CAW N 12

Title: Organizational concerns on Cultural Adaptation TD (One of process issues)
Source: Takayuki K. Sato-Japan (HP-Japan/CICC)
Date: 1997-12-06
Action: For a discussion at JTC1 CAW in Ottawa (Jan. 1998)

There are, at least, three very different type of projects for the Cultural Adaptation of Information Technologies.

Those three are very different by nature: Therefore, it is very questionable if we like to pursue all of above three in a single TD. At least, three independent groups within the TD might be needed if we define a TD for all of the three.

Rather than having a single TD, I would recommend to consider the separated activities described as follow:

1. Cultural data/requirement collection:
It would be better to have one TD for this purpose. Current SC2 and some of SC22WG20 activities may fall into this TD.
Unlike past JTC1 projects, this TD should have wide participation, and many of the participants may not be an IT specialists.
And special operational concern is needed as described in separated paper.

2. Mechanism development for accommodation of the data/requirements
This is for, mostly, existing technology. Very good cooperation with the specialists of each technology is needed. However, need for the specialty for cultural dependent data itself is relatively lower than that of data collection (if the collection is done well)
Rather than having a single dedicated group for this, It would be better to spread the projects for the related technology group, If this is happen, there is a side benefit. Each SDO activities should have far higher awareness on cultural adaptation than it is now.
Some of existing SC22WG20 projects are to be categorized in this group.
Issue on this arrangement is "who/how to raise an issue? and how to make decision?". Each SDO do have lower interest on cultural adaptation than their own technology.

3. Develop a new technologies for further cultural adaptation:
Activity itself for this type of adaptation is not defined yet, even no consensus formed yet.
Therefore, many of strategic and fundamental discussion might be needed for this area.
To meet the objective of this, thus, the group would be an advisory group for JTC1 directly.
May be, this group will also serve a management group for the "adaptation group".
 

4. (By the way), projects to be opened for cultural adaptation should be:

(ex. UCS character input method)
There is very high possibility that there would be "over standardization" that may kill the free competition and kill a "better solution".

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