This document discusses localization challenges for user interfaces including differences in character length, word length, text size, and scripts written right to left or top to bottom. It also notes cultural differences in colors and symbols. Some solutions proposed are using universally understood icons when possible, though some concepts have no clear icon. Localization requires considering character sets, text direction, word and line heights, and cultural relevance may require outside expertise.

1. i18n: User Interface
Localization
kaylablock.com 2012

2. Internationalization and Localization:
Challenges and Solutions
• Localization challenges for a user interface
include:
 Number of characters
 Word length
 Number of words
 Text size
 Word height
 Scripts written right to left
 Scripts written top to bottom
 Cultural differences
 Colors
 Symbols

3. Language Characteristics
•Long Words
• German is known for long, compound words
• Writing a concept in German is only about 20% longer than English
• Today’s Arrivals
• Die heutige Ankunft
• Long German words can be hyphenated

4. Language Characteristics
•Tall Words
• Line height can vary between languages. In this Thai translation, note that the width is similar but the
line height is much higher

5. Localization Solutions: Iconization
•Use Universally Understood Icons When Possible
• Magnifying glass
• Calendar icon
• Gears (settings)
• X (close)
• Forward arrow
• House (representing home)

6. Localization Solutions: Iconization
• Some Concepts are Complex and There are No Universal Icons
• Non-universal icons must be
either:
• Intuitable
• Learnable

7. Icons and Labels
Ease of Use is optimized by using icons and labels
together.

8. Localized Action Buttons
• These icons would be likely to be understood
by someone in the hotel business, even if they
didn’t speak the language of the labels.

9. Summary
• Localization issues involve more than just long words
• Double byte character sets
• Right to left text
• Long words
• Tall Words
• Cultural relevancy in localization may require outside expertise