Towards an International Information Interface

Sunday, April 14 and Monday, April 15

Information providers who are used to dealing with an English-speaking, local audience are not always aware of the difficulties encountered by users in other countries. The difficulties may be caused by factors other than language or translation -- for example, reliance on services that are unavailable outside of USA working hours. This workshop is for designers and users of information interfaces that are intended for, or are being accessed by, an international audience.

The objective the workshop is to compile a set of best practices for access to information by an international audience. The participants will share success and horror stories of their experiences with different information interfaces, and use brainstorming techniques to compile the best practices.

Many factors cause working methods to vary from region to region. In studying several examples of international information interfaces, participants will share and learn good working practices-and practices to be avoided.

Those interested should please send a one- to two-page position paper, preferably via electronic mail, to the workshop organizer, describing your work or studies, explaining your interest in international issues, and giving a short description of one interface of any genre (e.g., CD-ROM software, a Web site, printed manual) that you feel is particularly good or bad from an international viewpoint.

Participants will be selected from diverse backgrounds to ensure a variety of working backgrounds, practical experience, and native language.

This two-day workshop will be limited to 20 participants.

Contact

Alison Popowicz-Toon
Software and Information Delivery Europe, Hewlett-Packard France
5 Avenue Raymond Chanas, Eybens
38053 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
E-mail: alison_popowicz@grenoble.hp.com
Tel: +33 76.62.55.43
Fax: +33 76.62.52.00

or

Eviatar Shafrir
Computer Systems R&D
Hewlett-Packard Company
1266 Kifer Road, Building 101G
Sunnyvale,
CA 94086 USA
E-mail: shafrir@ptp.hp.com
Tel: +1 408 746-5268
Fax: +1 408 746-5268