internationalization is more than translating

Developing software for international use is more difficult than commonly thought. In addition to translating the various buttons and windows, the following things must be considered:

• Numeric notation: An Englishman writes 1,000.00 while a Dutchman notes 1.000,00. Small nuances make a big difference.
   
• Perception of time (and time zones): when considering the time of the day at a given moment, a Dutchman could answer 22:53hrs. At that same moment an Englishman would say 9.53 pm while someone from the Caribbean would say: it is afternoon.
   
• Maintenance interval: when software is used worldwide, there is always somebody working. What then is the most appropriate moment to perform software maintenance?
   
• Distributing updates: installing software can be simple, for instance using a DVD. However, what if the software is used worldwide? Using a DVD then may not be the preferred method.

WMIT is an experienced international software developer.