The ancient art of carpet weaving in India has been revolutionized by the use of artificial intelligence (AI). For centuries, the intricate patterns of Kashmir’s traditional handwoven carpets and rugs were created using a symbolic code called talim. Weavers like Mohammad Rafiq Sofi would receive small sections of the code, which guided them on where to knot each thread and which colors to use. However, this process was time-consuming and prone to mistakes. With the introduction of computer software, the entire design can now be seen at once, allowing for faster production and the ability to spot potential problems in advance.

Technology firms are now taking it a step further by applying AI to the process. Aby Mathew, the chief operating officer of International Virtual Assistance, is training an AI system to understand the talim code by analyzing pictures of carpets and lines of code. While a human will still be required to write the code, this AI system will speed up manufacturing by decoding the instructions for the weavers. This innovation allows for the creation of new patterns and customization, meeting the evolving tastes of customers who desire fashionable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance carpets.

The traditional carpet industry in India is facing competition from rivals in Turkey and China, making it crucial to keep up with the latest manufacturing techniques. Aditya Gupta, the founder of Rug Republic, emphasizes the importance of innovation in every industry. While new technologies have been introduced for design, washing, and drying of carpets, the manufacturing side still relies on traditional and handmade methods, as this is what consumers seek. The industry has also implemented an official tagging system that allows buyers to verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets, ensuring their value and supporting the local economy.

These advancements in carpet making have given hope to long-time weavers like Feroz Ahmad Bhat, who have seen the industry go through ups and downs. With the introduction of new designs and increased pace, the art of carpet weaving is flourishing once again. The combination of traditional techniques and technological innovations has allowed the industry to adapt to changing demands and remain competitive in the global market.

Original news source: India’s ancient carpet weaving industry meets AI (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Have students read the article individually and then summarize the main points in a brief news summary. Encourage them to focus on the key details and use their own words to convey the information.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups and have them discuss their opinions on the use of artificial intelligence in carpet weaving. Then, conduct an opinion poll by asking each group to share their thoughts and tally up the responses. Encourage students to provide reasons for their opinions.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to sketch a design for a carpet using the traditional talim code. Afterward, have them compare their designs with a partner and explain the meaning behind their patterns. This activity encourages creativity and understanding of the traditional weaving process.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down key vocabulary words from the article on separate pieces of paper and place them in a hat or bowl. Divide the class into teams and have one student from each team pick a word and draw it on the board without using any letters or numbers. The team members must guess the word based on the drawing. This activity reinforces vocabulary retention and encourages teamwork.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of carpet weaving with the integration of artificial intelligence. They should consider the potential benefits and challenges that may arise. Afterward, ask each group to share their predictions with the class, encouraging them to provide reasons for their predictions.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. How were traditional handwoven carpets and rugs created in Kashmir?
2. Why was the traditional process of carpet weaving time-consuming and prone to mistakes?
3. How has the introduction of computer software revolutionized the carpet weaving process?
4. What is the role of AI in the carpet weaving industry?
5. What are the benefits of using AI in carpet manufacturing?
6. Why is it important for the traditional carpet industry in India to keep up with the latest manufacturing techniques?
7. How has the industry implemented a system to verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets?
8. How have advancements in carpet making impacted the livelihood of long-time weavers?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

The ancient art of carpet weaving in India has been revolutionized by the use of artificial intelligence (AI). For (1)______, the intricate patterns of Kashmir’s traditional handwoven carpets and rugs were created using a symbolic code called talim. Weavers like Mohammad Rafiq Sofi would (2)______ small (3)______ of the code, which (4)______ them on where to knot each thread and which colors to use. However, this process was time-consuming and prone to mistakes. With the introduction of computer software, the entire design can now be seen at once, allowing for faster production and the (5)______ to spot potential problems in (6)______.

Technology (7)______ are now taking it a step further by applying AI to the process. Aby Mathew, the chief (8)______ officer of International Virtual Assistance, is training an AI system to understand the talim code by analyzing pictures of carpets and lines of code. While a human will still be required to write the code, this AI system will speed up manufacturing by decoding the instructions for the weavers. This innovation allows for the creation of new patterns and customization, meeting the evolving tastes of customers who desire fashionable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance (9)______s.

The traditional carpet industry in India is facing (10)______ from rivals in Turkey and China, making it (11)______ to keep up with the latest manufacturing (12)______. Aditya Gupta, the founder of Rug Republic, emphasizes the importance of innovation in every industry. While new technologies have been introduced for design, washing, and drying of carpets, the manufacturing side still relies on traditional and handmade methods, as this is what consumers seek. The industry has also implemented an official tagging system that allows buyers to verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets, ensuring their (13)______ and supporting the local economy.

These advancements in carpet making have given hope to long-time weavers like (14)______ Ahmad Bhat, who have seen the industry go through ups and downs. With the introduction of new designs and increased pace, the art of carpet weaving is flourishing once again. The combination of (15)______ techniques and technological innovations has allowed the industry to (16)______ to changing demands and remain competitive in the global market.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is the significance of the talim code in carpet weaving?
2. How would you feel if you were a traditional carpet weaver and had to switch to using AI technology?
3. Do you think the use of AI in carpet weaving will lead to a loss of traditional craftsmanship? Why or why not?
4. What are the advantages of using AI in the carpet weaving process?
5. How do you think the introduction of AI will impact the price of carpets?
6. Do you like the idea of customizable carpets? Why or why not?
7. What other industries do you think could benefit from the use of AI technology?
8. How do you think the introduction of AI will affect the job market for carpet weavers?
9. Why do you think it is important for the carpet industry to keep up with the latest manufacturing techniques?
10. What other challenges do you think the traditional carpet industry in India faces?
11. How would you feel if you bought a hand-knotted Kashmiri carpet and later found out it was not authentic?
12. Do you think the official tagging system for hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets is effective? Why or why not?
13. What do you think is the future of the carpet industry in India?
14. How do you think the combination of traditional techniques and technological innovations can benefit other industries?
15. Why do you think the art of carpet weaving is important to preserve?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. revolutionized
2. intricate
3. symbolic
4. prone
5. innovation
6. customization
7. rivals
8. crucial
9. authenticity
10. economy
11. flourishing
12. technological
13. adapt
14. competitive
15. global

Meanings:
(A) Representing ideas or concepts through symbols or symbolism
(B) Relating to or involving the entire world; worldwide
(C) Growing or developing in a healthy or vigorous way
(D) Having a strong desire or ability to compete, especially in a market
(E) Competitors or adversaries in the same field or market
(F) Completely changed or transformed, especially in a positive way
(G) Likely or inclined to suffer from, do, or experience something, typically something regrettable or unwelcome
(H) Relating to or involving technology, especially new or advanced technology
(I) The quality of being genuine or real
(J) To change or modify something to fit new conditions or circumstances
(K) The action of modifying something to suit a particular individual or task
(L) Of utmost importance or necessity
(M) The wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services
(N) Very detailed and complicated
(O) The introduction of new ideas, methods, or devices
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the traditional code used in carpet weaving in India?
(a) AI
(b) Symbolic
(c) Code
(d) Talim

2. How has AI revolutionized carpet weaving in India?
(a) It has completely replaced the traditional handwoven method.
(b) It has made the process more time-consuming and prone to mistakes.
(c) It has decreased the demand for carpets in the global market.
(d) It allows for faster production and the ability to spot potential problems in advance.

3. What is the role of AI in the carpet weaving process?
(a) It replaces the need for human weavers.
(b) It decodes the instructions for the weavers based on the talim code.
(c) It creates new patterns and designs for the carpets.
(d) It verifies the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets.

4. Why is innovation important in the carpet industry?
(a) To decrease the demand for carpets in the global market.
(b) To keep up with competition from rivals in Turkey and China.
(c) To eliminate the need for traditional and handmade methods.
(d) To decrease the value and support of the local economy.

5. What is the purpose of the official tagging system implemented in the carpet industry?
(a) To verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets.
(b) To decrease the value and support of the local economy.
(c) To increase the demand for carpets in the global market.
(d) To eliminate the need for traditional and handmade methods.

6. What has given hope to long-time weavers in the carpet industry?
(a) The introduction of new designs and increased pace.
(b) The decrease in competition from rivals in Turkey and China.
(c) The elimination of traditional and handmade methods.
(d) The decrease in demand for carpets in the global market.

7. How has the combination of traditional techniques and technological innovations impacted the carpet industry?
(a) It has decreased the value and support of the local economy.
(b) It has eliminated the need for human weavers.
(c) It has allowed the industry to adapt to changing demands and remain competitive.
(d) It has decreased the demand for carpets in the global market.

8. What do customers desire in carpets?
(a) Traditional and handmade carpets.
(b) Carpets with new designs and increased pace.
(c) Fashionable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance carpets.
(d) Carpets that are not manufactured using AI.

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. The combination of traditional techniques and technological innovations has allowed the carpet weaving industry to remain competitive in the global market.
2. Computer software now limits the visibility of the entire carpet design at once, leading to slower production.
3. Traditional handwoven carpets and rugs in Kashmir were created using a symbolic code called talim.
4. The AI system will slow down manufacturing by decoding instructions for the weavers.
5. Carpet weaving in India has remained unchanged despite the use of artificial intelligence.
6. The carpet industry in India faces competition from Turkey and China, making it important to keep up with manufacturing techniques.
7. AI is not being used to train systems to understand the talim code by analyzing pictures of carpets and lines of code.
8. The industry has implemented an official tagging system to verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. How has artificial intelligence revolutionized the art of carpet weaving in India?
2. What was the traditional process of creating carpets and rugs in Kashmir?
3. How is AI being used to speed up the manufacturing process of carpets?
4. Why is it important for the traditional carpet industry in India to keep up with the latest manufacturing techniques?
5. How have advancements in carpet making given hope to long-time weavers in India?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Traditional handwoven carpets and rugs in Kashmir were created using a symbolic code called talim. Weavers would receive small sections of the code, which guided them on where to knot each thread and which colors to use.

2. The traditional process of carpet weaving was time-consuming and prone to mistakes because weavers had to follow the talim code section by section, which made it difficult to visualize the entire design at once. This led to slower production and the possibility of errors in the final product.

3. The introduction of computer software has revolutionized the carpet weaving process by allowing the entire design to be seen at once. This means that weavers can now visualize the complete pattern and spot potential problems in advance. It has also made the production process faster and more efficient.

4. AI plays a role in the carpet weaving industry by training systems to understand the talim code. AI analyzes pictures of carpets and lines of code to decode the instructions for the weavers. While a human is still required to write the code, AI speeds up the manufacturing process by assisting in decoding the instructions.

5. The benefits of using AI in carpet manufacturing include faster production, the ability to visualize the complete design, and the potential for customization. AI allows for the creation of new patterns and helps meet the evolving tastes of customers who desire fashionable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance carpets.

6. It is important for the traditional carpet industry in India to keep up with the latest manufacturing techniques because it faces competition from rivals in Turkey and China. By adopting new technologies and techniques, the industry can remain competitive in the global market and meet the changing demands of customers.

7. The industry has implemented an official tagging system that allows buyers to verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets. This system ensures the value of the carpets and supports the local economy by protecting against counterfeit products.

8. Advancements in carpet making have positively impacted the livelihood of long-time weavers by creating new designs and increasing the pace of production. This has led to a resurgence in the art of carpet weaving and provided hope for weavers who have seen the industry go through ups and downs.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) centuries
(2) receive
(3) sections
(4) guided
(5) ability
(6) advance
(7) firms
(8) operating
(9) carpet
(10) competition
(11) crucial
(12) techniques
(13) value
(14) Feroz
(15) traditional
(16) adapt
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. revolutionized
Answer: (F) Completely changed or transformed, especially in a positive way

2. intricate
Answer: (N) Very detailed and complicated

3. symbolic
Answer: (A) Representing ideas or concepts through symbols or symbolism

4. prone
Answer: (G) Likely or inclined to suffer from, do, or experience something, typically something regrettable or unwelcome

5. innovation
Answer: (O) The introduction of new ideas, methods, or devices

6. customization
Answer: (K) The action of modifying something to suit a particular individual or task

7. rivals
Answer: (E) Competitors or adversaries in the same field or market

8. crucial
Answer: (L) Of utmost importance or necessity

9. authenticity
Answer: (I) The quality of being genuine or real

10. economy
Answer: (M) The wealth and resources of a country or region, especially in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services

11. flourishing
Answer: (C) Growing or developing in a healthy or vigorous way

12. technological
Answer: (H) Relating to or involving technology, especially new or advanced technology

13. adapt
Answer: (J) To change or modify something to fit new conditions or circumstances

14. competitive
Answer: (D) Having a strong desire or ability to compete, especially in a market

15. global
Answer: (B) Relating to or involving the entire world; worldwide
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the traditional code used in carpet weaving in India?
Answer: (d) Talim

2. How has AI revolutionized carpet weaving in India?
Answer: (d) It allows for faster production and the ability to spot potential problems in advance.

3. What is the role of AI in the carpet weaving process?
Answer: (b) It decodes the instructions for the weavers based on the talim code.

4. Why is innovation important in the carpet industry?
Answer: (b) To keep up with competition from rivals in Turkey and China.

5. What is the purpose of the official tagging system implemented in the carpet industry?
Answer: (a) To verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets.

6. What has given hope to long-time weavers in the carpet industry?
Answer: (a) The introduction of new designs and increased pace.

7. How has the combination of traditional techniques and technological innovations impacted the carpet industry?
Answer: (c) It has allowed the industry to adapt to changing demands and remain competitive.

8. What do customers desire in carpets?
Answer: (c) Fashionable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance carpets.
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. The combination of traditional techniques and technological innovations has allowed the carpet weaving industry to remain competitive in the global market. (Answer: True)
2. Computer software now limits the visibility of the entire carpet design at once, leading to slower production. (Answer: False)
3. Traditional handwoven carpets and rugs in Kashmir were created using a symbolic code called talim. (Answer: True)
4. The AI system will slow down manufacturing by decoding instructions for the weavers. (Answer: False)
5. Carpet weaving in India has remained unchanged despite the use of artificial intelligence. (Answer: False)
6. The carpet industry in India faces competition from Turkey and China, making it important to keep up with manufacturing techniques. (Answer: True)
7. AI is not being used to train systems to understand the talim code by analyzing pictures of carpets and lines of code. (Answer: False)
8. The industry has implemented an official tagging system to verify the authenticity of hand-knotted Kashmiri carpets. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧