A PRACTICAL LOOK AT SOFTWARE INTERNATIONALISATION

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Purvis, Martin | Hwang, Peter | Purvis, Maryam | Madhavji, Nazim | Cranefield, Stephen

Affiliations: Information Science Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Abstract: Software internationalisation is the process of developing software products that are not dependent on specific local or cultural attributes or practices. It is becoming an increasingly important topic as software gets integrated into the very fabric of our society and cultures worldwide. In this paper we present a view of some of the current issues by examining what steps had to be taken in order to carry out a particular software internationalisation task: a software system that was developed for English speakers was modified (localised) so that it could be used by speakers of Traditional Chinese. We describe the details of how this internationalisation task was carried out, what existing tools and techniques were useful, and offer suggestions concerning how the task of internationalisation may be made easier. The concluding discussion covers future directions for software internationalisation.

Journal: Journal of Integrated Design & Process Science, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 79-90, 2001