the good, the bad, and the ugly of right-to-left localization for mobile devices
DESCRIPTION
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Right-to-Left Localization for Mobile Devices. By: Amr Zaki Operation Manager Saudisoft Co. Ltd [email protected] June 2012. Agenda. The Good Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East Why BIDI Languages Localization is important - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
of Right-to-Left Localization for Mobile Devices
By: Amr ZakiOperation Manager
Saudisoft Co. [email protected]
June 2012
The Good•Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East•Why BIDI Languages Localization is important•What is Right to Left (Bi Directional = BIDI) ?The Bad•Arabic vs. Hebrew•BIDI Unicode Markers•BIDI Software EnablingThe Ugly•BIDI Challenges
AgendaAgenda
Mobile devices Market Data in Middle EastMobile devices Market Data in Middle East
A Survey done by Plus7 during Mobile Show for GCC countries, interviewed 4326 candidate
•90% of Saudi Arabia smartphone users preferred Arabic Ads•40% of UAE smartphone users preferred Arabic Ads
Source: http://mediame.com/news/digital_media/plus7_reveals_research_results_mobile_internet_consumption_habits_mobile_show
Percentage of online purchasing using smartphones:•33% in UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia•25% in Oman•40% in BahrainSource: http://mediame.com/news/digital_media/plus7_reveals_research_results_mobile_internet_consumption_habits_mobile_show
Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East - Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East - ContinueContinue
• Consumers are using the mobile internet to access news, information, social networks and email
• In terms of attitudes towards eCommerce, more than half the respondents preferred cash on delivery over credit cards when making purchases via their mobile phones
Source: http://mediame.com/news/digital_media/plus7_reveals_research_results_mobile_internet_consumption_habits_mobile_show
Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East - Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East - ContinueContinue
• In KSA, the preferred method of accessing mobile information and news is via mobile sites.
• In the UAE, KSA and Egypt products purchased (or likely to be purchased) on the mobile are related to Entertainment, Technology and Travel
Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East - Mobile devices Market Data in Middle East - ContinueContinue
Why BIDI Languages Localization is importantWhy BIDI Languages Localization is important
• Big Market Share• Huge potential in new categories like Banking,
Healthcare, etc.• Social and news applications still have a way
to go.
What is Right to Left (BIDI) ?What is Right to Left (BIDI) ?
• There are 3 ways of writing scripts worldwide:– Left to Right– Right to Left– Vertical
– Arabic script is not used only in Middle East and Arabic countries but many for example:
Urdu Pakistan, Dari Afghanistan , Uygur (PRC) China, Persian Iran, Sindhi Pakistan, Panjabi Pakistan
Quiz
What is Right to Left (BIDI) ? - ContinueWhat is Right to Left (BIDI) ? - Continue
• Arabic & Hebrew characters are the only Right to Left languages.
Quiz
Arabic vs. HebrewArabic vs. HebrewArea English Arabic Hebrew
Question Mark
Percent
Units
Storage size
Comma
Acronyms
BIDI Unicode MarkersBIDI Unicode Markers
Unicode provides special, invisible formatting codes to set the base direction for or to override the bidirectional algorithm in plain text. These are the following:Unicode Marker Description
(LRE)U+202A LEFT-TO-RIGHT EMBEDDING
(RLE)U+202B RIGHT-TO-LEFT EMBEDDING
(LRO)U+202D LEFT-TO-RIGHT OVERRIDE
(RLO)U+202E RIGHT-TO-LEFT OVERRIDE
(PDF)U+202C POP DIRECTIONAL FORMATTING
BIDI Unicode Markers - ContinueBIDI Unicode Markers - ContinueBidirectional Character Types:
Character Type Example
StrongL / LRE / LRO / R / AL / RLE / RLO
Weak PDF / EN / ES / ET / AN / CS
Neutral WS / ON
BIDI Unicode Markers - ContinueBIDI Unicode Markers - Continue
RLM:
BIDI Unicode Markers - ContinueBIDI Unicode Markers - Continue
RLE & PDF:
BIDI Software EnablingBIDI Software Enabling• Enabling Software to work from right to left was a
complicated task but now with the new SDK’s and tools, it became easier
• There are 2 ways to enable applications to start from Right to Left:– Code– Resources
• Code enabling needs development to modify any API calls such as CreateWindow()
• Resources enabling works on resources level using Resource Editor which available in the market now.
BIDI Software Enabling - ContinueBIDI Software Enabling - Continue
BIDI ChallengesBIDI Challenges• Many devices don’t have Arabic / Hebrew Script
support.• Slower performance comparing to LTR• BIDI support can be implemented using external
development.
BIDI Challenges - Wrong DateBIDI Challenges - Wrong Date
BIDI Challenges – Wrong ControlBIDI Challenges – Wrong Control
BIDI Challenges – Controls & BIDI Challenges – Controls & ImagesImages
BIDI Challenges – Wrong Control BIDI Challenges – Wrong Control directiondirection
New Market, High revenue
The Good, The Bad and the UglyThe Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Full of constrains
Lots of Challenges and High technical experience required
Questions?Questions?