Windows 7 Localization Quality: A Journey

Ulrike IrmlerPrincipal Group Manager

Microsoft Corporation

1200 developers

500 marketers

Subsidiaries of 60+ markets

1500 developers

250 writers

1200 testers 500 program mgrs

OEMs

developers

It pros

consumers100 loc

Windows Client

Windows Server

Internet Explorer

Windows Marketing

Win32

Managed

Silverlight

DDUEML

AML

HTMLPowerShell

Devices and media

Security

Engineering system

Networking

User Interface

Wireless File System

Kernel

Search

XP Vista Windows 7

SKU Languages 23 35 35

LIP languages 54 57 60

Internal resources* 250 130 100

Software loc model in-house Mixed Outsourced

UA loc model Outsourced Outsourced Outsourced

Deliverables Box Box and Online Box and Online

Delta SKU langs 1->x

120 days 108 days 0 days

Volumes ~1 Million words ~2.5 Million Words ~11 Million words

Releases Client Client Client & Server

77 92 95

*includes project/vendor management, localization engineering and test

Quality Risk Factors

• Aggressive schedule and churn

• Localization tools limitations and improper usage

• Technical and Linguistic complexity

CHURN MANAGEMENT

LOCALIZATION TOOLS & USAGE

German: Title (as in Ms./Dr.)

Turkish: View (noun form)Swedish:

Enter (action)

Managed Code

Bugs per file

native

Context Portal

TECHNICAL AND LINGUISTIC COMPLEXITY

Alphabet Kanji Katakana HiraganaComputer 電子計算機 　 でんしけいさんき

　 　 コンピューター or コンピュータ

こんぴゅーたー or こんぴゅーた

My Computer 私の電子計算機 　 わたしのでんしけいさんき

　 　 マイ コンピューター or マイ コンピュータ

まいこんぴゅーたー or　まいこんぴゅーた

Music 音楽 　 おんがく　 　 ミュージック みゅーじっくMy Music 私の音楽 　 わたしのおんがく　 　 マイ ミュージック まいみゅーじっく　 　 　 　

Foreign and does not mean anything

Very specific. Sounds too formal and old.

Sounds cool and new. Not sure what it means though.

For children and not used for grown-ups. This is what the children learn first.

Risk by Language and MarketHigh riskHigh risk

Potential riskPotential risk

Potential risk - LIP

Potential risk - LIP

Mitigation Plan

Language Priority Native Triage Vendor support Add engineers

Native functionality

test LQG Self-HostCustomer feedback

Japanese 1 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

Arabic 2 Y Y Y Y Y

Chinese Simplified 3 Y Y Y Y

Chinese Traditional 4 Y Y Y Y

Hebrew 5 Y Y Y Y Y

Hindi 6 Y

Portuguese (Brazil) 7 Y Y Y Y

Korean 8 Y Y Y Y

Dutch 9 Y Y Y

DEMO: LANGUAGE QUALITY GAME