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Localization Framework A pre-requisite for widespread Internet use in Asia. ثناء گل مرکز تحقیقات اردو پ اکستان ، ۲۰۰۵ SANA GUL Center for research in Urdu language processing Pakistan, 2005. Presentation Highlights. Technology Infrastructure & Internet Access in Asia
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Localization FrameworkA pre-requisite for widespread Internet use in Asia ثناء گل مرکز تحقیقاتاردو پاکستان،۲۰۰۵ SANA GUL Center for research in Urdu language processing Pakistan, 2005
Presentation Highlights • Technology Infrastructure & Internet Access in Asia • Reasons for Low Internet Access in Asia • Only Solution – Localization! • Essentials of a Localization Framework • Status of Localization in Asia • Recommendations for Decision Makers • Conclusions
Internet Connectivity in Asia • Asia houses 61% of the world population • Asians form largest group of Internet users (32.6% of all users) • ONLY 4.5 % Asians access Internet • Even with Internet infrastructure availability, why is Asian population unable to access internet content 95.5%
WHY? Low Internet access in Asia • Language Diversity • 2197 Languages spoken in Asia (www.ethnologue.com) • ONLY 10-20% understand English- the internet language 2194 Asian Languages form a fraction of this 4.6% “OTHER” languages only
ICT4D in Asia = Access to Information through INTERNET by larger non-English-speaking populations of Asia = Localization of Internet
Standards Unicode Character Set Encoding Keyboard Layout Collation Sequence Interface terminology translation Locale … Applications Local Language Fonts & Support Keyboard Drivers Localized Interfaces Speech & Language Applications … Localization Framework
Status of Localization in Asia Localization Standards
Status of Localization in Asia Basic Localization Applications on MS Platform
Status of Localization in Asia Basic Localization Applications on Linux Platform
Recommendations • Form National bodies to address localization development and policy • Get involved in international forums • Unicode, ISO, W3C, AFIT (SEISA), PAN Localization (www.PANL10n.net) etc. • Develop multilingual standards • Character Sets (ISO/Unicode), locales (?), multilingual domain names (W3C), etc. • Multilingual Internet content support policy • APNIC, W3C, etc.
Recommendations • Regional Projects to Develop Localization Support • Language Observatory • PAN Localization • IOSN.Net • Organize Regional and National training(s)/Meeting(s) • AFIT (SEISA) • AOSSAP • FOSSAP-APDIP • PAN Localization • Asia Source
Conclusion • Localization is necessary for widespread Internet access • The above entails developing technology facilitating Asian to access and generate content in their native languages • Both national will and regional initiative is thus urgently required
شکریہ Thank You SANA GUL Sana.gul@nu.edu.pk Regional Research Officer PAN Localization project (www.panl10n.net)