke University under founder Prof. Frank Borchardt of the Dept. of Germanic Languages and Literature. HCL moved off Duke campus to new office quarters in July 2000 but maintains connections with Duke's Office of Information Technology.
• Unicode ConsortiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationHCL products (WinCALIS, UniEdit, WebCALIS) are built on Unicode standards (ISO 10646), with the Unicode Consortium providing the character encoding standards that enable unrestricted multilingual support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Transparent Language: Provider of language learning software for libraries, schools, government, and individuals, with strong support for less commonly taught languages. Closely comparable to HCL's niche of institutional customers and underrepresented languages, with overlapping sales channels (libraries, academic institutions).
• Mango Languages: Language learning platform sold primarily through public libraries and academic institutions, with a strong catalog including less commonly taught languages. Closely comparable to HCL in channel strategy (libraries, universities) and emphasis on broader language coverage beyond the typical European languages.
• DynEd International: Provider of English and other language learning software primarily for educational institutions and corporate training with multimedia content. Comparable institutional focus and multimedia authoring/delivery model, serving schools and government clients similarly to HCL.
• Rosetta Stone Catalyst (formerly Tell Me More): Enterprise-focused language learning platform now under Rosetta Stone, designed for corporate and institutional customers needing structured language training. Comparable to HCL's institutional, structured courseware focus, though with stronger corporate training positioning.
• Sanako (VIA Languages): Provider of language lab software and classroom tools for schools and universities, enabling teacher-led language instruction and multimedia authoring. Closely comparable to HCL's WinCALIS in serving language educators with multimedia authoring tools in institutional settings.

Broad incumbents

• Duolingo: Leading consumer language learning platform offering self-paced courses across dozens of languages via web and mobile. While HCL focuses on institutional authoring and Unicode-heavy multilingual tools rather than consumer app-based learning, both operate in the language learning space and could increasingly overlap as Duolingo expands into formal education markets.
• Rosetta Stone: Long-established language learning provider offering both consumer and institutional/enterprise products with immersive methodology. Comparable to HCL's institutional orientation and historical Windows-based software delivery, though at vastly larger scale and with broader consumer reach.
• Babbel: Consumer language learning subscription service with strong mobile and B2B (Babbel for Business) offerings. Comparable to HCL only in the broad language learning category; Babbel targets mainstream consumer/business markets, whereas HCL serves niche academic and endangered-language use cases.

Others

• University of Hawaii National Foreign Language Resource Center: Academic center developing CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning) resources, often in collaboration with technology providers. Adjacent to HCL as a fellow CALL ecosystem participant, though as a user/developer rather than a commercial competitor; shares the niche of language learning research for less commonly taught languages.

Emerging players

• Memrise: Community-driven language learning platform with user-created courses spanning many languages including less commonly taught ones. Partial overlap with HCL's emphasis on broader language coverage and user-created content; differs in delivery (mobile/web vs. desktop authoring) and audience (consumer vs. academic).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/humanities-computing-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Humanities Computing Laboratory