Colloquium - Haddon

In what is now a world economy, national boundaries are being crossed by networks, computers are moving into homes, and programs provide games and tutoring for children. Software and related material must increasingly "speak the language of the user" and recognize local idioms and conventions. This is an engineering task that is not only a challenge to the program designer, but is also a challenge to the entire software development and production processes.

The processes are divided into "internationalization" and "localization", respectively the design and implementation of software that can adapt to the language and culture of a locale, and the tasks of actually performing that adaptation. Economics are driving towards increased emphasis on the former, and minimization of the latter.

The materials that are subject to these processes include the software itself (internal representations, user interfaces, i.e., screen, keyboard, and printer, report files, ...), on-line and off-line documentation and other media (help files, wizards, manuals, training materials, ...), marketing collateral (advertising, brochures, warranties, registration cards, packaging, ...), etc.

The internationalization and localization must take into account not only language, but also the representation and presentation of character sets, numbers, currency, dates, times, measurements, telephone numbers and addresses. There are many standards in these areas, the problem being to choose the right ones.

The talk will introduce the problems, some solutions, applicable standards, development and production processes, and indicate where further work is required.

Refreshments will be served immediately before the talk at 3:30pm.
Hosted by Dirk Grunwald.