Localization World

KEYNOTE: Unlocking the Value of Linguistic Resources at Microsoft
Bernhard Kohlmeier, Microsoft Corporation

How can software and content reach more customers worldwide? Language and localization/translation costs represent a barrier to entry for many software development companies and content providers. How can software and content providers break out of their own markets and go beyond the traditional first tier to leverage more of the cost for developing software or content? There needs to be a shift in not only how localization itself is performed but also where localization happens in the software development life cycle. The process of localization needs to become more flexible through language automation technologies such as machine translation and recycling. It also needs to expand new models of engagement with service providers, localization vendors and communities alike. The keynote will present options and trends as well as discuss the role that the Microsoft Windows operating system platform can play in the future.

Program Session Synopses

A. PERSPECTIVES
Nontechnical sessions with a business focus

Localization World Perspectives are "conventional" conference presentations. Speakers provide perspectives on various aspects of localization, usually from the customer’s point of view and with a less technical focus than in other types of sessions. Perspectives are hosted by industry specialists and experts who introduce the topic as well as the speaker, thereby providing a context for the Perspective.

A1: Increasing the Value of Linguistic Resources
A perspective on new techniques that convert text corpora into valuable resources for translation automation.

HOST: Eric Blassin
SPEAKER: Gregory M. Shreve, Kent State University

Synopsis: The translation re-use approach has several inherent flaws and limitations that can be rectified by exploiting machine-readable multilingual document corpora more effectively. Using a variety of new corpus analysis techniques, it is possible to construct linguistically “enhanced” corpora. Enhanced corpora are engineered to provide a greater range of resources in support of translation and localization. The multilingual-enhanced corpus becomes a valuable resource for multilingual terminologies, phrases, collocations, concept networks, translation alignments, document structures, and other objects serving to make translation and localization easier and more cost effective. Enhanced corpora should be integrated into the next generation of authoring and localization/translation workstations to improve the ability of companies engaged in large-scale intercultural communication to deal effectively with the twin issues of localization cost and effort.

A1 Tuesday (October 17) 10:00 AM PERSPECTIVES

A2 Tuesday (October 17) 11:30 AM PERSPECTIVES

A3: Localization of Intel's Customer Support Website
Lew Tarnopol, a 14-year industry veteran and localization program manager at Intel Corporation, will discuss Intel’s three-year effort and resultant innovative approach to successfully launching its localized customer support site. The site won LISA’s “Ten Best International Support Sites” for 2006.

HOST: Christiane Bernier
SPEAKER: Lew Tarnopol, Intel

Synopsis: The discussion will include:
• How up-to-date accuracy of localized content is paramount to a successful support site. Keeping the localized site in sync with as many as 1500 updated documents per month required creation of a special automated process called PIXCIGL.
• Development, implementation and return on investment of geo-specific TTI (Top-Technical Issue) support sites to augment and improve the customer’s experience.
• Analysis and localization of Download Center, a net application that allows customers to obtain BIOS, drivers, utilities and software updates in 11 languages.
• Implementation of a localized Support Search engine to provide support-specific results, thus reducing the amount of superfluous information one often receives when searching a corporate site.
• How the support team's use of MS CMS for English content authoring was integrated with localization. Includes overview of a unique content localization selection process performed at the product, rather than the document, level.

A3 Tuesday (October 17) 2:00 PM PERSPECTIVES

A4: The Evolution of Translation Memory
A perspective on the evolution of TM adoption and the TM and terminology potential as the industry moves to a web-based environment.

HOST: Matthias Caesar
SPEAKERS: Takatoshi Adachi, CA; Eric Blassin, Lionbridge

Synopsis: This perspective will emphasize the behavioral impacts and personal productivity benefits to translators and content creators through natural collaboration and real-time updating while the Computer Associates representative will focus on the changing nature of content and the role for TM and terminology at the source-creation level based on the experiences of migrating to a web-based environment at Computer Associates.

Attendees will learn:
• Best practices for TM and terminology deployment, utilization, maintenance, and leverage across a large, decentralized resource base (for example, moving from translation teams of 3 to teams of 30 working in parallel)
• Technology advances can only be exploited through integrated process redesign from client to LSP to translator
• Systemic collaboration between the entire content supply chain can improve leverage, accelerate process time and ensure production consistency
• Web-based platforms enable dramatic expansion and utilization of TMs and terminologies (for example, instead of defining 30 terms, define and reference 300 without being disruptive to the translator’s workflow)
• Support of technology and interface standards can accelerate transformation in highly collaborative industries

A4 Tuesday (October 17) 3:30 PM PERSPECTIVES

A5: Math Matters: Building Global Awareness in the Corner Office

HOST: Ulrich Henes
SPEAKER: Karen Fowlie, Cognos

Synopsis: The goal at Cognos was to create a localization entity that is scalable, sustainable, efficient, effective, differentiated and conducive to career opportunities. In this session Karen Fowlie, a 14-year industry veteran, will illustrate her successes and challenges when measured against this goal.

A5 Wednesday (October 18) 9:00 AM PERSPECTIVES

A6: Cisco Systems’ Use of Translation Technology: The Present and the Future

HOST: Aki Ito
SPEAKER: Martin Guttinger, Cisco Systems

Synopsis: Translation technology has become a critical part of Cisco’s localization operation. This session will highlight what translation technologies Cisco uses today, what the plans are for the future and what tool trends Cisco foresees for the future.

A5 Wednesday (October 18) 10:30 AM PERSPECTIVES

A7: Translation Memory Challenges in a Compliance Environment: A Medical Case Study
Compliance environments often present challenges to the translation process due to their extensive regulatory requirements. These include requirements for translation validation, management of linguistic resources and performance reporting. This case study will focus on how translation memories (TMs) can help to meet validation requirements in medical translation process.

HOST: Joe DiDamo
SPEAKERS: Sonia Monahan, ForeignExchange Translations; Jim Niziurski, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics

Synopsis: Jim Niziurski and Sonia Monahan present a case study on specific TM challenges which companies in a compliance environment face. Topics include:
• Requirements unique to companies in a compliance environment with regards to their linguistic assets and the overall translation process
• Related challenges for translation validation, in-country review and approval cycles
• Methods for tracking approval of linguistic assets
• Performance metrics and reporting tools developed
Take-aways:
• Understanding of the challenges faced in a compliance environment
• Off-the-shelf TM tools: what they provide to address these requirements
• Tools and methods utilized to address the gap between what off-the-shelf tools provide vs. the requirements
• Benchmarking and performance metrics utilized to track success of implementing new approaches

A7 Wednesday (October 18) 12:00 PM PERSPECTIVES

A8: Sharing Translation Memories for a Better World
While the business world may still be undecided about the real value of sharing translation memories (TMs) and the possible effects on corporate strategies, this speaker has no doubts that his language management system with shared linguistic resources helps to save lives.

HOST: Donna Parrish
SPEAKER: Richard Averitt, The Well Project; Jeff Quiggle, EMC documentum

Synopsis: As COO of the The Well Project, Richard Averitt is responsible for the localization of the website into Spanish. This nonprofit organization educates women about HIV in Spanish-speaking countries, as well as in the US Hispanic market. This case story possesses both a technical and a human interest. Richard explains how content management, workflow and TMs are seamlessly integrated, but he will also highlight how everybody benefits — from the sharing of linguistic resources and how his organization is in a better position to meet its objectives educating women and saving lives.

A8 Wednesday (October 18) 2:30 PM PERSPECTIVES

B. POINT/COUNTERPOINT
Stimulating debates on hot topics in localization

Localization World Point/Counterpoints are designed to highlight and stimulate debate about hot topics in the localization industry. A moderator, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the subject, will manage a point-by-point debate between two or more panelists who focus in on what really matters to our delegates.

B1: Garbage In, Garbage Out: Going Back to the Source
More and more attention is being paid to protecting and increasing the value of corporate linguistic and content assets. Within the localization industry, this attention usually takes the form of securing and leveraging translation memory (TM) assets, applying workflow systems and automation, and the like. However, companies have finally begun to realize that this attention is often misdirected or comes too late to do much good. The value of content assets begins and rests primarily in the content source, not in its multilingual forms. For best results and highest value, the source is where companies should be directing significant energies.

MODERATOR: Göran Nordlund
PANEL: Don DePalma, Common Sense Advisory; Hans Fenstermacher, Translations.com; Ben Martin, QAD

Synopsis: This panel discusses ways that companies should look to their source content for the solution to content problems and to raising the value of their assets. By increasing the quality, consistency and reusability of their source content, companies can increase the “trust” in their TM assets and, indeed, raise the quality of their target deliverables. The panelists come from three distinct perspectives: the customer/user (Ben), the external service provider (Hans) and the industry analyst (Don). They will discuss a holistic view of content across the enterprise, including its multilingual drivers. They will focus on how to create a fully “global” — not just multilingual — view of content so that no single driver overpowers the others in this complex equation.

Some of the topics to be addressed:
• What content drivers should direct content development and localization?
• How can sometimes competing business processes (for example, authoring and localization) be harnessed and streamlined for improved results?
• Which metrics are important to capture in creating a holistic view of the content process?
• Which methodologies (single-sourcing, CMS/GMS, authoring strategies and so on) provide real-world results and what are the costs/benefits of those methodologies?
• How do choices made early in the content creation cycle affect downstream options?

The session draws on data and experiences from real case studies. In a highly interactive format, panelists and audience will explore these and other topics together, tying them to actual examples of content and solutions that involve people, processes and technology. Attendees will come away with a good sense of the multiplicity of factors and drivers they must consider in implementing a sound content strategy in their own organizations.

B1 Tuesday (October 17) 10:00 AM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

B2: The Future of Translation Technology, Part 1
Join this debate of technology leaders to learn more about the rapid changes in translation technology.

MODERATOR: Lew Tarnopol
PANEL: Pierre Blais, MultiCorpora; Adriane Rinsche, LTC; Shannon Zimmerman, Sajan

Synopsis: The latest trends indicate bigger changes in translation technology than we have seen since the invention of translation memory (TM). Examples are sophisticated text corpus analysis, statistical machine translation, workflow integration, language search engines, and new business models of hosted services and on-demand translation technologies. Part 1 of this technology leaders' debate focuses on changes in existing technologies and new delivery models.

B2 Tuesday (October 17) 11:30 AM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

B3: Translation in Canada

MODERATOR: Gerry Gervais
PANEL: Donald Barabé, Canadian Translation Bureau; Anne-Marie De Vos, Society of Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters, Québec; Larry Rogers, Lexi-tech International

Synopsis: Canada is officially bilingual. This means that all written federal government communication and publications must be released simultaneously in French and English. Just as in other multilingual nations, the translation industry in Canada is well-developed. In a panel discussion Donald Barabé (head of the largest government translation agency), Larry Rogers (director of the largest Canadian private translation company), and Anne-Marie De Vos (President of the Quebec Translation Society) will give insights in the Canadian translation market and share their views on the challenges and opportunities of increased automation. How will the profession of translators change under the pressure of technology, how can quality be preserved. An open brainstorming under chairmanship of Gerry Gervais, founder of Multicorpora.

B3 Tuesday (October 17) 2:00 PM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

B4: Who Owns Translation Memories?

MODERATOR: Paula Shannon
PANEL: Bruno Barrette, Stikeman Elliott; Francie Gow, Translation Bureau, Government of Canada

Synopsis: The issue has not come up for a long time, but it becomes relevant again now that we talk more and more about sharing of linguistic resources: Who actually owns the translation memories? This panel of legal experts tries to draw some binding conclusions.

B4 Tuesday (October 17) 3:30 PM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

B5: The Future of Translation Technology, Part 2

MODERATOR: Jaap van der Meer
PANEL: Timothy R. Hunt, Lingotek; Michael Smolens, dotSUB; Kirti Vashee, Language Weaver; Jost Zetzsche, TM Marketplace

Synopsis: The latest trends indicate bigger changes in translation technology than we have seen since the invention of translation memory (TM). Examples are sophisticated text corpus analysis, statistical machine translation, workflow integration, language search engines, and new business models of hosted services and on-demand translation technologies. Part 2 of this technology leaders' debate focuses on "disruptive" technologies and translation models that have the potential to change the fundamental workings of the translation industry.

B5 Wednesday (October 18) 9:00 AM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

B6: Business Strategies for Localization Companies (GALA session)

MODERATOR: Matthias Caesar, Locatech
PANEL: Marc Johnson, Translations.com; Marc Jonckers, Jonckers Translation & Engineering; Smith Yewell, Welocalize

Synopsis: How can owners and managers of localization companies develop long-term strategies when the market makes them live and manage from project to project? This debate between localization entrepreneurs about the balance between short-term tactics and long-term strategies will be revealing for everyone interested in successfully growing their translation company.

B6 Wednesday (October 18) 10:30 AM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

B7: The Real Value of Linguistic Resources: The Client Perspective

MODERATOR: Paula Shannon
PANEL: Karen Fowlie, Cognos; Lew Tarnopol, Intel; Francis Tsang, Adobe

Synopsis: Our panel of clients will provide background into the way linguistic assets are valued within their respective enterprises. Each panelist will comment about how language and linguistic assets serves as a differentiator with regard to their competitors and market(s). We will learn about real savings they have driven through best practice and asset leverage as well as the specific manner in which they have added value to their linguistic assets through greater participation and sharing company-wide. Finally, in this session we will also explore whether there comes a point when linguistic assets are no longer differentiators and what models this potential evolution might suggest for collaboration and asset sharing outside the enterprise.

B7 Wednesday (October 18) 12:00 PM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

B8: The Real Value of Linguistic Resources: The Vendor Perspective (GALA session)

MODERATOR: Christiane Bernier
PANEL: María Gabriela Morales, Rosario Traducciones y Servicios; Arturo Quintero, Moravia Worldwide; Ying-Lin Xia, HiSoft

Synopsis: VVendors and corporate users have diligently collected and maintained glossaries and translation memories over the years. There is a significant cost involved with this support to translation processes. Looking back, clients and vendors will evaluate the current status. Was the cost justified? Did they get a good return on investment? And they will look forward: how can they get more value from all linguistic resources, including translation memories and glossaries, but also translators and client reviewers, as well as new tools and resources? How can processes be improved? What are the barriers and what are the opportunities? In session B7 we will hear the perspective from the clients. In session B8 we will hear the perspective of the vendors.

B8 Wednesday (October 18) 2:30 PM POINT/COUNTERPOINT

C. PRAXIS
Hands-on solutions for localization practitioners
Localization World Praxis panels feature hands-on solutions for localization practitioners. They are more like seminars than ordinary conference sessions. Facilitators are provided to help define issues and manage these highly interactive sessions, where the delegates are as important as the presenters. PowerPoints or overheads are limited, and the concentration is on the interaction between the ideas and experiences of panelists and delegates. Delegates should leave a Praxis better informed about specific solutions to localization problems, gaining the benefits of the collective wisdom of a Praxis session.

C1: Will Language Search Engines Replace TM Systems?

FACILITATOR: Jaap van der Meer
SPEAKER: Timothy Hunt, Lingotek

Synopsis: This session analyzes a new technology called language search engines (LSE) and compares it to existing TM technology. It both introduces the technology and shows attendees how it can work with and in some cases replace current TM systems. This technology runs in a web browser, has centralized indexes, and is a Google-like tool for language research. It can also be added to existing TM systems as well to improve performance. The software is open source and free. Individuals only pay for the hosting their content.

C1 Tuesday (October 17) 10:00 AM PRAXIS

C2: Technology on the Front Lines: The Translators’ Perspective

FACILITATOR: Sheena Dempsey
PANEL: Freelance translators: Laurence Simoën, based in Montréal; Fabio Salsi, based in Italy; SangHo Park, based in Korea

Synopsis: Translation tools were originally designed for the professional translator. Today, translation technology is developed from a corporate perspective. The translator, once the principal in translation technology decisions, has become subordinate when it comes to technology strategies. Sheena Dempsey, VP of Worldwide Procurement at Lionbridge, in discussion with three professional translators about translation technology.

C2 Tuesday (October 17) 11:30 AM PRAXIS

C3: Finding the Golden Middle in Real-world Terminology Management
Managed terminology is the key linguistic resource to attaining high quality in translation. Nevertheless, the value of terminology management is all too often overlooked in the language industry, which tends to emphasize translation memory and neglects terminology. This praxis section shows how companies can make terminology management work well.

FACILITATOR: Michael Wetzel
PANEL: Scott Bass and Elena Dunne, Advanced Language Translation; Keiran Dunne, Kent State University

Synopsis: Terminology management generally means choosing between two extremes: an Excel spreadsheet or two-column bilingual Word term list on one hand, or a highly complex, all-encompassing multilingual relational database (often proprietary) on the other hand. This session will explore ways to move beyond the all-or-nothing proposition and achieve the golden middle in real-world terminology management projects. Specifically, the session will answer the following questions:
• What are the benefits – to vendors, clients, and translators – of a consistent terminology management process? Conversely, in what ways are project stakeholders adversely affected by the failure to manage terminology?
• Why is terminology management neglected?
• What are the advantages and limitations of available tools as well as current standards (TBX) and best practices?
• At what stage(s) in the document cycle and localization process does/should terminology management occur?
• Who “owns” terminology management?
• When is "enough" enough? In other words, how can the business imperative of doing more with less be reconciled with effective real-world terminology management?
• How can one assess the costs and cost benefits of terminology management in order to make the business case?
• How does/should terminology management differ for large vs. small enterprises?

C3 Tuesday (October 17) 2:00 PM PRAXIS

C4: Usability Testing of Localized Medical Software and Patient Information
Usability and readability testing are ways to assess the quality, functionality and usability of a medical product (device, software, even customer documentation). In this case story attendees will learn about this new form of testing that helps to improve the quality of user instructions.

FACILITATOR: Clio Schils
PANEL: Simon Andriesen, MediLingua; Brigitte Herrmann, Siemens Medical Solutions

Synopsis: In the medical sector, usability and readability testing are much more common than in other industry sectors — partly as a result of legal requirements, but also because of the crucial importance of an error-free operation of medical devices. The recent EU Directive concerning human medicines (2004/27/EC) requires readability testing on patient information leaflets of medicines. If a leaflet does not pass the readability testing criteria, the medicine cannot be sold!

For medical software, there is no legal requirement to perform usability testing, but testing is often done to guarantee that documentation and user interface facilitate the safe use of the medical device or equipment.

During the first part of the session, Brigitte Herrmann will describe the Usability and Requirement Lab of Siemens. Here, customers perform typical tasks in usability tests on devices, equipment, prototype, and software for all Siemens products (medical and non-medical). The tests are documented on video, and human factor engineers as well as developers and marketing managers witness the customer reaction first hand. At the end of testing, customer and manufacturer identify together critical usability issues and problems and develop practical solutions. These usability tests are performed worldwide.

During the second part of the session, Simon Andriesen discusses how they do readability testing of patient information, what the legal requirements are and how testing greatly improves the quality of written or translated information, with every test contributing to a steady learning curve.

Also non-medical companies benefit from this session, as many user test methods from the medical sector can be used in other sectors.

C4 Tuesday (October 17) 3:30 PM PRAXIS

C5: VistaTEC and Idiom: A Partnership Showcase
A case story on the partnership between a translation vendor and its technology supplier. Each plays its role and focuses where focus is needed. Is this how it should be?

FACILITATOR: Stephen Ryan
PANEL: Peter Reynolds, Idiom Technologies; Phil Ritchie, VistaTEC

Synopsis: The case study will focus on why and how VistaTEC joined Idiom’s LSP Advantage Program and the return that they are seeing from it. It will show how VistaTEC used the program to improve the efficiency of its process and capabilities.

The presentation will zoom in on issues that VistaTEC has to deal with in terms of implementation, migration and compatibility. The financial aspects will be highlighted as well. The pros and cons of the different models of deploying homegrown workflow systems versus a tested commercial system will be discussed.

C5 Wednesday (October 18) 9:00 AM PRAXIS

C6: Taking TI.com into Asian Markets

FACILITATOR: Francis Tsang
SPEAKER: Devashish Saxena, Texas Instruments

Synopsis: In this presentation, Devashish Saxena will talk about how Texas Instruments decided its internet strategy for China and how technology-enabled translation processes, internally and externally, enacted collaboration across twelve cities and five countries in the successful execution of its strategy. He will also outline how this strategy has been extended to Japan and the plans for other countries such as Russia.

C6 Wednesday (October 18) 10:30 AM PRAXIS

C7: Bring Your Company's Localization Efforts In-house While Keeping it Simple: Actual Data and Processes

FACILITATOR: Clio Schils
SPEAKER: Jeffrey Klein, Dade Behring

Synopsis: This session will provide an in-depth description of how one of the largest companies solely dedicated to clinical diagnostics has set up the in-house software localization process. The presentation will highlight all the steps of the in-house software localization process model, starting from tool selection and implementation of the different workflow types untill the potential regulatory issues that might arise before, during or after the commercialization phase. A Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analysis of each process step — as well as actual data regarding software and manual localization savings — shows the success rate of this company's decision to bring the software localization process back home.

C7 Wednesday (October 18) 12:00 PM PRAXIS

FACILITATOR: Karen Fowlie
SPEAKER: Terry Shidner, Symbio

Synopsis: Localization testing relies heavily on the use of software test engineers who are native speakers of the target language. There is now a new approach that closes the loop between functionality and linguistic testing and ensures that all aspects of product testing are covered. The key to making this model work is a process, supported by technology, which enables non-technical language specialists to review all UI elements within the product. To ensure that the language specialists are able to uncover all of the UI elements within the product, we have developed a model built around sending screenshots to the language specialists for review. The LVT team does not have to work with the product directly and is responsible only for reviewing and editing screenshots. They are also given a UI Roadmap to help them navigate the screenshots in the order that a user would typically follow within the system.

Because the localization functionality testing team and the language-independent localization testing team are no longer tied to any particular language, they can be located in lower-cost offshore testing centers. Also, by not requiring the language specialists performing the LVT to have specialized technical skills, the overall project cost is reduced.

While this new model may increase project risk, the risk can be mitigated with increased communication, and the payback comes in the form of lower testing costs.

C8 Wednesday (October 18) 2:30 PM PRAXIS

D1. Global Product Development Simulation
Learning from actually doing it: as real as it can get

FACILITATORS: Don DePalma, Common Sense Advisory; Hans Fenstermacher, ArchiText

Synopsis: This is a revived version of a very successful praxis session from previous Localization World conferences. Participants will be actively involved in the planning and execution of a global product launch. After the case is presented to all participants together, they will be placed in a constituency group. Each group will meet separately to discuss how to achieve their assigned objectives and implement its mandate. Each group will be assisted by one of the presenters, who will facilitate the discussion as needed.

During the discussion period, each group will develop plans for accomplishing its mandate. Then each group will present its findings to the other groups for discussion and critique.

The presenters will then discuss the final constituency plans with all participants, leading to the formulation of conclusions and recommendations for real-life implementation of “lessons learned.” A summary of the discussion and recommendations will be posted on the web after the session.

This is a very educational session, opening new perspectives on the challenges of globalization and localization from all perspectives.

Closing Session:

PANEL:

Synopsis:

Introduction to GALA

Companies interested in Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) membership are invited to attend this short session. GALA representatives will present details on the benefits of GALA membership, including networking, marketing and discount opportunities. GALA membership is open to any company providing translation, localization, internationalization, or globalization products or services, including tools developers, training suppliers, and consultancies.

Vendor Sponsored Sessions

PRESENTER: Michel Duron, MultiCorpora R&D

Synopsis: With MultiTrans 4.2, it is possible to easily unlock the value of your multilingual assets by automatically extracting the information from these documents and building specialized terminology databases and contextual translation memories. This leads to significant additional productivity gains while increasing consistency. We will explore this innovative approach which has been proven successful in several corporations as well as large governmental organizations.

Start leveraging more your linguistic assets today!

Lionbridge: Free TM Software via the Web

PRESENTERS: Eric Blassin, Lionbridge

SYNOPSIS: Eric Blassin, a Lionbridge Fellow, will provide a detailed review of Logoport, Lionbridge's free, web-based TM and terminology management system. A demonstration of the system from both the client and translator perspectives will be shared.

PRESENTER: Joe Kranitz, MultiCorpora R&D

Synopsis: MultiCorpora is officially releasing MultiTrans 4.2 at Localization World in Montreal. MultiTrans 4.2 is the only tool that combines all the advantages of conventional translation memory (TM) with a contextual TextBase approach. Providing complete control of your multilingual assets, MultiTrans 4.2 TextBase TM simply does more! MultiTrans 4.2…
 
•             is TMX and Unicode compliant;
•             processes and creates unclean translation RTF files;
•             supports Word, WordPerfect, XML, HTML, PDF files and desktop publishing formats;
•             ensures enhanced quality through advanced terminology management features;
•             enables centralized linguistic assets sharing through a secure web application;
•             does not require any up-front investment.
 
Get TextBase TM into your world today!

SDL International

PRESENTER: Massimo Ghislandi, Michael Wetzel, SDL International

SYNOPSIS: SDL TRADOS Technologies introduces SDL Trados Synergy 2006, its new technology platform software which addresses the needs of project managers while dramatically reducing review time with SDL PerfectMatch technology.

Preconference Day (Monday, October 16) Synopses

WS1: TAUS: Hands-on Translation Automation

MODERATOR: Jaap van der Meer, TAUS

Synopsis: In this full-day workshop, experts in the field will take participants through the various aspects of implementing and customizing translation workflow and machine translation (MT) technologies. MT is arriving in daily operations as yet another productivity tool to help lower the localization barrier for international business. In this workshop we will learn about the customization and costs of implementing rule-based or statistical MT systems. Participants will experience every step on the way to train and customize the engines, understand and discuss the metrics for quality and productivity measurement, the deployment models and the integration. The second focus of this workshop is on the automation of translation management tasks. Every step in the process will be analyzed with a view on how it can best be automated. Based on the so-called 40-steps translation analysis, we will compare the benefits and challenges of using off-the-shelf translation workflow systems. Participants are taken through every step of analyzing the need for automation to preparing the implementation and doing the implementation itself. They learn about the tricks of defining tasks, roles and functions in an automated process and all the considerations that go with it. More information about this workshop is may be downloaded.

WS3: Medical Round Table

ROUND TABLE LEADER: Clio Schils, Localization Institute

Synopsis: After the success of the Barcelona Localization World Medical Round Table in May 2006, the Medical Round Table in Montréal will build on the experiences in Spain while enhancing the overall Localization World Montréal Conference theme Increasing the Value of Linguistic Assets. This specialized one-day medical round table will be open to clients (all day) and vendors (afternoon only) and will focus exclusively on current medical/client issues in the world of translation and localization.

The Montréal Medical Round Table will offer a number of brief yet in-depth presentations. Each presentation will be moderated and followed by a discussion. Two break-out sessions during the day will offer attendees the chance to exchange views on presented topics. In sub-groups, attendees will try to apply all observations made and the educational lessons learned during this day to a set of best practices applicable to and compatible with each attendee’s own specific corporate environment.

The Medical Localization Roundtable will address issues such as:

• SW localization: going from outsourcing to “in-sourcing”: Which steps to take? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats?
• Regulatory requirements and bottlenecks in medical localization
• CMS: use of a client-owned content management systems together with a translation workflow system? What are the benefits, the challenges? Will it work for Medical Companies?
• Linguistic aspects in software localization: how to control the linguistic content in a software localization process?

For more details on the Montréal Medical Localization Roundtable, please click here.

You are cordially invited to register for the Medical Round Table through the normal registration procedure. The number of vendors will be limited and subject to a screening by the organizing committee. Vendors with long-standing experience in medical localization will be given priority to attend the round table. Vendors who want to express their interest in participating are kindly requested to send an e-mail prior to registration.

WS4: Introduction to Medical Localization

WORKSHOP LEADERS:
Simon Andriesen, MediLingua Medical Translations
Robert J. Forloine, Argos Translations
Andres Heuberger, ForeignExchange Translations

Synopsis: This is a workshop for customers and current or future providers of medical localization services. During this half-day event, several issues that distinguish medical localization from "normal" localization will be discussed. How different are the localization requirements of the highly regulated medical sectors compared with those of professional software publishers? What does it take to provide quality medical translations? Why does medical localization seem to be more complicated than localization for other industries? Is liability really a big issue? How do pharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers, biomedical companies and clinical research organizations organize their localization processes? What are their business models for QA and review cycles?

Special attention is given to the issues concerning Eastern European languages. It’s been more than two years since 10 (mainly Eastern European) countries entered the European Union, almost doubling the number of languages for EU-wide translation projects. Has the dust really settled?

Also the revisions of the various European Directives (concerning devices and medicines) will be discussed: What are the language implications? Do we have to deliver in Braille?

This workshop is set up as a general introduction, but it also offers in-depth information. The presenters will share their many years of medical localization expertise, and the participants are welcome to share and exchange their experiences. The last 45 minutes of the program will be an interactive session dedicated to in-country review: Does it work? Why does it always have to take so long? How can vendors deal with "HQ" vs. "national"?

This workshop was given during four previous Localization World conferences (San Francisco, Bonn, Seattle and Barcelona) and had excellent reviews, both from customers and from vendors.

WS5: How to Reach Your Marketplace

PRESENTER: John Freivalds, JFA Marketing

Synopsis: Whether you want to sell your services or your company, you have to know how to market. Too often we think of marketing as an event — an advertisement, a white paper, a press release, an exhibit, a trade show and so on. This workshop shows you how to tie all those "events" together into a marketing process, which enables you to better market your company and to measure the results.

WS6: Managing Distributed Teams

PRESENTER: Willem Stoeller, Welocalize

Synopsis: Many organizations execute projects using virtual or geographically distributed teams. Some of the common reasons for using these teams are:

This workshop addresses each of the above challenges, provides examples of tools to facilitate distributed teams (MS Project Server, SharePoint Services, Live Meeting and so on) and offers some best practice examples based on the presenter's experience. The presenter will discuss best practices learned by Welocalize, especially in regards to outsourcing engineering, localization engineering and testing to China.

WS7: How to Master .NET Localization
Presented by The Institute of Localisation Professionals (TILP)

WORKSHOP LEADER: Florian Sachse, PASS Engineering

Synopsis: In this workshop you will learn about .NET concepts related to localization. The workshop consists of presentations and exercises. We therefore strongly recommend bringing your laptop with you to the session. Exercises will be prepared by the presenter; however, participants are also invited to contribute their own example data and files.

As a participant at this session, you will take with you the PowerPoint presentation used during the workshop, both source and binary samples files, and a tool to inspect .NET applications. This tool allows you to identify .NET-related localization problems and to evaluate localization tools which you consider using in your localization process.

On behalf of TILP, Florian Sachse will address a selected set of topics relevant to .NET Localization, among them:

• .NET Basic Concepts
• Frameworks
• Satellite Assemblies
• References
• Inheritance
• Reflection
• Font Issues
• Obfuscation
• Signing

At the end of the workshop, participants will have gained a thorough understanding of .NET concepts related to localization.

• Set-up of a .NET localization kit
• Validation of the target files generated
• Evaluation of localization tools

The session will be highly interactive and hands-on. In addition to material being presented, participants will be able to "learn by doing." The session will include recent case studies prepared by the presenters. In addition, participants are highly encouraged to contribute their own case studies and their own professional experience in consultation with the session presenter.

Agenda
Start: 1:30 PM
Finish: 5:30 PM

Who should attend
TILP Ask-the-Experts Sessions are aimed at localization managers, engineers and linguists directly involved in the production of localized products and services. The ability to actively participate in and contribute to the discussions is a prerequisite.

About Ask the Experts
TILP organizes regular Ask-the-Experts sessions where the professionals share their knowledge with TILP members. The one-day events give TILP members the opportunity to ask the world’s experts about current issues and trends in localization. Non-members: join TILP online.

About TILP
The Institute of Localisation Professionals (TILP) has the primary aim to develop professional practices in localisation globally. TILP is a nonprofit organization, owned by its members and is led by a Council elected at its Annual General Meeting. TILP represents the localization industry professionals and professionals active in localization-related areas.

GALA Annual Meeting

This is the fourth Globalization and Localization Association (GALA) annual membership meeting. The agenda includes election results for two new GALA Board officers for 2007-2008, a report on GALA’s financial and membership status, and short presentations by the GALA Board on association activities.

The core of the meeting will focus on interaction and input from members on key issues for the industry. The GALA Annual Meeting is for GALA members only. Each company is invited to send up to three representatives to the meeting free of charge (lunch is not included). Registrants will receive a GALA Annual Meeting Package containing the agenda, financials and other information in advance.

Localization World — Producers

	The Localization Institute, an independent organization providing quality resources, training, seminars and conferences on localization, internationalization and international business development.
	MultiLingual Computing, Inc., publisher of MultiLingual, the magazine about localization, internationalization, translation and the tools and technology for those processes.

Localization World is produced in cooperation with

Globalization and Localization Association, a fully representative nonprofit international industry association for the translation, internationalization, localization and globalization industry.

Exhibitors and Sponsors
Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available. Please click here for more information.