What is the impact of DITA on the efficiency of visual content localization for global aerospace audiences?

November 10, 2023
|By Bryan Tipper

DITA significantly impacts the efficiency of visual content localization for global aerospace audiences by offering a structured and modular approach to content creation and translation. Here’s how DITA achieves this:

1. Modular Content Creation: DITA’s modular authoring approach breaks content into smaller, reusable components called topics. Each topic focuses on a specific concept or task. By creating content in modular units, aerospace organizations can easily manage the localization process. Translators can work on individual topics without having to translate entire documents, leading to more efficient translations.

<!-- Example: DITA topic for Aircraft Safety Procedures -->
<topic id="safety-procedures">
  <title>Aircraft Safety Procedures</title>
  <body>
    <p>Here are the safety procedures for our aircraft.</p>
    <steps>
      <step>Fasten your seatbelt.</step>
      <step>Locate the nearest emergency exit.</step>
      <step>Follow the safety instructions from the crew.</step>
    </steps>
  </body>
</topic>

2. Reuse and Content Variants: DITA allows content reuse through mechanisms like conref (content references). Translated content can be efficiently reused across documents, and any updates to the source content will automatically propagate to the localized versions. DITA’s support for content variants helps create localized versions with country-specific regulations, terminology, or imagery, ensuring cultural and regulatory compliance.

<!-- Example: Reusing a translated step from the source topic -->
<topicref href="safety-procedures.dita">
  <conref push="source"/>
  <conref push="translate"/>
  <conref href="safety-procedures-translated.dita"/>
  <conref pop="translate"/>
  <conref pop="source"/>

3. Translation Management: With DITA, it’s easier to manage the translation workflow. Translation memory systems can be integrated, which store previously translated content, reducing translation costs and improving consistency. Workflow automation ensures that the right topics are sent for translation when updated, avoiding unnecessary retranslation of unchanged content.

Overall, DITA’s structured authoring, content reuse, and translation management capabilities streamline the localization process, saving time and resources while ensuring that aerospace content is effectively tailored to global audiences.