ABSTRACT
Cross-cultural communication was considered an interesting but isolated interaction reserved for individuals who traveled abroad for business or pleasure. For technical communicators, the convergence of online media and globalization creates new and important challenges. One major challenge involves creating online materials that can be used by different cultural audiences. A common practice is for organizations to use localization to adapt the content, design, and architecture of online materials for culturally diverse audiences. Media such as e-mail and online chat rooms allowed individuals to exchange information, ideas, and materials quickly and directly with international counterparts. At the same time, growing interest in free markets and trade agreements provided incentives for using such media to interact on an international level. According to Internet World Stats, just over one and a half billion persons have online access. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
