Scribd
Upload
5 views

Step 10

This document discusses considerations for internationalization and accessibility when developing products. It covers topics like localization, cultural factors, text translation, images, color meanings, and designing for various disabilities.

Uploaded by

Jayraj Menon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
5 views

Step 10

This document discusses considerations for internationalization and accessibility when developing products. It covers topics like localization, cultural factors, text translation, images, color meanings, and designing for various disabilities.

Uploaded by

Jayraj Menon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 32

STEP 10:

Provide Effective
Internationalization
and Accessibility
Topics to be covered :
International
considerations :
—— Localization
—— Cultural considerations
—— Writing text
—— Using images and symbols

Accessibility
considerations :
—— Types of disabilities
—— Designing for accessibility
Internationalization and Localization

To create a product for use internationally may


involve two steps,

1. Internationalization : process of isolating


culturally specific elements from a product

2. Localization: process of infusing a specific


cultural context into a previously
internationalized product.
Localization(contd.)

When to do it:
When the market includes few or no English
speakers.
When translation is required by law or by custom.
When the widest possible market is desired.

Example :
Critical comments (Chavan, 2004).
Localization(contd.)
When not to do it:

When the audience already reads English.


When the cost of retrofitting or rewriting the
software is prohibitive

Example :
 The air transportation industry
 Scientists and engineers in Japan
Words And Text
The effects of bad Web writing will most
likely be amplified for non-native speakers
of the English language (Ozok and Salvendy,
2003).

The guidelines for designing words and text


is stated by del Galdo (1990), Russo and
Boor (1993), and Fowler and Stanwick
(1995), are followed.
Words And Text(contd.)
Use very simple English.
 Develop a restricted vocabulary.
 Restrict the sentence structure using: noun-verb-object.

Avoid:
 Acronyms and abbreviations.
 Local or computer jargon.
 A telegraphic writing style.
 An over-friendly writing style.
 References to national, racial, religious, and sexist stereotypes.

Adhere to local user language idioms and cultural contexts.


 English is read from left to right while Arabic is read from right to left.
 Italy’s Fiat had an auto named “Uno.” They could not sell it by that name in Finland
because uno in Finnish means “garbage.”
Words And Text(contd.)
Original terms
 Keep the original term for words that cannot be translated.

Allow additional screen space


 While developing products one has to keep in mind to leave
room for translation.
 English is a concise language.
 Horizontal and vertical spaces.

When translating to other languages, first do:


 European: German.
 Middle East: Arabic.
 Far East: Japanese.
Words And Text(contd.)
Mnemonics
 Modify mnemonics for keyboard access.

Local Formats
 Adhere to local formats for date, time, money, measurements, addresses,
and telephone numbers.

Icon Captions
 Position icon captions outside of the graphic.
 Text placed within an icon may cause the icon to have to be redrawn when
translation occurs
Images and Symbols
Local norms
 Adhere to local, cultural and social norms.
 Mailbox and Trash can are two examples of objects whose shape, and resulting
recognizability, vary substantially around the world.
 Images that are culturally specific must be isolated during the
internationalization process and replaced with appropriate images for the target
culture.

Internationally accepted symbols


 Determine if any international images have already been created by trade or
standards organizations eg. The ISO has developed standard shapes for a
variety of purposes.
 Consult relevant books and try to incorporate these standardized symbols.
Images and Symbols(contd.)
Generic images
 Create generic images that are usable in multiple cultures.
 Having different images can confuse people who may use more than one language
version of a product.

Exercise caution
Be particularly careful with:
 Religious symbols (crosses and stars).
 The human body.
 Hand gestures.
 Flags.
 The cross and check for check boxes

Review images early


 Proposed graphical images must be reviewed early in design cycle as creating
acceptable images is time consuming.
Color, Sequence and Functionality
Local Color Connotations
 Color associations also differ among cultures.
 Colors used on screens must also reflect the color expectancies of its viewers.
Color, Sequence and Functionality
Information Sequence
 Information should be arranged to reflect the logical flow of information.
 Information and windows should be suitably reorganized to reflect the different
reading patterns.

Proper Functionality
 Product features developed for one culture may not be appropriate for all cultures.
 If required multiple versions should be developed to reflect the individual needs
of cultures.

Features not supported


 All aspects of a product not supported internationally should be removed from the
system.
 Any references to features not supported should also be eliminated from all
documentation to minimize user confusion.
Requirements Determination and Testing

Establish requirements at the beginning


 Establish in what cultures the product will be used in
 Establish and address the differing product requirements thus resolving the localization
issues from the start

Relationship with Target Culture


 A close working relationship with natives from target cultures will permit local,
culturally specific feedback.
 It will also educate the designers about the culture where their product will be used.

Testing
 When a product is translated for a new culture, it should be subjected to normal testing.
 Plus international testing is to be done side by side so as to address potential cultural
problems beforehand.
Accessibility
Accessibility

Introduction :
 Accessibility is a fundamental aspect of Web pages.
 A system must be designed to be usable to anyone who desires to use.
 Providing easy access for the people with disabilities.

Design objectives :
 Minimize barriers that make system difficult
to use.
 Provide compatibility with installed accessibility utilities.
Accessibility Design
 Consider accessibility issues during system
planning ,design and testing
 Provide compatibility with installed
accessibility utilities
 Provide customizable interface
 Follow standard windows conventions
 Use standard windows controls
Disabilities
Visual Disabilities
Hearing Disabilities
Physical Movement Disabilities
Speech or Language Disabilities
Cognitive Disabilities
Seizure Disorders
Visual Disabilities
Utilities:
◦ Ensure compatibility with screen-
review utilities.
◦ Ensure compatibility with screen-
enlargement utilities.

Keyboard:
◦ Provide a complete keyboard interface.
◦ Provide a logical order of screen
navigation.
Visual Disabilities(cont.)
Screen components:
◦ Include meaningful screen and window
titles.
◦ Provide associated captions or labels for
all controls, objects, icons, and graphics.
◦ Provide a textual summary for each
statistical graphic.
◦ Allow for screen element scalability
Visual Disabilities(cont.)
Color:

◦ Use color as an enhancing design


characteristic.
◦ Provide a variety of color selections
capable of producing a range of contrast
levels.
◦ Create the color combinations based on
the system colors for window components.
◦ Do not define specific colors.
Hearing Disability
 Provide captions or transcripts of important audio
content.

 Provide an option to display a visual cue for all


audio alerts.

 Provide an option to adjust the volume.

 Use audio as an enhancing design characteristic.

 Provide a spell-check or grammar-check utility.


Physical Movement Disabilities
Provide voice-input systems

 Provide a complete and simple keyboard


interface.

 Provide a simple mouse interface.

 Provide on-screen keyboards.

 Provide keyboard filters.


Speech or Language Disabilities
Provide a spell-check or grammar-check
utility.

Limit the use of time-based interfaces.


◦ Never briefly display critical feedback or
messages and then automatically remove
them.
◦ Provide an option to permit the user to adjust
the length of the time-out.
Cognitive Disabilities
Permit modification and simplification of
the interface.

 Limit the use of time-based interfaces.


◦ Do not briefly display critical feedback or
messages and then automatically remove
them.
◦ Provide an option to permit the user to adjust
the length of the time-out.
Seizure Disorders

Use elements that do not blink or flicker


at rates between frequency ranges of 2 Hz
and 55 Hz.
 Minimize the area of the screen that is
flashing.
 Avoid flashing that has a high level of
contrast between states.
Provide an option to enable users to slow
down or disable screen flashing.
Web Page Accessibility Design

 Provide a “Skip to Main Content” link at the top of each


page.

 Structure articles with two or three levels of headings.

 For all images provide associated text.

 For all audio content include one or more of the


following:
◦ A caption or pop-up text window.
◦ A textual transcript.
◦ A textual description.
Documentation
Provide documentation on all accessible
features.
 Provide documentation in alternate formats.
Provide online documentation for people who
have difficulty reading or handling printed
material.
Testing
Test all aspects of accessibility as part of
the normal system testing process.

You might also like