This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

What attracted you to Mozilla and how did you get involved?

Back in 2001, when Netscape 6 seemed to be the only browser around, I stumbled on Mozilla for the first time. The product seemed so similar to Netscape, and yet they were an open source project with a pretty interested following. I became involved in the discussions and news groups, asking and answering the questions that were floating around at the time, about use, design, and the direction of the browser called Phoenix, which is now known as Firefox. I enjoy helping people, especially with things that I understand and care about. My enjoyment and involvement was clearly more than just a side hobby.

Do most people who are involved with Mozilla feel passionately about the products?

There is an inherent magic in the Mozilla product suite. Most people who get involved are drawn to the mission and believe strongly in the products. Take SUMO, for example. As a support and update mechanism it works incredibly well. Even the first crude release back in 2007 was such a significant step up from the old support system that people began to take notice. Firefox support changed dynamically and we have the input of many dedicated Mozilla fans to thank.

What is the best interview with David Tenser question you’ve been asked as Mozilla Support lead?

People like to ask about hobbies. I think that shows how strong the Mozilla community is – we do it because we love to do it and it shows. My other hobby is photography, by the way.

The latest State of the Union Address gave one of the best examples of how localization plays a role in everything we do these days. As software developers and engineers plan their strategies for making the most of their products, they are increasingly looking to localization to bring their ideas to the world. As the President spoke on Tuesday night, live commentary was broadcast along with instant translations from individuals around the world. Crowd sourcing combined with localization is changing the way we think of software development and communication.

The importance of localization these days is similar to the way the internet itself was important when it first became available for public use. Sharing information across the planet without the time delays of the past changed the world forever. At first, this was a revolution for people who were used to dealing with each other, and usually for dealing with each other in a common language. Today, the possibility of sharing with anyone, no matter their language, culture, or location makes software development even more exciting and meaningful than ever before.

As we develop tools that can be used across countries, providing localization and localization support becomes more and more of a priority. Software that does not offer localization will hit a dead end where competitors can tap into many other markets. With the availability of crowd sourcing and free technology, there is no excuse for neglecting the importance of localization these days.

In the long run, communication technologies are what make the world a smaller place. The fact that we can share ideas around the world in a few seconds is revolutionary, and the only tool needed these days is some form of localized communication tool. Localization is one of the most important aspects of any tool being developed today.

How did you first become involved with Mozilla, and particularly in localization at Mozilla?

Back in 2006, I was asked to start Mozilla’s Community Giving and Empowerment program. The needs of the community came first, and yet the needs of the community often fed the success of Mozilla products. Localization grew out of the fact that in so many communities, the first jobs of the local members were essentially localization projects. My exposure to the volunteers and my experience with their needs gave me the perfect launching point to start a formalized localization team to increase availability and access for people around the world.

How has localization changed since you started as Director of Localization at Mozilla?

Localization has gone from a routine task without formal structure to a necessary step in any community that wants to use Mozilla’s products. Of course, there re an incredibly number of tools, better reporting, and significant documentation these days that aid in the set-up of localization for Mozilla and other software. The way that it has changed has been a result of increased focus on localization as well as being a direct result of the needs of local communities. Things will only get easier as more people contribute and work hard to turn localization into routine.

How does crowd sourcing work for serious projects like the Mozilla Localization Team?

Crowd sourcing is something that software engineers and developers are just starting to tap into. For us, working with localization, we are seeing that even the smallest helpful project turns into a huge success due to crowd sourcing.