THE OPERATING OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE LOCALISATION INDUSTRY STANDARDS ASSOCIATION

The Localisation Industry Standards Association (LISA) is an international non-profit organization registered in Geneva, Switzerland. LISA is managed by Mr. Michael Anobile at :

2bis rue Ad.-Fontanel
CH-1227 Carouge/ Geneva
Telephone +4122 301 5760
Fax +4122 301 5761
Internet: manobile@divsun.unige.ch

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION

LISA cooperates with industry partners to provide professional support for the development of standards. The creation of multilingual software and technical documentation is globally achieved to the highest possible quality levels, meeting the needs of language technology users.
The LISA Forum, meeting four times per year, focuses on the Information Technology industry. It provides regional meeting points for representatives of all parties, manufacturers, users and legislators to discuss non- proprietary information and propose methodologies for achieving the associationÕs goals.
The formation of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) amongst LISA members allows information exchange, and consultative studies to ensure that product internationalisation, localisation and high quality technical documentation is maintained.
LISA is a private association, without financial goal or monetary gain offered to its management group and operates independent of any political or commercial enterprise.

NATURE OF THE ACTIVITIES

To gather, process and distribute information particularly relevant to the interests of LISA members in the fields of product internationalisation, localisation, multilingual documentation, translation technology and production methods.
To propose methodologies and standards that would enable all members and associates to achieve highest possible quality levels at greatest efficiency levels.
To share non-proprietary processes and information, and to establish a repository of such information.
To run conferences, workshops and other exclusive events.
To conduct studies and sponsor the investigation of topics of interest that further the association's aims.

CHARTER MEMBERS AND 1996 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*

Apple Computer Europe
AT&T Global Information Services
* Autodesk Europe
Berlitz International
Berlitz Translation Services
Bull ILO
* Bureau of Translation Services
* Cheyenne Software Inc.
Digital Equipment Corporation ISE
Hewlett-Packard Europe
IBM -SM Co.
ICL United Kingdom
Lotus Development Corp.
Mendez Translation
Microsoft WPG
* Novell
Oracle Europe
Rank Xerox LTC
R. R. Donnelley Language Solutions
SunSoft
Symantec Europe
* Trantex
* Unisys Computer Europe

1995 / 1996 MEMBERS: Adobe, Alis Technologies Inc., Allen Bradley Co., Alpnet Inc., Arcada Software, BYU - Translation Resource Group, CL Servicios Linguisticos, Claris Inc., Cognos Inc., Corporate Word, Compaq Europe Corp., Corel Corporation Ltd., Creative Software Labs Ltd., CSE, Digital Equipment Corp., Dun & Bradstreet, ELSNET, Eurolang, Fry & Bonthrone, GECAP GmbH, Glossasoft Consortium, HiText International, IDOC Europe, Infoterm, Institute of Systems Science, International Communications, International Language Engineering, Informix Corporation Ltd., INSO, ISSCO, ITP Ireland, L&L Informatie, Lexitech, Logos Computer Translation Systems, Medtronic Inc., Mirrors International Moravia Translations, MTM, Multilingual Technology Ltd., Olyslager Information Systems, Opera Traduction, Ovum Ltd., Pacifitech, Polyglot Translation Inc., SAP GmbH, SCO Software Ltd., SSE Ltd., SDRC Inc., Siemens-Nixdorf, Sistemi Informativi, Software AG, SPC Europe, Stream International, STAR AG, Sybase Inc.,Tandem Computers, TechTra & CCN SA, TEK Translation, TermNet, Trados GmbH, Translingua GmbH, University of East Anglia, Winners-McQueen, Word House Associates, Wordwork AB.

WHY BECOME A MEMBER?

LISA is the only professional association dedicated to software localisation. Comprised of the leading hardware, software and translation service companies in the IT business, the LISA Forum has been meeting regularly since 1990. LISA members can thus network with their industrial peers to resolve technical and business issues by exchanging non- proprietary information, and forming special interest groups (SIGs).
LISA attracts qualified professionals, focusing on product internationalisation, localisation and multiple language documentation publishing. In collaboration with ISO and TEI, we have published a Tutorial for an industry standard terminology interface format (currently distributed as ISO 12200-TIF). LISA is a Category A liaison member of ISO TC 37 (terminology and translation technology) and ISO TC 46 (electronic publishing and document management) and relevant work groups which cover product internationalisation and software localisation issues.
In 1995 we launched the LISA Showcase - a CD-ROM information resource describing the products, services, companies, publications, methods and standards in the localisation business. The LISA QA Model (a windows based quality assurance package, offering a set of guidelines for publishers and vendors to control software localisation production processes) was also distributed in 1995. LISA also produced a publisher exclusive survey providing information on organisational models, resource utilization and costs.
Among other initiatives, members work together to evaluate benchmarking procedures, language QA criteria, international product design, machine translation and CAT system analysis, and regional NLS and product enabling guidelines.

MEMBER ENTITLEMENTS

All meeting summaries and presentation handouts (independent of attendance)
LISA Forum Newsletter - published quarterly, including industry and member reports, case studies, articles about product enabling, localisation and translation technology, productivity and strategic issues
Invitation to attend LISA Forums, the General Assembly annual meeting, SIG Projects and exclusive training seminars and workshops
ISO technical standards working draft documents to track international design, engineering and language technology initiatives
Discount prices for all LISA events, products and sponsored industry reports
Eligible to vote on all proposed initiatives and association matters, and be elected to the LISA Executive Management Committee for a period of two years.

1996 General Assembly Membership Fee: USD $ 2600.00