Globalisation

Globalisation from a User Interface Design perspective is related to how different cultures perceive shapes, colours and words differently. There are some universally excepted symbols, for example a red hexagon is accepted as 'STOP!'. At the same time, some cultures marry in white, while other cultures marry in green or red. These cultural differences need to be addressed and catered for in the World Wide Web. In a sense a 'new' culture is emerging, with the introduction of the web the geographical barriers do not exist, and the whole world is shrinking into a global neighbourhood.

This emerging global neighbourhood adds a new level to designers; the designers need to accommodate users from different cultures by learning about their behaviour and designing in accordance to this. As mentioned a new culture is emerging, and specific names and symbols are accepted all over the world to mean the same thing. Below are some general design guidelines to creating a 'universally-usable' website, [click here] to view the full article on 'Accommodating users from different cultures: Guidelines for web developers':

For information on dimensions of culture, and the affects it has on user interface designs [click here] to read the article 'Cultural Dimensions and Global Web User-Interface Design: What? So What? Now What?' by Geert Hofstede.