Session
Organizer 1: Xiao Zhang, 🔒
Organizer 2: Lang Wang, 🔒
Organizer 3: Xitao Jiang, China Internet Network Information Center
Organizer 4: Yuqing Ying, China Internet Network Information Center
Speaker 1: Health Yao, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 2: Edmon Chung, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Speaker 3: Abdalmonem Tharwat Galila, Government, African Group
Speaker 4: Anil Kumar Jain, Private Sector, Asia-Pacific Group
Mrs. Xianhong Hu - Secretariat of Information for All Programme (IFAP), UNESCO
Xiao Zhang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Lang Wang, Technical Community, Asia-Pacific Group
Xitao Jiang, Government, Asia-Pacific Group
Theater
Duration (minutes): 60
Format description: The three key speakers, all top experts in the field of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) and Universal Acceptance (UA), will each have an average of about 15 minutes for their presentations, which is conducive to a thorough and in-depth discussion of the issues. An additional 15 minutes will be allocated for interaction between the speakers and the audience, both on-site and online, to maximize the effectiveness of communication and discussion. The theater-style format is beneficial for creating a relatively formal yet relaxed atmosphere for discussion, facilitating the speakers to supplement their personal viewpoints on the same topic.
A) The importance of a multilingual Internet - How do Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) support a multilingual Internet and help people, especially those in non-English speaking countries, access the web in their native languages?
B) Successful practical experiences of various stakeholders - What is the current state of universal acceptance (UA) readiness for various internet applications among users?
C) Possible future innovations - In which areas should we focus on promoting IDNs and UA in the future?
What will participants gain from attending this session? Participants will gain insights from the conference on the significance of multilingual Internet access and the current development of internationalized domain names (IDNs), along with the latest readiness for widespread application of related software. Particularly for users from developing countries with low Internet penetration rates, they will learn about the technical feasibility of accessing the Internet in their local languages, which can enhance their awareness and interest in digital life.
Description:
According to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), there were approximately 2.6 billion people worldwide without access to the Internet as of 2023. A significant barrier to Internet access is the unfamiliarity with the English language. Supporting users in accessing the Internet in their native languages is crucial for helping those who are not proficient in English to more conveniently integrate into an information society and the digital process, which holds significant practical importance. In the realm of Internet foundational resources, internationalized domain names (IDNs) provide technical feasibility for accessing the Internet in one's mother tongue. The promotion of IDNs not only benefits the global spread and application of the Internet but also aids in the dissemination of local cultures and brands across different countries and regions. This contributes to the diverse and prosperous development of the Internet.
A) Successful practical experiences in multilingual Internet for your reference.
B) Policy recommendations for promoting multilingual Internet, Internationalized Domain Names and Email Addresses.
C) Policy suggestions for Internationalized Domain Names in the Next Round of New gTLD and Universal Acceptance Day.
Hybrid Format: At the end of each topic discussion, opinions and comments will be solicited from both on-site and online audiences. The host will introduce the main topics and guest speakers at the beginning of the meeting. A summary of the topics will be conducted before the meeting concludes, and a brief of the meeting will be promptly uploaded after its end.