HCII
recently rose to the challenge of designing a combined Internet/Intranet electronic
commerce solution for The International Organization for Migration (IOM) based in Geneva
Switzerland. The localization and cultural issues encompassed a network spanning offices
throughout 81 countries.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an
intergovernmental body committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration
benefits migrants and society. The IOM acts with its partners in the international
community to assists in meeting the operational challenges of migration. HCII designed the
network and solution that enables IOM to manage travel and immigration of people
worldwide.
Many of the IOM offices are in remote areas of the world with
little technology infrastructure. Some offices have to remain mobile in case of war.
Localization and cost were key issues in the design. All user interfaces were in the local
language and all transactions were in local currency. The public network infrastructure
(Internet) was used in a secure manner when possible to reduce cost. When the geographic
region did not support or permit use of the Internet a private intranet was used with the
ability to use the public when available. In many cases the private intranet protocol (IP)
had to ride or piggyback on existing national network infrastructures such as X.25. The
mobile and emergency offices use the internet protocol via satellite.
