The Challenge of Realizing a Multilingual Internet
With Tina Dam, ICANN
The single interoperable Internet is based on a shared namespace originating
in a single root. This ensures that all users of the global Internet have a
platform on which they can communicate with each other. The geographic
extent of the Internet is constantly expanding, with a corresponding
increase in its use by the diverse linguistic groups of the world which in
turn results in an increased demand for internationalization of the domain
name identifiers. This is often referred to as internationalizing the
Internet or a multilingual internet.
One challenge in implementing multilingualism on the Internet is the
preparation of enabling numerous languages, alphabets, scripts, and
character sets in domain names and in particular within top level labels.
However, internationalization of the domain name space does not
automatically provide users with access to the Internet in their local
language. As such internationalization of the application level and content
level is equally important and all efforts much be managed in a joint
effort.
ICANN takes all issues related to internationalization very seriously, and
as such several initiatives are ongoing to provide a secure method for
implementation of internationalized top level domains in the root zone.
These relate to both policy descriptions, technical, and operational tests
of root zone deployment of IDNs. This presentation will provide a status
update of these efforts and discuss any complications and opportunities
moving forward towards enabling all users on a global basis access to and
use of the Internet by using their own local script.
Tina Dam
joined ICANN in 2003 as Chief gTLD Registry Liaison, where she was responsible for developing ICANN's gTLD Registry functions including defining and managing processes in accordance with consensus policies and ICANN agreements for servicing the gTLD registries.
In January 2006 Tina was appointed Director for ICANN's IDN Program. In this capacity she develops and manages all IDN related projects at ICANN focused at the deployment of internationalized top level domains.
Prior to ICANN she worked with several companies in the DNS community, including ICANN-accredited registrar Ascio Technologies (formerly known as SpeedNames) where she oversaw the launches of the .biz, .info, and .name top-level domains, and managed the development of all related internal and external products and product marketing materials. Prior to Ascio, Tina was Systems Architecture Engineer at Navision Software a/s, establishing the architecture design of the company's next generation of products.
Tina holds a Master of Science in Mathematics and Physics from the Aalborg University in Denmark and a BBA in Marketing Management and International Trade from Copenhagen Business School.