Location-Based Language Settings = Traveller Nightmare
Right, time for a rant.
Something which has slowly grown to annoy me is the number of websites which will change my language settings simply because they have managed to work out where I am sitting right now. In short, what I’d like to say to all webmasters who do this is “STOP IT!”
For me, I’ve noticed this problem because I’m primarily an English speaker who happens to be in France. Yes, I make good use of my sudden French settings and get some instant French practise, but by and large I just wish websites and mobile apps would leave language settings be.
For instance, I searched for something on Google using English keywords. I found a site in English which fit the bill. When I clicked on that link it decided I’d prefer the French version of the site. Surely, if I’d wanted the French version, I’d have searched using French keywords and found the French version of the site? I don’t even know if Google or the website is responsible for the switch. What made this even more annoying is that it was a site which I have an account with – and I was logged in! Hello, you guys KNOW my language preferences. What are you doing? I fully expect my personal settings to override your guesses while I’m logged in, thanks.
In fact, many sites I use will override my regular language settings with a location-based language setting. It’s usually the big ones, too: Google & Facebook spring to mind (although with Facebook it’s just the login screen, which is reasonable). Google language settings are seriously annoying: Just when you think the language setting is set for every single Google service (oh yes, different settings for each service – thanks Google), you accidentally click something which changes things back to wherever you are again. What’s really annoying is that these sites which automagically decide on a language for you think they’re so right in their language choice that they go and hide the language settings from you and make it difficult to change it back to what you want.
I used the IMDB movie app on my phone to check out popular movies. It had settings to be able to pick which database the info came from, yet despite my choices of imdb.com and amazon.co.uk it insisted on providing me with the French versions of the movie titles. Movie titles are obscure, you know? They’re translated to be catchy in that language. So, even if you translate them back to English, you’ll have more luck working out which movie it is by recognising the poster. Either way, after deliberately setting these database choices, the app had overridden my choices simply because of where I happened to be. Turns out that they do this on the main site too, and for any app which access the IMDB database. Annoying!
Automatically changing the language is ridiculous! Leave it be and ASK people which language they’d prefer.
I think web-developers in English-speaking countries probably don’t think about this location thing very much. Their language settings stay the same as they travel around the country. In their heads, they’re probably doing everyone in foreign countries a favour – and I can see how they might think that.
Consider the average traveller in Europe. Every day they travel around, crossing arbitrary lines which for some reason change the language of all the big sites they use every day. While they might know how to order a meal and book into a hotel in that language, you can hardly expect everyone to be proficient in all of them.
Think about people in multi-language countries. You are driving them crazy.
Now, here’s a thought: When using a phone or laptop, normally the users have already chosen the language they prefer to use. Now developers, do you think it would be possible to work with that language choice? Thanks.
Here’s another similar complaint: Paypal seem to have divided their customer service by country. So, in France I’m told I can’t access the Paypal help menu in English. Seriously. Not to mention that I only wanted to send a quick email to ask a simple question. I clicked “Contact us” and got this:
I’m not sure why an international company based in an English-speaking country wants me to try and navigate their help system in French just so I can send an email in awful French to some poor sod who will have trouble understanding my awful French and who most likely doesn’t speak English and will pass my email around the office stressing out until they find an English speaker to help answer my very simple question. This makes no sense.
My language settings are in English. Let me access a help system and a “Contact Us” web-form in English. I’ll most likely get all the information I need without bothering you. If not, an English person would be able to answer my question quickly. If it so happens that my question is specific to something in France, I’m sure my query can be forwarded internally to a bilingual helpdesk person in France. In the meantime, monolingual French-speaking customers are able to be attended by the French staff. What a thought!
Seriously web developers, quit making language settings automatic according to country. ASK.
Image Credit: RockCohen
Internet for non-English speakers
After a little ranting about the state of the internet in France, it occurred to me that English-speakers online need to try just a little bit harder to make life easier for non-English speakers.
I came up with a short list of ideas for things we can all do to help non-English speakers online:
- Get more non-English people to create stuff online.
- Try to convince more people to add translations (or at least translator buttons) to their sites.
- Teach more non-English speakers generally about Google Translate, so they can use the English pages they find.
- Teach SEO skills to more non-English speakers so that things can be found!
- Make websites more intuitive and less dependent on text found in pictures (which don’t get translated).
- Ensure kids get computer training, either at school, in clubs or at home.
The website design is easy: add translation and try not to use images where text would be best. The basic computer education of kids has to fall with people locally. So, the question then becomes how to teach SEO to non-English people?
How do you teach someone who doesn’t necessarily understand the concept of SEO (let alone understand the acronym) that it’s something they should think of? At least in the basic sense of ensuring the keywords that people search for appear in the documents they want those people to find. Should we try to convince bilingual people to write basic SEO guides? Probably. And we should probably also encourage those writers to use a keyphrase of the local words for “Why doesn’t anyone find my website?” so that the right people find it.
Seriously, if you’re bilingual give it a go. It could really help non-English speakers a lot. And the more the better!
Image Credit: Pedro Ribeiro Simoes
A guide to teaching on Twitter
Image by James Sarmiento
In the next year, Twitter will likely see a huge boom in useful educational content. Users, sick to death of reading RTs (retweets) of motivational quotes and breaking news, will want to follow Tweeps who can deliver unique, interesting, useful information in bite-sized chunks.
In my own quest to learn French, I found myself searching Twitter for a Twitterer who would just teach me random French words. In particular, I wanted to follow a Twitter account which would just give me the information in the tweet, not require me to click a link to a website. I couldn’t find any such thing, so in the end I created one myself – @Frenchmot. I’ve since found a few more dedicated French learning twitter accounts, which I highly recommend French learners follow.
What I learned in this process was that there aren’t that many Twitter accounts out there who dedicate themselves to teaching a particular topic. Or, if they are there, they’re not very good at advertising themselves. It took a chat with my husband for me to realise that perhaps some people just don’t know how easy it is to run an educational Twitter account.
Before setting up @Frenchmot I really thought for a long time about whether it was something I could commit to regularly. Now that I’ve been running it for a while, I’ve realised it’s very, very easy to stick to.
Firstly, it has to be something you are interested in learning or teaching. It’s best if you have a fresh source of information to provide. For me, I am usually trying to read French newspapers and books. Whenever I don’t know the exact meaning of a word I look it up, cross reference and reverse translate. When I’m sure the translation is accurate I write the tweet. This can take a little time, but I’m learning from the process. So, it’s good for me and the people following me. Plus, it feels good to share something just because you can.
Learn, check, tweet.
I’m pretty sure this approach could be used by just about anyone who had to learn multiple small pieces of information by rote. It could be used for all sorts of topics, medical terminology, physics formulae, tips for DIY.. anything. Can you imagine how good it would be to revise for exams with regular tweets (from lots of other students) reminding you of all the little things you need to learn?
So, you’ve got an idea what you can teach people? Here’s how to set your own educational Twitter feed up.
- Set up a new dedicated Twitter account for your topic. Don’t use your normal account. You can always tell the followers who you really are in your bio and your Twitter background.
- Start an account with Tweetlater so you can schedule your tweets into the future. This will keep you sane. When you’re motivated you can schedule a tweet per day for several days ahead. Then when you go away for the weekend no-one will know. It’s not too hard to nose your way around Tweetlater. Make sure you set your current timezone, then when you Tweet make sure you choose when you want it to be posted.
- Make sure you tag your tweets with relevant hashtags so that people searching the topic can find you. Make sure the same keywords are in your bio.
- Sign up to some of the Twitter directories, eg. Wefollow or Twellow.
- Keep your tweets on topic, interesting, reliably correct and numerous (keep the stories about your lunch to your normal Twitter account).
- Try to stagger (using Tweetlater) your Tweets to co-incide with the workdays of all timezones that speak your language, eg. English, American and Australian workday.
- In order to find other educational Tweeps, try searching Twitter for hashtags of your topic (or try the user directories).
- Occasionally promote similar Twitterers to your followers. It will help your followers to learn more and it might gain you some Twitter karma.
Now you’re ready to share and learn cool things from your fellow Tweeps. Do it now – it’s easy!
PS. I’m @smange on Twitter. Feel free to follow me!
(For more teaching ideas, take a look at Interesting ways to use Twitter in the Classroom)
Image Credit: James Sarmiento
Social networks: Hermit or herd?
Facebook is changing us. We use it to stay in touch with many people from all areas of our life. Often these aren’t people we know well – they’re just people we knew from one thing or another. But we can see into their lives: see what’s bugging them, what bands they like, who they’re dating and what sort of person they’re after. It’s not usually life-altering information, but it’s enough to feel like you have an idea what their day-to-day lives are really like. This is kind of voyeuristic in terms of workmates and old school friends, but when it comes to close friends or family separated by distance it is an absolute godsend. To stay abreast of the little things means you feel closer to that person’s life.
But it also changes normal relationships with friends who are in the same town. You get invited to lots of stuff via Facebook. What if you don’t log in often? What if you’re not savvy enough to set up an iCal feed for Facebook events in Google? Well then, you miss out on the party. Tough. Now, what about those that did make it to the party. How do you explain that fancy dress costume to the boss? Your workmates all saw the photos before you even got over your hangover the next day.
But wait. There’s more. There is actually a good side to this networking business. It’s like what they always say: It’s not what you know – it’s WHO you know. If you know a whole lot of people and they all know you’re looking for a new job (Status update: “Bob is finished the degree and officially looking for a graphic design job!”) then that’s a whole lot more eyes and ears and “I know someone..” conversations to get you started. Much better than searching the papers, finding only courier and snack bar assistant jobs.
Of course, this status trick can backfire too (Status update: “Tim is sick of his boss and his whiny voice.”). Teachers have been fired for saying what they really think of the kids. Not a smart move. Or worse, you could get sprung taking a sickie. You might also get fired just for lazing away too much of your day.
So, educate yourself and your friends/kids/whatever on how to lock down your social networks. Keep your address and other personal info safe, keep your secrets locked to close friends. Seriously, how much do you want your high school friends to know? Think first. Share later. Then, make sure you are happy with your conduct going public. Don’t bludge, don’t pull sickies and don’t do dumb things in front of cameras. If you do accidentally get caught on camera then chat to the person who owns the camera ASAP. Preferably ask them to delete it, but at least ask them to lock down the photo for the sake of your job.
Generally, the benefits of social networking outweigh the dangers. You might even manage to teach yourself to be a more upstanding citizen. Out you come hermits! Come play with the herd.
What trends can we see developing online?
Today we’re going to get a little more serious about analysing current online trends. This should give you something to chat about with the lawyers at that dinner party this weekend, k? Right, let’s get into it…
Social
There has been a huge uptake of people using social networks in the past few years. Facebook may not be perfect, but it has certainly made a difference to the way many people use the internet. Despite calls that Facebook is merely a directory it still proves popular and there are still a lot of people who haven’t joined the social networking revolution, so we’re likely to see even greater expansion in Facebook and other networks in the future. I think this is great as network size really matters. Social networks are also great for teens “trying on” identities for size. However, this might not be such great news for those wanting privacy, or wanting to avert social or social networking disasters, but that’s life.
- Image by via CrunchBase
The divides are building between the various networks and the haves and have-nots (not to be confused with rich and poor), with significant evidence to prove that one is better off when utilising social networking habitually compared to those who don’t use online social networks. Use of social networks also seem to be teaching poorer kids essential web-based skills, such as basic html and graphic manipulation, thus helping them gain basic skills for future employment. Other studies are merely keen to note the changes in writing as a person realises they are in the public eye.
Web 2.0 Networking
We will see further interoperability between websites as there is currently a movement away from the “walled garden” syndrome. No-one wants to be seen as the only site that won’t share. That is, of course, except Facebook which is the reason the term “walled garden” was brought into web 2.0 usage.
Twitter hashtags are a great user innovation, co-ordinating disasters with ease. I’m sure we’ll see far more of this as time goes on.
Entertainment
The recent popularity of social bookmarking has paved the way for entertainment via RSS feed. And while more everyday people realise why the geeks have relied on RSS feed readers for so long, there is a sudden explosion in RSS aggregators, such as Popurls.com, which take popular feeds and show you what’s interesting on the net today.
Easy to find MP3s online – Still Alive by Jonathan Coulton
Even more exciting is the developments in internet radio, TV and movies on demand. With Last.fm working to create a personalised radio for each user, plus social network video such as Youtube, Vimeo, Hulu and Blink.tv.
Access
Cloud computing is becoming the norm, as people want access to their email, files, bookmarks from wherever they are. Combined with this, there is a massive increase in people using mobile phones, iPhones, PDAs and wirelessly connected laptops to access the internet. This convergence and subsequent increased mobility drastically increases the connectivity of the average person. It will lead to demand in web apps specifically designed for the mobile-connected person, which will ultimately be a whole lot of fun.
Business
Finally, we are seeing businesses and politicians getting involved with social networking. It is giving them the eyes and ears they have sorely needed for decades, however there are a few bumps and wrinkles still to iron out. All the really fun developments are in looking for work, virtual job interviews and online freelance jobs.
Is this news for real? 3-Step Check!
- Image via Wikipedia
You’re faced with a vast sea of information on a daily basis. Some are reputable news sources and others are definitely not. But what about all those sources in between? How do you choose whether it’s believable or a complete waste of time?
Most people make these decisions without really analysing how it’s done. That’s great, because it shows you have good common sense, but it could still leave you suckered in by something one day.
Don’t fret! This decision really comes down to a few very simple points:
- Credentials – How credible is the author? What authority do they have? What are the credentials of the publication? What do the peer reviews of the author or publication say? Does the publication have advertisements? Is the publication well organised?
- Currency – How current is the source?
- Content – How objective is the article? Is this primary or secondary content? Is this article written for a particular audience? Is it well written? Is it accurate? Does the article reference their sources? Are the sources reputable?
But, there’s value in the blogs and less reputable sources, too.
Newspapers, magazines, professional blogs and citizen journalists are generally considered to be a good source of:
- current information
- facts and details
- excerpts and quotes, such as first hand accounts
- reflection and analysis, showcasing what was important at the time of printing and how events were perceived.
So, there you go. It’s not that hard! Now you can continue to browse the internet for new info, armed with the knowledge of exactly what you should and shouldn’t believe from each site.
.. And the magic 8-ball says
Will iPhones take over the world?
.. And the magic 8-ball says: Hmmmmm… Outlook good.
Well, iPhones and millions of similar phones trying to achieve the exact same thing will take over the world.
It seems only yesterday I began to wonder how I would live without a mobile phone. Now it seems I’m handicapped by not having an iPhone or similar, with me wherever I go.
- Image by via CrunchBase
Internet and phone technology is converging so rapidly that they’ve nearly swapped places. I use my phone to update Twitter and my computer to make VOIP phone calls.
It’s all to do with timeliness and price. There’s no point telling twitter “Hey, I went to a great place this afternoon.” Twitter is about NOW. You want to be saying “Oh wow. I”m at this huge castle and it’s fantastic!”. You’ve got to stay current. Plus, you’ve got to give those cubicle-dwellers something to be jealous about.
As for phones, who would pay commercial rates when you can pay AU$15/month to call anywhere in the world via Skype? That’s cheaper than the line rental on most landline phones. As long as you can get your internet access without needing a landline, you’re pretty much set*.
But it’s even more involved than just this. People are posting audio blog posts via mobile phone, iPhones and Blackberrys let people easily** check email, bank accounts, social networks and just about any other website. So, the conversation is not just one-sided anymore. People stuck in bars can conveniently talk to their real life friends online while they wait for douchebag real-life friends to turn up late. All this rather than talking to the hottie at the bar. It makes so much sense now that I put it that way.
Pointlessness aside, this really means that people can stay somewhat mentally connected while physically roaming the world. No more Saturday nights staying at home waiting for the phone to ring – oh wait, that’s the 80′s. No more Saturday nights at home messing around on Facebook! Time to get out there and live a little!
* Although Skype do state that they are not a replacement for a real phone and should not be relied upon for emergency calls. So, keep a mobile handy.
** It’s true that you can do this on old clunkers too, but it’s just EFFORT.
Arrr, but I’m not a pirate!
- Image via Wikipedia
Copyright material is, on the whole, controlled by companies who are still stuck in the dark ages. They want to maintain the rights and ownership forever – even when you purchase a physical CD!
These companies are clearly not listening to what the customers and the artists want. Which is a great shame for them, as there is a potential for big money for them if they take notice.
What customers want:
- Cheap products
- Near-instant availability
- Quality products
- Ample choice
- Permanent ownership rights
That’s pretty much it. I’m sitting around late on a Monday night and I remember that track I heard on the radio this morning. I search for the snippet of lyrics I can recall, work out what song it is and who it’s by. I then want to own it. I’m quite happy to pay $1 for it. But I want it NOW. I want it on my iPod and I want to listen to it tomorrow when I go out. I also don’t want to get screwed over when I reinstall Windows or upgrade iTunes. I want to own the track and for that to be it.
The same goes for movies and TV. I don’t want to wait until show x is on TV. I’m not rearranging my social schedule to watch TV. No-one owns VCRs anymore and I’m not rich enough for a set-top box that can record. Hell – I’m a student. What I want is to be able to download the movie or next season of the show that I’m in the mood for that night. I’m willing to pay a bit. Maybe $5 to hire or $10 to own. But I want it NOW, in good quality and for it to be mine forever (except if I was hiring). No games – that just won’t hold with me.
So, okay. Let’s see what the artists want:
- Exposure (especially to the right audience)
- Some income (sometimes more)
- Fans who will come to their gigs
Seems to me that making it easy for fans to get hold of their stuff would benefit them a great deal. Just think of all those late night $10 impulse-buy spends by teens who are desperate to be up with the next big thing.
Right. That’s settled. So, what about the labels and studios. What do they want?
- Lots and lots of money
- To have control over everything forever and ever
- To get paid every time someone hums a tune
Well, something’s got to give. Face it. They don’t really have control at the moment, which is why they’re in uproar about filesharing. It’s time to try something new.
For starters, they need to get music, TV and movies online ready to be purchased before they start hyping them. This also means you need to have TV ready to download at the same time as it’s aired on TV. Any later than that and half of your potential paying customers just downloaded it for free from someone that taped it digitally and stuck the torrent up as soon as the show finished. You annoyed your fans by not having something they could buy, so they got what they wanted for free. These people might go and buy the box set down the track, but they’re not going to go back and buy a (possibly DRM controlled) digital copy a week later when you finally get it online.
This timeline goes for the whole world, too. Australians want to see the next episode of “Lost” just as much as the Americans. If they can’t buy it before that first torrent goes up then you’ve lost them. Here’s a thought: Let people buy the digital version BEFORE you play it on TV. Let TV be the second-best option for people who can’t be bothered forking out the cash. I am absolutely certain you will make more money this way.
I get the feeling that labels and studios could make many millions by offering the sorts of payment options tried and tested in other industries over the years:
- Pay-per-view
- Periodic rental (one day or one week)
- Subscription with caps (either by size or by dollar value of the media)
- Unlimited subscriptions
- Subscription to a radio or video stream (sort of like TV)
There are many ways to stop people sharing the files once they’ve got them:
- Digital signature (If I know my name and email address are encrypted in that file I won’t be giving it to anyone)
- Time or usage-locks (such as the ones used by trial software – offer rentals in a special format that will only work with a specific player)
- Prosecute the people who are sharing the material (rather than targeting the ones that download it).
The labels could be making a fortune by doing things right. Most pirating only occurs because people can’t buy what they want when they want it. They have products that the people want – let them have it!
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