Here’s what I would like to see as the key conversation topics in 2012:
- Gamification: Translation and cultural issues.
- Language as part of user experience.
- Translating stuff for real end users (hobbyist or small-scale mobile apps developers, small businesses exporting services or products, tourists, non-profits and community groups).
In general, I would like to see language–and language technology, especially–move towards realistic end user and economic considerations, be they understanding motivation, usage, or interacting with individuals to part with their time or cash. Anything I can do to help make that happen, I will.
Don’t mind where–or how–these topics are discussed, provided the conversation reaches new ears. How disappointing to see how the energy around language issues (however broadly or narrowly you define it) continues to be mostly clustered around a relatively small set of conferences and publications (industry and academic) with basically the same highfalutin audience. Let’s see some traction at places such as SxSWi, Next Berlin, CHI, the Gamification Summit, and so on.
You may know of others outlets or opportunities for engagement, or have your own wishes. Find the comments.
