Language Standards for Global Business Berlin, Germany December 12-13, 2005

Do Language Technology Standards Help or Hinder Global Businesses?

Businesses that process natural language text or media have seen the introduction of many new standards designed to increase efficiency, interoperability, and quality. However, the application and evolution of these standards does not always meet expectations.

This summit will explore which standards meet their objectives and which do not, and why. It will address the question of whether linguists, software developers, publishers, government agencies, and other communities have the same requirements, or whether standards bodies should target their objectives to different audiences. The objectivity and outreach of standards bodies may also be an issue for some constituencies. This conference will address some of these changes and define best practices for satisfying them.

This summit provides a forum for experts from standards organizations and user communities to sort through the many new standards and contrast requirements, and rank their effectiveness. Attendees will benefit from the analysis, and be able to apply it to the selection and employment of products and services used in their organizations. Those involved in developing standards will come away with a better understanding of the community needs and applications.

This two day event will offer a keynote presentation, plenary sessions, roundtable participation, break-out sessions, and open-microphone discussions.

Frank and open discussion of the process, specifications, proposals, and propagation of global business technology and language quality standards will be promoted by the thought leaders in attendance, including representatives from user communities, trade associations, and standards bodies.

The concluding action of the summit will be to consider a clearinghouse process for information about relevant standards, to increase awareness and understanding of the standards, to open up access to the processes of each group for setting standards, and to ensure increased transparency in these processes.


SUMMIT COMMITTEE

		Donald A. DePalma Common Sense Advisory, Inc. "Good standards can drive industries and grow markets. This summit will focus on the technology and business needs that benefit from standards."				Hans Fenstermacher President, ArchiText® "Many constituencies in our industry are developing standards independently of one another, sometimes even competing ones. It's time to bring the standards efforts together so we can all benefit from the value that good, universally accepted standards provide."
		Kim Harris Partner, text & form We need to promote the maintenance and development of standards with the help of all constituencies, standards that all constituencies will uphold because they were involved in their development.				Tex Texin Chief architect and globalization consultant, Xencraft "Most companies assume that standards addressing language technologies and quality are the 'right stuff'. Standards are usually designed by experts to meet known industry needs. But these standards do not fit all potential uses. We have long needed a dialogue on language standards to help people make distinctions. This summit is the first time that this is being offered."
		Sue Ellen Wright Professor, Institute for Applied Linguistics, Kent State University				Alfredo Spagna Managing Director, Arancho Nordic Oy