Keyboard Engraving vs Keyboard Language Stickers

If you're bilingual, like me, and work on your PC, Mac, or laptop with more than one language, you're probably frustrated with having a single language keyboard. I mean, you can easily download another language to your computer, but if you don't know where the letters of the new language reside on your keyboard, you're practically lost.

This feeling of loss is especially true if your language is Arabic, Russian, Hebrew, or Chinese, which has characters which are wildly different than those of English.

Up until recently, the popular solution for this problem would have been to use keyboard language stickers, whether Arabic, Russian, or Hebrew stickers, whichever language you're using. The basic thing was to buy letter stickers, place each on the right key (so that when hitting each key, your computer will show the right letter), and start working. The main problems with these stickers are these:

• Keyboard stickers tend to fall apart after a while, leaving a mess on the keyboard
• It's hard to get these stickers straight on the keyboard
• You need to replace all these language stickers once in a while
• It makes your keyboard look ugly and unprofessional
• Overall, keyboard language stickers have multiple disadvantages.

Recently, a new solution came out: keyboard language engraving. Keyboard engraving is a process in which an additional language letters are engraved into your keyboard in a similar way as the original English letters were engraved at the computer factory. Keyboard engraving has some main advantages:

• Keyboard engraving is a permanent solution which requires no work on your part
• The letters never wear off
• It looks as if the letters came with the original keyboard
• The best thing with keyboard engraving is that it's a quick and fast process. It's much faster to have your keyboard engraved than placing stickers on yourself

The main thing I like about my engraved keyboard is that it looks totally professional. I didn't spend all this money on a cool laptop just to ruin how it looks with keyboard stickers. I even get asked admiring questions about my keyboard which is also nice. I highly recommend keyboard engraving for anyone who works with 2 or more languages.

Boris Drezny is a graduate student. He writes about computer hardware and software. To read more about keyboard stickers, click here: Keyboard Stickers Dangers. To read more about laser Keyboard marking, click here: Keyboard Engraving - The end of keyboard stickers?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Boris_Drezny

Software Translation & Localization

What is Software Localization?
The Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA) defines localization as "the process of modifying products or services to account for differences in distinct markets". Software localization is thus much more than translating user interfaces from one language to another. It is about adapting all cultural content and technical issues to a specific audience in a given location.
localization means ensuring that your software "speaks" the language of your customers. In a world of globalization, localization can make the difference between success and failure in your target markets. However, as the business environment becomes increasingly competitive, the challenge of adapting software, documentation, online help, Web pages and manuals to conform to the cultural, linguistic and regulatory needs of each customer becomes formidable. Localization has effectively become the cost of doing business in the global market.
Internationalization is the process of translating software UI (user interfaces) from one language to another and altering it to suit foreign clients and their culture norms. this in not just about translating languages, but adapting from one culture to another.
Globalization makes your software ready for the global market. Localization includes the program itself and any online or printed documentation. As the competition among the many software developers increases, software companies are increasingly challenged to localize its software, documents, web pages, and manuals to each customer's different cultural and language needs. In addition, there are increasing regulatory, cultural and compliance pressures that companies need to deal with. a well executed globalization process can aid in opening new markets and retaining current clients.
Localization is not limited to translating English into other languages (as most software continues to be developed in the U.S.) but also includes every language from French, Spanish, Hebrew, Chinese, Arabic, etc.
benefits both developers and customers alike In five years, the number of non-English speaking Internet users has gone from less than 10% to nearly 64% of all users. Similarly, user trends are similar. More and more non-English speaking users are using localized software. (Nielsen/Net ratings Internet measurement service)
Users of computer software expect their software to be written in their own language. Although localization services come at a cost to software developers, it also yields concrete benefits: Users who understand a product fully are more skilled in managing it, more efficient in using it and less likely to make costly mistakes. These are all issues that affect the bottom line. The more skilled and efficient the users, the lower the burden on customer support and services.
Localization allows users to interact with applications in their own language and in a setting that is intuitive to them.
For Example:
Messages are in their own language
Input fields formatted as is customary in the specific country (names, addresses, dates, and other data)
Keyboard character standards when input is required
Error messages in the local language ensure quick resolution
Competition in the software industry is fierce with many quality products vying for the same market. Differentiation today is not about bells and whistles, but about who best meets the needs of the customer. Localizing is the key to strategic, competitive advantage.

By Shy Avni