Internationalization Forum Transcript

Notes from SLDEV Forum Topic: Internationalization Speakers: Danica Linden, Noelle Linden Date: 19 March 2009

Speakers

• Danica Linden
• Noelle Linden

Transcript

Review of Internationalization Efforts In Progress

International developers and user base leads to decision to increase 'localization'; Japanese, e.g., and recently the French web site - will add more; Some website redesign also in progress - japanese german english; working on spanish and portugese also; increase language quality; looking at chinese, danish; 1.23 viewer 16 languages coming out; Other plans include SL Grid web site; add localization french, german; timing approximately this Summer; Viewer work also in progress (client; clean up internationalization areas

Bottom line whole new level internationalization; invite comments suggestions on glossary pages viewer areas etc; Here is a link to a blog to also spread around: French SecondLife.com

Questions and Discussion

Q: Are there pages in sl.com in french eg. not in us version? A: One page added to french leading to the sl grid more easily than in us site

Q: Any idea on whether an SL translater is going to be introduced?; Many people using resident made translator tools. Will linden lab incorporate into the system itself? These tools operate in Chat, often distributed as a HUD, translate typed sentences. A: Have reviewed several tools so far; good syntax, short sentences ok; slang, abbrviations, long sentence not so goodl Linden Lab is looking at the systems; hope to import something in next year or so after assessment; on radar

Q: How much support is Linden Lab offer on multiple languages A: Adding extended hours for german time zone; team in uk adding french spanish support; a bit longer lead time; looking at a provider as well for languages; analysis in progress; working on localized Knowledge Base Articles e.g. New User Experience and Monetization A: (continued)Get much help from residents on language translation; ct community translator project; terminology, glossary, testing; also help in world

Q: What is being done to promote IN sl the french web site e.g. sl mentors A: Notice on the sl blog about ten days ago; could do some more promotion

Q: What about putting a prim on the SL Help Islands that says Bonjour and links them to the french web site?; 30 of them for all new registrants; easy to do also :) A: Good idea! have many mentors in localisation group; they let as many new residents know about the FR version of SL as they can

Q: What about czech/slovak? A: Have some submissions in hand; issues about brand

Q: Is it fair to deny a language on SL because one SP has an issue? A: Discussions in progress

Q: Do you intend to create extensions for sl domain name like .fr ? A: Discussions in progress

Q: What about a french flag on the main SL website that takes people to the fr website - and add extra ones as the languages grow A: Would rather stay away from flags since French for instance is spoken in many other countries

Q: Good point - modifies suggestion for LANGUAGE ICONS on main pages A: Agree - avoid flags use words instead

Q: What about language links on top instead of bottom A: Will consider it - lot of people asking for "things at the top" of sl.com

Q: To what extent does the LL Executive Committee consider SL's international positioning a top strategy of the company? A: M Linden gets regular updates; detailed road map of internationalization checked weekly; just presented to exec. cmte. last week and will do so again in a month