Software in the local language is key to adoption

In a blog about the great Chinese firewall there is a discussion why so few people try to circumvent censorship with the available tools. The key tool the Chinese government uses is to provide similar services in the local language.

The take away message is that localisation is key to acceptance. It may be that it is a partial key; when software is developed it reflects the culture it is coming from. A similar service developed for a locale is can push the buttons of a culture more precisely.

Awareness of such cultural diversity can be build in software. The modifications it implies are part of the internationalisation of the software. This is how software can make a critical difference and be truly the right software for its public.
Thanks,
      GerardM