International User Interfaces

Abstract

The developing global information infrastructure (GII), together with strongly supported initiatives promoted by the World Trade Organization (WTO), is making it possible for electronic commerce to become a truly international activity. Quite clearly, in order to realize the potential of the Internet as a conduit for the development of an international marketplace, there will need to be changes to the current business and economic paradigms that underpin the working of successful offline businesses. In almost every country worldwide, new models of commercial interaction are being developed to support businesses and consumers so that they can fully participate in, and benefit from, the expanded marketplace. However, to make a success of such an activity requires more than enthusiasm by the international trading community, or an appreciation of new online business and economic paradigms, or access to modern computer-based communications technology; it also requires customers to be able to navigate and use the interface with success and understanding. This means that the developer and owner of the system, in addition to having a knowledge of online business, must have a keen understanding of the cultural and language attributes of their customers. In this chapter, the focus will be concerned partly with issues relating to the cultural interaction of the customer with the system, partly with the development of an international user interface, and partly with examining some of the technical problems relating to the design and implementation of multilingual interfaces.