Re: Web page layouts in different cultures - question from DIWG

Page layout for Arabic and Hebrew readers is different from layout for 
western users.  In general, the page is flipped vertically, i.e. 
navigation on the right side, vertical scroll bar on the left side etc...

Shalom (Regards),  Mati
           Bidi Architect
           Globalization Center Of Competency - Bidirectional Scripts
           IBM Israel
           Phone: +972 2 5888802    Fax: +972 2 5870333    Mobile: +972 52 
2554160




"Rotan Hanrahan" <Rotan.Hanrahan@MobileAware.com> 
Sent by: www-international-request@w3.org
19/09/2005 13:48

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Web page layouts in different cultures - question from DIWG







At a recent meeting of the Device Independence Working Group (W3C-DIWG) we 
discussed the issue of page layouts, and how to represent/process them 
when adapting content for different devices. Our perception of page 
layouts is based mostly on our Western experience of such pages, as such 
people are in the majority in our group. Typically: logo and ads on the 
top, navigation down the left, copyright at the bottom, scrolling the page 
is vertical etc...

However, we were concerned that such layouts may not be representative of 
the non-Western world. I am seeking references to information about this 
topic. If it turns out that the Western ideas of page layouts are broadly 
compatible with the ideas of page layout around the world, then there is 
no issue for us to worry about.

(For immediate response from DI to any relevant ideas on this issue, 
please email the www-di public mailing list.)

Thank you.

---Rotan Hanrahan (member DI, chair DD, ACRep MobileAware)