Building Websites for a Multinational Audience

An examination of the practical issues that should be considered by anyone building a Web site aimed at a multinational audience. It covers: writing systems, character sets and encoding; XHTML and CSS style sheets; the sensible use of graphics; and the possible uses of Javascript, XML and XSLT.

A successful Web site presents information to the user in a format with which he or she is accustomed. How much greater then the challenge to build a Web site capable of addressing the information needs of racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse populations. Linda Main brings to the forefront those issues that should be considered by anyone building a Web site aimed at a multinational audience. It is a practical, hands-on look at issues such as: writing systems, character sets, encoding, and Unicode; XHTML and CSS style sheets; the effective placement of graphics; and the sensible use of Javascript, XML, and XSLT. Important subjective and objective cultural issues are also examined. Building Web Sites for Multicultural Communities is the perfect reference tool for people who know how to build a Web site but want to focus on globalizing their Web pages, for people who may outsource their Web sites need some understanding of the issues and techniques involved in globalization, and for people in the initial throes of Web site construction who want to do it right the first time.