When developers create software applications and websites for international audiences, they can take steps to ensure their products are not culturally misunderstood. Major players in technology do an excellent job of culturally internationalizing or localizing their products, and they regularly share their successes and failures publicly to help other companies.
Companies that are trained on technical and cultural internationalization will build websites and applications that are much more easily adapted to global markets.
Adam Wooten is CEO of AccuLing, a translation services company he co-founded with technology developer Western Standard. He also teaches translation technology at Brigham Young University. Email: adam@acculing.com. Twitter: @AdamWooten