- From: Bill McCoy <bmccoy@w3.org>
- Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2018 09:42:58 -0700
- To: <public-publishingbg@w3.org>, <public-epub3@w3.org>, "'W3C Publishing Working Group'" <public-publ-wg@w3.org>
- Cc: "'W3C Team Digital Publishing'" <team-dig-publishing@w3.org>
This new internationalization initiative may be of particular interest to publishing-oriented folks so forwarding to all three groups (BG, WG, and EPUB 3 CG).
Internationalization has been, along with accessibility and security, one of the "cross-cutting" concerns that are considered in every standards effort at W3C but this marks a new emphasis o making sure we are delivering on what's needed to lead the Web to its full potential in this area.
And while not explicitly part of the newly announced initiative, Internationalization is also definitely in scope for the upcoming workshop on Digital Publication Layout and Presentation (Sep 18-19 Tokyo) and I also wanted to remind folks that the initial deadline for expression of interest in participating or presenting is coming up in 11 days (July 20), see [2] . I encourage prospective attendees to fill out the interest form early even if you aren't interested in presenting, as the information on what's of specific interest to you will help the program committee shape the specific agenda.
Thanks,
--Bill
[1] https://www.w3.org/publishing/events/tokyo18-workshop/index.html
[2] https://www.w3.org/publishing/events/tokyo18-workshop/cfp.html
-----Original Message-----
From: Coralie Mercier <coralie@w3.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 8, 2018 11:30 PM
To: w3c-ac-forum@w3.org
Subject: W3C launches Internationalization Initiative (Press Release)
Dear Advisory Committee Representative,
Today we launched the Internationalization Initiative, to expand core work in further internationalizing the Web. We have announced the effort and the 5 founding sponsors in a Press Release:
W3C launches Internationalization Initiative https://www.w3.org/2018/07/pressrelease-i18n-initiative.html.en
Coralie Mercier, Head of W3C Marketing & Communications
======
[1]W3C For immediate release
[1] https://www.w3.org/
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) launches Internationalization Initiative
W3C leads program to accelerate progress in making the World Wide Web "worldwide"
__________________________________________________________
Read [2]testimonials from Founding Sponsors
[3]Translations | [4]W3C Press Release Archive
__________________________________________________________
[3] https://www.w3.org/Press/Releases-2018#i18n-initiative
[4] https://www.w3.org/Press/
[5]Internationalization (I18n) Activity: Making the World Wide
Web truly world wide!
[5] https://www.w3.org/International/sponsorship/
[6]https://www.w3.org/ — 9 July 2018 — The [7]World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C) announced today the launch of the
[8]Internationalization Initiative to further internationalize
the Web.
[6] https://www.w3.org/
[7] https://www.w3.org/
[8] https://www.w3.org/International/sponsorship/
Internationalization ("i18n") is the design and development of
applications, specifications, etc, in a way that ensures they
will work well for users regardless of culture, region, or
language. Web for All has long been an area of strong
commitment at the W3C. From its inception in early 1998, the
i18n activity has worked to enable universal access to the Web,
producing an extensive range of completed and [9]ongoing work
to make the World Wide Web truly world wide. However, as the
Web continues to grow, as we welcome more of our world onto the
Web, we want and need to do more.
[9] http://w3c.github.io/i18n-activity/projects/
"The key thing about the Web is that it is universal. One of
the most important actions taken at the start - to make sure
the Web was for everyone - was Internationalization. People who
come from different cultures and use different languages work
to make sure that all kinds of languages, whether read from
left or right, can be shared and used on the Web. That makes me
very proud. Inclusive of all cultures, the Web is richer." said
Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the Web and W3C Director.
Tremendous progress in internationalizing the Web over recent decades,
but more to do
Internationalization makes it possible to use Web technologies
with different languages, scripts, and cultures. The W3C
Internationalization activity works with W3C working groups and
liaises with other organizations to internationalize the Web.
The Web community has made tremendous progress in
internationalizing the Web over recent decades, from making
Unicode the foundation of the Web, to providing support for
bidirectional writing systems such as Arabic and Hebrew, to
addressing styling needs for vertical text and other native
typographic features, etc. But as Web penetration in language
communities increases, as usage scenarios grow, and as new
applications such as digital publishing emerge, there remains
more to do.
Ethnologue lists [10]7,100 languages in current use, but
[11]W3Techs reports that less than two hundred languages are
currently used for content pages on the Web, and that over half
of all websites use English. Only around a quarter of current
Web users use English online. If the Web is to live up to the
"World Wide" portion of its name, it must support the
requirements of worldwide users, and allow them to engage with
content in the own languages.
[10] https://www.ethnologue.com/guides/how-many-languages
[11] https://w3techs.com/technologies/overview/content_language/all
"Supporting the W3C Internationalization Initiative with
funding or expertise is a vital way that our Web community
creates the future of the global Web." according to Jeff Jaffe,
W3C CEO.
W3C takes action to expand Internationalization core work
The Internationalization Initiative will attract participation
in the form of stakeholders to provide expert personnel and
additional funding to provide a significant boost to work in
three main aspects of the internationalization continuum:
* Language enablement ensures that the Web supports the
native typographic features that users around the world are
accustomed to, and enables users to interact with the Web
in line with long-standing print traditions.
* Developer support helps creators of specifications, of
system-level tools (browsers, printers), of user-level
tools (editors), to understand and implement support for
international features. Plans to provide additional support
include investigating ways to meet internationalization
requirements in new areas of technology and tooling.
* Author support expands educational and outreach to people
creating web content in their own language, as well as to
companies who build or localize a large number of websites
in many languages.
Typical activities include:
* Gap analysis & prioritization; Documenting requirements.
* Reviews; Guidelines & checklists; Architectural solutions.
* Educational resources; Outreach; Checker tools.
Founding Sponsors and participants partnering to truly connect all
communities
W3C Members Alibaba, Apple, Advanced Publishing Lab (Keio
University), Monotype, and The Paciello Group have stepped
forward as [12]Founding Sponsors of the Internationalization
Initiative. Sponsors enjoy [13]unique benefits, including a
seat on the Internationalization Review Board and the ability
to sponsor specified goals or projects.
[12] https://www.w3.org/International/sponsorship/
[13] https://www.w3.org/International/sponsorship/#levels
In addition to sponsorship funding, the W3C is seeking
stakeholders to provide expert personnel to help with the
initiatives outlined above. It is important for people around
the world to contribute to building the international Web on
behalf of their own communities. In addition, those who develop
Web technologies need to ensure that resources are available so
that developing regions don't become second-class citizens on
the Web.
About W3C Internationalization
The mission of [14]W3C Internationalization (I18n) Initiative
is to enable universal access to the World Wide Web. It
proposes and coordinates the adoption at W3C of techniques,
conventions, technologies, and designs that enable and enhance
the use of the Web, with and between the various different
languages, scripts, regions, and cultures. W3C pursues this
goal in various ways, including collaboration with W3C groups,
coordination with other organizations, creation of educational
materials, and technical work itself on various topics.
Acclaimed work ranges from the popular [15]Internationalization
Checker, to the widely used documents on Working with Time
Zones, Character Model for the World Wide Web, or Requirements
for Japanese Text Layout.
[14] https://www.w3.org/International/
[15] https://validator.w3.org/i18n-checker/
About the World Wide Web Consortium
The mission of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is to lead
the Web to its full potential by creating technical standards
and guidelines to ensure that the Web remains open, accessible,
and interoperable for everyone around the globe. W3C develops
well known specifications such as HTML5, CSS, and the Open Web
Platform as well as work on security and privacy, all created
in the open and provided for free and under the unique W3C
Patent Policy. For its work to make online videos more
accessible with captions and subtitles, W3C received a 2016
Emmy Award.
W3C's vision for "One Web" brings together thousands of
dedicated technologists representing more than 400 [16]Member
organizations and dozens of industry sectors. W3C is jointly
hosted by the [17]MIT Computer Science and Artificial
Intelligence Laboratory (MIT CSAIL) in the United States, the
[18]European Research Consortium for Informatics and
Mathematics (ERCIM) headquartered in France, [19]Keio
University in Japan and [20]Beihang University in China. For
more information see [21]https://www.w3.org/.
[16] https://www.w3.org/Consortium/Member/List
[17] https://www.csail.mit.edu/
[18] https://www.ercim.eu/
[19] https://www.keio.ac.jp/
[20] http://ev.buaa.edu.cn/
[21] https://www.w3.org/
End Press Release
Media Contact
Amy van der Hiel, W3C Media Relations Coordinator
<[22]w3t-pr@w3.org>
mailto:w3t-pr@w3.org
+1.617.253.5628 (US, Eastern Time)
__________________________________________________________
Testimonials from Founding Sponsors
[23]Advanced Publishing Lab, Keio University • [24]Alibaba •
[25]Monotype • [26]The Paciello Group
Advanced Publishing Lab, Keio University
Keio Advanced Publishing Laboratory (APL), which is
sponsored by four major Japanese publishers and the biggest
ebook distributor in Japan, sincerely appreciates W3C for
the internationalization of the Web.
APL welcomes the Internationalization Initiative. We
ardently desire to contribute for W3C so that the Web will
truly work for stakeholders all around the world. APL is
convinced that many requirements from the Japanese market
are also applicable to other languages, scripts, and
culture.
Jun Murai, Director of APL, Professor, Keio University
Alibaba
A Web that truly works for stakeholders all around the world
is in the best interests of the entire Web community, and
more broadly, the human society. Alibaba sincerely hopes
that, through I18N initiative activities such as this
sponsorship program, more members in the community could
collaborate on taking care of the areas that have been less
adequately covered in the current I18N activity and handling
the new emerging challenges. Some specific suggested topics
include the requirements from Southeast Asia and India. As a
member in the Web community, we want to make sure that the
Web for All definition covers them as well.
Judy Zhu, Alibaba, Standardization Director
Monotype
Monotype is proud to support W3C Internationalization
initiative. We believe this core activity of W3C contributes
directly to building a stronger foundation of the Web, one
that enables it to serve both as a main communication
technology and a digital publishing medium. As such,
ensuring that people can communicate in any language of the
world and on any platform is a critical requirement, the one
that is challenging and ambitious at the same time. The
effects of this activity may not be immediately visible to a
wide audience, but it is of vital importance for the
adoption of the lesser used languages to connect people
throughout the world together.
Vladimir Levantovsky, Monotype, Director, Standards &
Technology Strategy
The Paciello Group
The Paciello Group (TPG) believes that internationalisation
is a key part of the web platform, and it is happy to
support this initiative at the W3C. The web after all, "is
for everyone".
Léonie Watson, The Paciello Group, Director of Developer
Communications
__________________________________________________________
[27]Translations | [28]W3C Press Release Archive
[27] https://www.w3.org/Press/Releases-2018#i18n-initiative
[28] https://www.w3.org/Press/
--
Coralie Mercier - W3C Marketing & Communications - https://www.w3.org mailto:coralie@w3.org +337 810 795 22 https://www.w3.org/People/CMercier/
Received on Monday, 9 July 2018 16:43:07 UTC