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Localization World and ALC Conference reports

posted 2007-07-05 13:39:19
by Peter Reynolds

Over the last few weeks Localization World has taken place in Berlin and the ALC conference has taken place in Providence, Rhode Island. This double blog presents a report on Localization World from Peter Reynolds and the ALC conference from Diane Pace.
 

Localization World Berlin report from Peter Reynolds
 

Berlin is not a city I would have associated with a beach party. Someone with a lot of imagination and even more sand has managed to create a ‘beach’ between the River Spree and a train station close to the Reichstag. The Localization World Dinner was held here. Our hosts were two very good friends of Idiom, Moravia Worldwide and Alchemy Software. As we entered they provided us with beach balls, bats, towels etc.. Moravia used this event to announce that they had become a LSP Platinum Partner of Idiom. Arturo Quintero, Chief Corporate Strategist of Moravia Worldwide told his guests that they were very pleased to have decided to create a close partnership with Idiom and use WorldServer technology.  I am not sure whether everyone thought this was one of the highlights of the conference but I did.
 

Another highlight was the presentation from Fred Hollowood of Symantec and Phil Ritchie of VistaTEC called ‘Translation Automation 2.0 – a shopping list’. I was recently looking through the programs for previous Localization World conferences. In Bonn 2004 there was a panel discussion on workflow technology which included representatives from various technology companies but not Idiom. I think it would be unthinkable to have such a panel without Idiom now. Fred and Phil’s session was one of the major presentation at the 2007 conference looking at workflow and translation automation. It was focused on Idiom WorldServer, what they were doing with it and what they would like to see in future versions. One of the great things about people like Fred and Phil is that they tell us what new functionality they would like in future versions of WorldServer. One of the big ideas they mentioned in their presentation was GMS to GMS connectivity. This would enable WorldServer at the LSP to download a project from the customer’s WorldServer, get it localized and then upload it back in a very seamless way. Idiom has already developed a working prototype for this and this functionality will be included in a future version of WorldServer.
 

Each of the two days of Localization World had one or two plenary sessions and three tracks of presentations. One new feature to the program was an introduction to localization. The idea behind these three sessions was to get new people, particularly on the customer side, to attend and learn more. The lack of participation from customers is a major issue for Localization World. LSPs and Technology providers were far more visible among the 500 attendees than customers.
 

Idiom had a small but effective presence at Barcelona 2006. However, we really started getting involved with Localization World in Montreal last October. At that conference and the Shanghai conference earlier this year we got a very good response from attendees. Localization World Berlin was the first time we were a sponsor of the event and it was a very successful conference for us. Many of our customers and partners attended and presented at the conference. Our CEO, Mike Iacobucci, welcomed Eugene McGinty and André Pellet of Welocalize to the LSP Advantage Program. The Idiom team was able to meet with many of our partners and prospective partners including hiSoft, Brandt, iSP and Milengo. It was also very pleasant to meet so many people who were using Idiom WorldServer.
 

ALC Conference report from Diane Pace
 

Last week I attended the ALC Conference, held at the Marriott in Providence, Rhode Island June 21-22nd.   The ALC is a national trade organization representing businesses that provide translation, interpretation, localization, and language training services.  While many of the members are smaller US LSPs, several larger companies with diverse services and technology offerings, participate in the organization.

This was my first ALC conference and as a newer member to the Idiom team, it was an excellent opportunity to meet LSPs face to face, learn about their business and network.  I arrived Wednesday afternoon to set up our booth (we were one about a dozen exhibitors) and then attended the Welcome reception and dinner.  Since I didn’t know anyone (yes, the Idiom team sent me solo for day #1) the evening was quite an emersion…I met Idiom LSP partner program members, competitors (SDL and Lionbridge) and various other ALC members.  By Thursday morning at the start of the show, I felt right at home.  While many thought the event was not attended as well as previous years, I still had plenty of really valuable conversations with LSPs and felt like I’d made a new group of friends in the process.  LocWorld Berlin was happening at the same time and I think many LSPs were in Europe…something to consider when planning next year’s event.

There were numerous breakout sessions. I attended the Technology panel, held Friday morning.  Panelists consisted of several technology vendors (Idiom, SDL, Multicorpa, Proz and Beetext). One of the problems with this sort of panel is that each presenter is given a very short time to explain and the possible agenda is very large. There is a great danger that both the audience and presenters feel frustrated. Dave Smith of Lingualinx was hosting this session and he did a good job of ensuring that there was a fast moving informative debate.

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