Cultural Aspects of Computing?

Sean80 asks: "Recently, my company discovered that cultural aspects impact significantly on the expectations for a piece of software. For example, we found that the features which the Japanese would like differ markedly from those demanded in the US. In one particular instance, the Japanese market seemed far more demanding of functionality which dealt with quality issues. I am trying to find good books or other resources which address this issue. Are there any out there? What other areas of computing are impacted by cultural considerations? Should I consider these differences when building UIs, for example?"

moving time

[jeffy124]

Japanese market seemed far more demanding of functionality which dealt with quality issues

"Honey, pack your bags!! We're moving!!"

Hey Mikey

[unitron]

Overheard in Redmond--"Let's sell it to Americans. They'll buy anything"

Re:Hey Mikey

[jeffy124]

my name ain't mike

How did you do your research?

[shoppa]

Recently, my company discovered that cultural aspects impact significantly on the expectations for a piece of software. For example, we found that the features which the Japanese would like differ markedly from those demanded in the US.

You don't say how you discovered and found these things. In my (very limited) experience, most questionnaire-type research about "what do you care about" can be strongly driven by recent bad experiences. In most cases these are isolated events, based on bad experiences with one or two vendors, and not really representative of what the customer really needs.

To determine what the customer really needs, as opposed to what they think they want, you have to do some serious legwork, including in many cases prototyping. It's tough, but it does give results which are less biased by previous "bad" vendors.

Them Japanese are Right On with Me!

[Deanasc]

I don't know about any one else but I'd like a functional and high quality piece of software too.

Each culture & subculture values different thi

[eugene ts wong]

I took intercultural studies in college and one of the most emphatic things is that you can't look in a text book for this information. You have to do some in depth and time consuming studies.

Look up "ethnography" with google. An ethnography will teach you to see things through their eyes.

I made an ethnography in college in anthropology class, and found it to be a fascinating experience. My ethnography in particular wasn't fascinating, but the other sample copies were.

Nielsen says...

[rubinson]

In one particular instance, the Japanese market seemed far more demanding of functionality which dealt with quality issues. I am trying to find good books or other resources which address this issue. Are there any out there? What other areas of computing are impacted by cultural considerations? Should I consider these differences when building UIs, for example?"

<sarcasm>
I don't believe it. According to Jakob Nielsen's "exhaustive" usability studies of 4 Japanese senior citizens [useit.com] and 16 Israeli children [useit.com], there are no cultural differences regarding usability.
</sarcasm>

In a more serious vein, one place to start might be the Interface Hall of Shame [iarchitect.com] which as a section on "globalization" issues including some tips and recommendations. (Ironically, the site uses frames which means that I can't provide a direct link to the i18n section.)

Another possible source is Microsoft. For better or for worse, they spend a lot of usability and I wouldn't be surprised if that includes i18n.

Take out the 'of computing' bit

[SuiteSisterMary]

It's not 'cultural aspects of computing' it's 'cultural aspects.' You want to sell ANYTHING in Japan? Go get some decent Japanese books. A good author to look for, in this case, is L. Boye de Mente.

What is "quality"?

[forkspoon]

"In one particular instance, the Japanese market seemed far more demanding of functionality which dealt with quality issues."

What does this mean? I think all customers expect quality.

Thanks,

Travis
[e-mail]

why just different countries?

[littlerubberfeet]

when I saw the word culture and read the question, I immediatly applied it to socio-economic and and philisophical cultures. Just as mac users proportedly have their own culture, so do BSD and Solairis users. Perhaps the rich dude with the ferrari want a slick interface and platinum browser motifs. The unemployed programmer wants black and white borders that load fast.

Culture then should apply to a number of differebt groups. This is what the whole concept of usebility is about. http://www.upassoc.org/ So perhaps the programmer should look at his prospective market and try and match his design to it. Perhaps doing several different interface versions is a good idea, albiet more expensive. I would look at the socio-economic/ country/age group/skill set/ etc/etc of my market and base my work off of that information

Is this link On-Topic

[moremeat]

http://asia.cnet.com/newstech/communications/0,390 01141,38000209,00.htm