Microsoft sets out to Localize Windows 7

Microsoft has decided to translate their new operating system, Windows 7 into 10 African languages. Some have wondered the reasoning behind this as they currently only provide this system in English and French. Microsoft responded with wanting to increase overall usage, more use of local languages online and also to fight software piracy.

This is set to finish rolling out by 2011 including languages like Sesotho sa Leboa, Setswana, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Afrikaans, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, kiSwahili and Amharic.

Many in Africa are considered illiterate because they do not understand technology in the English and French language, while they are great readers and writers in their native language. They are hoping that with more availability in local languages, it will lead to greater inclusion. Then they would be better able to express themselves in the form of blogs, emails and websites.

Currently, African language letters, accents and editing functions are not included in most products, making it difficult for people to use their language online. Microsoft is hoping to change this with the increase of content.

Language is power and it can unite countries and people from all over. Microsoft plans to lead us into 2011 in a new direction with localization.

Learn more about this.

Related tags: Software and website localization

Technology grows for the hard of hearing

In today’s society, almost every person owns a mobile phone. But for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, cell phones have largely limited them to text messaging only. Providers like T-mobile have long created data only plans on all their phones with keyboards to cater to this market. But technology is stepping it up!

Cornell researchers have created a cell phone that allows deaf people to communicate in sign language. For deaf people, this is more than a matter of convenience, but rather “untethered communication in their native language.”

The phones use videoconferencing to allow communication in a live feed, unlike regular cell phones where video messages have to taken and then sent. They have been designed to maximize battery life and are optimized to transmit clearly, be user-friendly and use minimum bandwidth.

Facial expressions are extremely important in ASL because it provides a lot of added information. Researchers made sure to make it clearest in the face and hands for this reason.
This is will offer deaf and hard of hearing people the ability to choose how they would like to communicate with others without limitations.

See the article here

A New Way to ‘Unify’ the Spanish Language

Can we all speak the same no matter what region we’re in?

A new 4,000 page book strives to connect the Spanish speaking population by releasing grammar guidelines to the public for the first time in 80 years. This text reveals all the ways one statement can be expressed: like 20 different ways ballpoint pen can be said- how it varies from one social class to another, or from country to country even. It is even cut into 2 smaller versions for the reader’s convenience: one for teachers of Spanish and students, and the other one for the public.

This new three volume text reflects how the language is spoken in Latin America- which is where most Spanish-speakers live. This book was created by the people, for the people. It does not claim any grammar as correct or incorrect, but instead recommendations as to what is generally accepted to be proper Spanish.

Find out more!

Apple Adds More Language Localization Options

Apple tries to keep up with the demand and adds:

- Brazilian Portuguese: Brazil App Store
- Korean: Korea App Store
- Portuguese: Portugal App Store
- Russian: Russia App Store
- Simplified Chinese: China App Store
- Swedish: Sweden App Store

Apple is very aware of the 50 million users of iPhone and iTouch and encourages App developers to jump on board and create localized versions of their apps to fit each target market. Apple is contributing by rolling out support for these six new languages in an effort to meet world wide demands.

However, China states that there is still a tremendous lack of localization for applications and their instructions by the China App Store.

How can we solve this?

Maybe it’s time developers reach out to other resources to achieve their business needs and reap the rewards.

Let Dynamic Language assist with your website localization needs.

Learn Languages on the Go

Meet Memorista, a language education website designed for travelers, tourists and budding linguists. This site provides several flashcard category packs for each language; for example, People, Food and Drink or Basic Expressions. Words are presented in a flashcard format with mnemonic to help associate the words.

Don’t expect to become a fluent international translator! Rather, it is intended to help learn key phrases and basic vocabulary. It is free to use, registration is required.

Learn more here!

Make Way for HTML5

HTML5 isn’t your typical web's core language specification. It actually details how the HTML should be formatted and used in order to deliver images, text, web apps, search engines and more. This is a huge revision to web developers as this is the main component to how the web is put together. While this may mean little to us at the moment, it impacts the way we stream things via the internet immensely. When more browsers and developers support HTML5's audio, video, and interaction standards, the idea of the web as the universal app store—for smartphones, for desktops and laptops, Windows, Mac, and Linux—gets closer to reality.

The benefits:
· Offline storage: Kind of like "Super Cookies," but with much more space to store data, like email.
· Canvas drawing: Sites can mark off a space on a page where interactive pictures, charts and graphs, game components, can be drawn directly—no Flash or other plug-ins required.
· Native video and audio streaming support: Sites like YouTube and Pandora could one day skip Flash entirely to bring you streaming audio and video

It can also provide: Geolocation, Smarter forms, and Web application focus.

As this becomes reality, we can assist with your linguistic localization and technology needs.

Check this out for the complete article.
Click here to see a demo! http://html5demos.com/

Localize While It's Hot!

Apple's iPhone has hit the market in China, and there has been a frenzy of iPhone Applications developed and/or localized for millions of new users. Software piracy is still a huge issue in China, and that includes the iPhone platform. The vast majority of Chinese iPhone users "jailbreak" their iPhones and are more likely to download pirated software. Still, however, analysts estimate the potential for over $6 million of legitimate iPhone app revenue by next year.

An important question remains for iPhone developers: How can you localize your app to capitalize on the growing Chinese market?

That seems to be the big question. Legitimate Chinese phone apps are slowly surging as is the demand for accuracy, efficiency and originality in applications. Many developers are finding apps created for mainland users are sometimes more popular overseas, however the app should also be as much in line with Chinese lifestyles as possible. Also, most of the apps and their instructions are in English, hampering the ability for many to even use them. This emphasizes the importance of localization and how key a role it plays in your app being successful.

For more details please click here.

Related tags: Website localization

Bridging Gaps in Emergency Preparedness

Do you have a patient or client who is blind, deaf, hard of hearing or has limited use of their vision that has struggled with having proper accessibility in emergency situations? It is possible that they do not have access to resources on how to prepare when these disasters occur. Now you can assist!

Free resources on Emergency Preparedness are now available online by the Northeast Texas Public Health District, including user friendly videos available in ASL with audible English voice-over and matching text that address topics such as Disaster Preparedness, Basic First Aid, and Infections Diseases. Materials are also available for download in Braille, large print and regular font.

Disasters do occur, and everyone should have an equal opportunity to be prepared. All the information and resources are at your disposal to help on this site, and we can assist with your individual communication needs.

Check out the site http://www.accessibleemergencyinfo.com/home.html for more information and access their Preparedness topics!