bCICC TOPbBack to IndexbBrief summary in JFY2001bPast record & Reportb

* Completed as of FY2001.    For details, please contact 


In the networked Information Society to come, most computers are going to connect to worldwide networks such as the Internet. For developing electronic commerce and cultural exchange in the age of global network, it is insufficient to go with computers of individual implementation of single language. To meet the needs of the worldwide network, information processing and information exchange via computers shall be able to handle multiple languages (multi-lingual systems). This is the "Multilingual Information Processing Environment" that MLIT is aiming at.
From JFY 2002, after MLIT's character code sets issues have been solved, CICC will move on to the upper layer project, to make survey on Document Description and Processing Language.


Although many computers are already connected physically in the worldwide network, there still exist many problems for communicating culturally dependent information. Information systems capable to handle multiple languages are being developed. However, the most of the past development is based on individual characteristics of the target language(s), and compatibility is not completely achieved even among the same language. Problems shall cumulate and become complex when the current individually developed systems extend to handle another language on top of the current capability. Here are the needs to determine the concept (standard) to handle many languages, new approach from the past individual development. The MLIT Project aims at proposing a standard and promoting the standard that separates dependency on language and/or culture in the processing of input and output, by doing so to minimize the variety of cultural dependency.


Current Network

Even in the same language, data compatibility is not
ssured when combined with different languages since
different implementation systems are used in each
combination.


Global Informafion
Network

Language implementation based on the Multilingual
Information Environment enables the combination of
any languages possible and assures data compatibility.

Grobal Information Network and Transition of
Multilingual Information Processing Environment *

* For details, please contact 

Proposal of Working Draft

MLIT is a project that focuses on multi-lingual information processing systems covering Asian languages and scripts and aims at proposing international standards for input interfacei¦1jand output interface(¦2j with internal processing architecture, as well as font information exchange,i¦3j etc. The Goal is the realization of multi-lingual information processing systems that will provide advantages and equal language opportunity of information technology indifferent to culture as well as language. This is particularly important for Asian region where a great variety exists in terms of languages and scripts. It is vital for the MLIT Project, focusing on multiple languages, to achieve international collaboration and support among concerning countries.

i1j Working Group for Input Interface Standard
Natural writing methods used in hand writing shall be esteemed for designing input / keyboard operation. This work aims at standardization of interface absorptive to cultural dependency between the input operation and the internal processing for keeping user's convenience and avoiding limitation of internal capability of computer.

(2) Working Group for Output Interface Standard
Contrasting with insufficient quality of computer prints in the past caused by technological limitations, aesthetic printing capability is increasingly in demand pacing with the rapid spread of IT. The principles and relationships between the internal processing and output (display and print) are already standardized in case of the Latin character by ISO/IEC TR 15285. Character code development is consolidated by the principles; it becomes possible to absorb the cultural dependency at the output phase. This work aims at standardization of "recommended principle" particularly for Asian scripts that are of great variety and of different cultural dependency.

(3) Working Group for Font Metrics Standard
Computer fonts currently in use are developed on the assumption of domestic use only, creating unbalance when mixed with fonts of other countries. ISO/IEC 9541 is a standard developed for font information exchange paying attention to these problems, but lacks consideration towards Asian scripts and creates numerous erroneous processing. This work aims at proposing amendments of ISO/IEC 9541 adding portability of Asian scripts (font exchange and rendering) by collecting and collating the font attributes and sample data of Asian scripts.


(3)Sample of Font Mixing



Country Survey

The current international standard does not include all the characters that are necessary for many countries. In collaboration with respective countries, we propose the so-called "missing characters" to ISO/IEC.

International Proposal

MLIT achievements based on the demands of culture, languages and scripts shall be accepted by the related countries as a harmonized result. They shall be reflected into international standards as well as into the national standards of the concerned countries. For this end,@international proposals are going to be created in collaboration with the countries concerned.


ŸNational Needs and Awareness
Fact-finding and determination of national demands is being carried out through the MLIT Symposia and the country surveys. Achievements of findings and consultation are reported in the Symposia for sharing the awareness among the related countries.

ŸInternational Proposal
These demands shall be summarized as proposal to international standardization by the work in collaboration with the related countries and countries concerned. Drafts are being reported and discussed through channels such as the MLIT Symposia, and to be proposed cooperatively with the related countries to ISO/IEC.


ŸInternational Symposium on Standardization of Multilingual Information Technology (MLIT Symposium)

  • To share perspectives on issues through exchange of opinions and discussion among a wide range of IT related peoples in Asia in order to establish "Multilingual Information Processing Environment" necessary for the realization of GII/GIS.
  • To establish cooperative relationships of standar- dization activities in order to realize "Multilingual Information Processing Environment" which enables information processing in each language.

The MLIT '97 was held in Singapore, May 1997, the MLIT-2 in Tokyo, Japan November 1997, and the MLIT-3 in Hanoi, Vietnam, October 1998, and the MLIT-4 in Yangon Myanmar, October 1999.

žPast Participant Countries/Regions
China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Laos, Nepal Mongolia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taipei, Vietnam, Brunei, New Zealand, EU, and Japan.




ŸAsian Forum for Standardization of Information Technology (AFSIT)

AFSIT was formed in 1987 in order to promote the standardization of information technology among the participating countries by exchanging opinions by their governmental representatives. Since then, AFSIT has been positively conducting internationalization of IT standardization and extending human network among IT experts in the Asian countries. Since the 11th AFSIT, it has been held successively with MLIT Symposium.


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