Software Localization (MCLS 50095)

Instructor:      Dr. Gregory M. Shreve
Semester     Fall 2001
Time:     Wednesdays 4:30 - 7:00
Email and Phone:     gshreve@kent.edu /gshreve@neo.rr.com 672-1796 or 672-2150 (MCLS Receptionist)
Office and Hours:     101 D Satterfield Wednesday 3:30 - 4:30
Class Page:     http://shreve.mcls.kent.edu/localize/
Prerequisite:     Graduate standing, MCLS 60011 (Terminology and Computer Applications for Translators with passing grade of B or better) or by special permission of the instructor
Description     

Introduction to basic concepts and techniques of internationalization and localization of software, web pages, and other electronic documents.
Grading:     Classroom participation 25% Projects 60% Final exam 15%
Readings:     As assigned. Readings will be indicated on the class web page.
Daily Structure:     4:30 - 5:30 Main Lecture
5:30 - 5:40 Break
5:40 - 6:45 Discussion, Projects, Laboratory Work
6:45 - 7:00 Q&A Wrap-up
Notes:     Dr. Keiran Dunne, an experienced localizer, will participate in the class as a discussant.
#     Date     Lecture Topics     Resources
1.     8/29/01     Introduction: Context and Process

    * Global E-Commerce
    * Globalization
    * Internationalization
    * Localization
    * Localizers: Localization Skill Set

    Download Lecture 1
Lecture 1
2.     9/5/01

PROJECT 1     Communication, Culture, Software and the Web

    * Multilingual / Multicultural Information Delivery: Issues and Trends
    * Inter-Cultural Communication
    * Language and Writing Systems
    * Encoding / Character Sets & Unicode
    * Non-linguistic Cultural Issues (Iconic, Symbolic, Logical, Perceptual)

    

Download Lecture 2
Lecture 2
Download Reading for Week 2
Reading 1
3.     9/12/01

PROJECT 2     Software Engineering for Localizers I

    * Software: An Overview
    * Software Development and Software Life Cycle
    * Programming, Platform and the API
    * Object-Oriented Programming

    


Lecture for Week 3 in HTML Format
Lecture 3
4.     9/19/01     Software and Software Engineering Concepts for Localizers II

    * Graphical User Interfaces
    * Cultural and Linguistic Content and the GUI
    * Cultural Issues Beyond and Beneath the GUI

    

Download Reading for Week 4
Reading 2
Download Lecture 4
Lecture 4
5.     9/26/01

PROJECT 3     Tools Used by Localizers

    * Translation Technology for Localizers: Translation Memory and Terminology Managers
    * Role of Machine Translation
    * Code Scanning Tools
    * Localization Tools

    Download Lecture 5
Lecture 5
6.     10/3/01     Internationalization and Localization of Software I: Compiled Software Issues

    * Compiled Software, Resources and Resource Extraction
    * Resource Files and RC Localization
    * Resource File Localization Tool
    * Catalyst Quickship Localization Tool

    

Access Lecture for Week 6
Lecture 6
7.     10/10/01     Internationalization and Localization of Software II: Help and Documentation  

    * Documentation
    * Help File Localization
    * Document Cycle / Localization Cycle
    * Localizing a Help File in Catalyst
    * Desktop Publishing and Localization

    Download Lecture 7
Lecture 7
8.     10/17/01     Mid Term and Project Consultations      MIDTERM PROJECT
9.     10/24/01     Internationalization, Localization and The Web I: Content

    * Web Content and Content Management Issues
    * Kinds of Web Content
    * Internationalization Issues in Web Content
    * Managing Multilingual / Multicultural Web Content
    * Technical Issues: HTML, StyleSheets, Scripting, Content, XML

    Download Lecture 9
Lecture 9
10.10/31/01

PROJECT 4     10/31/01     Internationalization, Localization and The Web II: Technology

    * Localizing Web Pages
    * Tags and Tag Editing
    * Localizing Scripts
    * Localizing XML

    
11.     11/7/01     Localizing Multimedia and Graphics

    * Graphics: Images, Icons, Screen Captures
    * Localization and Photoshop

    
12.     11/14/01     Localization Quality Assurance

    * Localization / Internationalization QA Process
    * QA Scripts
    * Linguistic Validation
    * Functional / Technical Validation

    Download Lecture 12
Lecture 12
13.     11/21/01     Thanskgiving Holiday: No Class     
14.     11/28/01     Managing Localization and Internationalization Projects

    * Localization Industry
    * Project Management (Overview)
    * Localization Projects
    * Project Management for Localization
    * Managing Localization Technology

    Download Lecture 14
Lecture 14
15.     12/5/01     Internationalization and Localization: The Future

    * Localizing Multimedia:Text, Graphics, Art, Animation, Sound, Video (Make-up lecture from Week 11).
    * Short Discussion of Corpus-Based Internationalization as the future of localization

    Download Lecture 15
Lecture 15
16.     12/12/01/01     Final Exam 5:45 - 8:00 p.m.     FINAL EXAM