The Status of Stanadization of Lao Character Set

1
The Status of Stanadization of Lao Character Set

• Phonpasit PHISSAMAY
• Director of Information Technology Center
• Science Technology and Environment Agency

2
The IT element in Lao PDR

• 25,000 PCs, 70 LANs, 3 ISPs
• Less than 1 of population who have permenantly
  Used IT facilities. 2000 Internet Users
• 32 IT Service Companies (21 Foreign share)
• 2 Advanced training, 6 Colleges and 14 Regular
• Not yet completed the National IT policy and
  Master plan

3
The Status of Lao Character Set Development

• In 1985 First Lao code table Duang Jan
• In 1992 STEA-Thailand develop the Lao Code Table
  for DOS-Based.
• In 1993 Many code table for Window based (Lao
  Script for Window)
• General System Company develop the Lao code table
  for IBM PC and AS-400, which encouraged
  department of Standardization to adopted as
  National Standard.

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The Issue of Lao Character Set

• No harmonization and standardization of Lao code
  table among local developers
• The National Standard did not used by the users
• The ISO did not adopted the National Standard of
  Lao code table, but Lao character Set already
  existed with ISO 10646 and UNICODE

5
The problem resolution

• To get the compromise and consensus among local
  developer
• To create the National Project of Lao codepage
• Do an assessment of ISO 10646 and UNICODE. Do
  they meet or need to be modifed to merge with Lao
  culture and local users demand.
• Solving the current used code table
• Develop the new code table based on new national
  standard.

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Thank you