Microsoft Glossaries for translation

If you are involved in translating documents related to Microsoft products, Microsoft glossaries are a must. Some people said it is no longer available on their FTP site, but it is available. If anyone is having a problem accessing the site using FTP application, try clicking the link below in the Web browser. It works.
<ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/developr/msdn/newup/Glossary/>

Also, although not the same as the .cvs files of the glossaries available at the above FTP site, Microsoft has the following Web-based glossaries:

Microsoft Glossary Information Center
<http://www.microsoft.com/resources/glossary/default.mspx>
(This is a page with a list of English monolingual glossaries.)

マイクロソフト単語帳
<http://www.microsoft.com/Japan/Terminology/query.asp?ui=L>
(Japanese glossaries. Haven't used it yet, so don't know how useful it is.)

You can also try MSDN Library online in English and Japanese. Some topics have glossaries. If you are trying to compare English and Japanese versions of a certain document, note that Microsoft hasn't translated many of them into Japanese.

English
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp>

Japanese
<http://www.microsoft.com/japan/msdn/library/default.asp>

"Integrating technology in the classroom" and technical communicators

Another interesting implication for technical communicators (I think). I am listening to an audiocast of ZDNet, titled "Integrating technology in the classroom." In it, Cornelia Brunner, associate director of the Center for Children and Technology at the non-profit Education Development Center, says how today's teachers are not really prepared to teach kids all the potential skills (especially thinking skill and media literacy) the use of computers can offer because they themselves have not been trained in those skills. It seems there is an opportunity for technical communicators to contribute in this area.

You have to be a registered member to listen to the audiocast. If you are interested, the URL is <http://itpapers.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=139351&promo=200010>

The topics covered:
* How technology is being used in classrooms
* How to use computers in more meaningful ways
* Using technology to teach collaboration
* What types of technology to buy

Content management and technical communicators

ZDNet has a video interview of Martin Brauns, CEO of Interwoven. It is more on the technological side of enterprise content management, but it is still relevant to technical communicators.

"Keeping tabs from A to Z
Interwoven makes enterprise content management software. In an interview with ZDNet Editor in Chief Dan Farber, CEO Martin Brauns explains how corporate compliance is driving companies to spend money on tracking content--and how those tools are giving them the competitive edge."
<http://zdnet.com.com/2036-2_2.html>

Another article related to Interwoven.
"Microsoft teams up on content management Microsoft and software partner Interwoven have agreed to join forces on product integration, research and development, and sales and marketing."
<http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5704908.html>

ZDNet's content management-related articles (includes old ones).
<http://news.zdnet.com/2038-3513_22-0-topic.html?id=6266&name=Content+management>

Introducing Nicholas Nikki

Nicholas is a domestic short-hair, orange striped tabby cat. He lives in Southern California with his five other housemates. He is almost 6 years old, and the ruler of the house. We call him Nicholas, Nick (with "!"), or Nikki (with "!!!"), depending on the situation. The title of this blog, Nikki, is a Japanese word for "diary." Do you see the connection?

Don't worry. This is not another blog on cats. Nick's mom (me) is planning to use this space to share with others some day-to-day thoughts on various things. Since she uses English and Japanese in her professional life, this blog will be written in English and Japanese.

Let's test it.

突然ですが、フォントを日本語に変えます。このブログは、英語と日本語の両方で書くことにしました。どうなるかお楽しみに。