Improving the usability of online information when translated from English to Chinese

Business information systems are usually written and presented in English, with graphics designed from a western cultural perspective. Online help and error messages are likewise written and displayed in English. To exploit global marketplace opportunities, business systems must be designed to accommodate a range of cultural conventions, with printed documentation and online help translated into local languages. The paper discusses major considerations in the translation of online documentation from English to Chinese. It describes the particular approach taken by one major software company and evaluates its efforts from the users' perspective.