Building Websites for a Multinational Audience

by Linda Main

Overview

A successful Web site presents information to the user in a format with which he or she is accustomed. How much greater then the challenge to build a Web site capable of addressing the information needs of racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse populations.
Linda Main brings to the forefront those issues that should be considered by anyone building a Web site aimed at a multinational audience. It is a practical, hands-on look at issues such as: writing systems, character sets, encoding, and Unicode; XHTML and CSS style sheets; the effective placement of graphics; and the sensible use of Javascript, XML, and XSLT. Important subjective and objective cultural issues are also examined.

Building Web Sites for Multicultural Communities is the perfect reference tool for people who know how to build a Web site but want to focus on globalizing their Web pages, for people who may outsource their Web sites need some understanding of the issues and techniques involved in globalization, and for people in the initial throes of Web site construction who want to do it right the first time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810845039
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/19/2002
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Linda Main is Professor, San Jose State University, School of Library and Information Science, California.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Preface
Part 2 1 A Networked World
Part 3 2 Understanding Writing Systems, Character Sets, Encoding, and Fonts
Part 4 3 Subjective and Objective Cultural Considerations
Part 5 4 Inputting Content and Translation
Part 6 5 Using Dynamic XHTML: XHTML and Stylesheets Appendix 5A Differences between HTML and XHTML
Part 7 6 Using Dynamic XHTML: Graphics and Javascript
Chapter 8 Appendix 6A Working with Layers in Photoshop
Chapter 9 Appendix 6B Saving Text as a Graphic in Photoshop
Chapter 10 Appendix 6C JavaScript Code
Part 11 XML, XSLT, and SVG
Part 12 The Final Test
Part 13 Appendix A Library Automation Vendors and Unicode Compliance
Part 14 Appendix B General Resources
Part 15 Index
Part 16 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

The book is a simple guide to practical issues, such as character sets, encoding, XML, Javascript, and cascading style sheets (CSS), and shows how to utilize these technologies for a globalized Web site. Although the book examines some subjective and objective cultural issues as well, its major focus is on practical skills and techniques, which distinguishes it from others....Each chapter begins with a brief description of basic concepts and is followed by step-by-step instructions that involve HTML coding and/or Web browser configurations. Screenshots and examples of HTML code illustrate the instructions. The result of this consistent approach is that all the related technologies, software, and standards are thoroughly presented. Each chapter ends with acomprehensive reference list that consists primarily of Web-based resources but also has some essential print materials. As a whole, this book does a decent job of achieving its purpose, which is bringing together all the practical issues to consider inbuilding a globalized Web site. Experienced Web designers may already know all the technologies or applications described in this book, such as Javascript or Photoshop, but they may never have thought of using them in the suggested ways particularly for a” —Library & Information Science Research

“Useful for it's discussion of cultural and technical issues, Building Websites for a Multinational Audience is recommended for computer, technology or programming collections of public, academic or special libraries.” —Internet Reference Services Quarterly

“The book is a simple guide to practical issues, such as character sets, encoding, XML, Javascript, and cascading style sheets (CSS), and shows how to utilize these technologies for a globalized Web site. Although the book examines some subjective and objective cultural issues as well, its major focus is on practical skills and techniques, which distinguishes it from others....Each chapter begins with a brief description of basic concepts and is followed by step-by-step instructions that involve HTML coding and/or Web browser configurations. Screenshots and examples of HTML code illustrate the instructions. The result of this consistent approach is that all the related technologies, software, and standards are thoroughly presented. Each chapter ends with a comprehensive reference list that consists primarily of Web-based resources but also has some essential print materials. As a whole, this book does a decent job of achieving its purpose, which is bringing together all the practical issues to consider in building a globalized Web site. Experienced Web designers may already know all the technologies or applications described in this book, such as Javascript or Photoshop, but they may never have thought of using them in the suggested ways particularly for a multinational audience. Most of all, the standards, software, and other resources introduced in the book are of great use for Web developers. The book is especially suitable for those who already have a basic knowledge of creating a general Web site. A think book, it is useful for a quick reference or instruction from a technology perspective...” —Library & Information Science Research

From the Publisher

Useful for it's discussion of cultural and technical issues, Building Websites for a Multinational Audience is recommended for computer, technology or programming collections of public, academic or special libraries.

Internet Reference Services Quarterly

The book is a simple guide to practical issues, such as character sets, encoding, XML, Javascript, and cascading style sheets (CSS), and shows how to utilize these technologies for a globalized Web site. Although the book examines some subjective and objective cultural issues as well, its major focus is on practical skills and techniques, which distinguishes it from others....Each chapter begins with a brief description of basic concepts and is followed by step-by-step instructions that involve HTML coding and/or Web browser configurations. Screenshots and examples of HTML code illustrate the instructions. The result of this consistent approach is that all the related technologies, software, and standards are thoroughly presented. Each chapter ends with acomprehensive reference list that consists primarily of Web-based resources but also has some essential print materials. As a whole, this book does a decent job of achieving its purpose, which is bringing together all the practical issues to consider inbuilding a globalized Web site. Experienced Web designers may already know all the technologies or applications described in this book, such as Javascript or Photoshop, but they may never have thought of using them in the suggested ways particularly for a

Library & Information Science Research

The book is a simple guide to practical issues, such as character sets, encoding, XML, Javascript, and cascading style sheets (CSS), and shows how to utilize these technologies for a globalized Web site. Although the book examines some subjective and objective cultural issues as well, its major focus is on practical skills and techniques, which distinguishes it from others....Each chapter begins with a brief description of basic concepts and is followed by step-by-step instructions that involve HTML coding and/or Web browser configurations. Screenshots and examples of HTML code illustrate the instructions. The result of this consistent approach is that all the related technologies, software, and standards are thoroughly presented. Each chapter ends with a comprehensive reference list that consists primarily of Web-based resources but also has some essential print materials. As a whole, this book does a decent job of achieving its purpose, which is bringing together all the practical issues to consider in building a globalized Web site. Experienced Web designers may already know all the technologies or applications described in this book, such as Javascript or Photoshop, but they may never have thought of using them in the suggested ways particularly for a multinational audience. Most of all, the standards, software, and other resources introduced in the book are of great use for Web developers. The book is especially suitable for those who already have a basic knowledge of creating a general Web site. A think book, it is useful for a quick reference or instruction from a technology perspective...

Library and Information Science Research