Presentations
Language Standards for Global Business©
Barcelona, Spain
May 29-30, 2006

Hans Fenstermacher, President and Founder, ArchiText®, USA

Clients and Vendors and Tools, Oh My! Standards from the Point of View of Language Industry Suppliers

The landscape of language industry standards sometimes feels like a jungle. Theoretically, clients set the demand for standards, then vendors create and implement them, but then again it's the other way around. These potentially conflicting viewpoints create problems in actual practice, so it is vital for clients, vendors, and tools providers to find common ground on standards. In this session, language industry suppliers will speak about the nature of standards in practical implementation. They will explore which standards they use and which ones they do not; how standards improve or hamper their ability to deliver quality services to clients; which problems are addressed by standards and which ones remain unsolved; and which standards are still needed to make their work easier and better.

Panelists representing small, medium and large industry suppliers, as well as tools providers, will speak from actual experience about real-world needs and responses to those needs. Discussion will focus not only on technical standards like TMX and XLIFF, but also quality standards and professional working standards.

biography