The internet gets more global today, which ironically could hurt its openness. Starting today, people can set up and search for web addresses in 11 languages such as Arabic and Hindi that do not use the Roman alphabet, including the suffix -- the ".com" or ".org" ending. This means the complete line of characters users type into the browser after "http:" can now include letters not found on Western keyboards. It's all part of the W3C Internationalization effort to make the web more accessible to the world.
After all, if Americans had to type in
ヒキワリ.ナットウ.ニホン
whenever they want to find a web site, they'd be miffed. Some countries have already been testing this, but the W3C initiative hopes to bring common standards.
The Anglo-centric, Western-centered World Wide Web is moving to all people of all languages. This feels a bit like a loss for those comfortable with Western keypads, but points out that the internet is beginning to mirror actual reality in how different social groups and cultures communicate with each other. We have an innate need to connect with our peers -- even if that means shutting some other people out.
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