Digital Web Services Network: Past Events

January 19, 2023 DWSN Forum

Here are collected and shared QAs from the DWSN forum meeting chat.

Is there a cost to use Google Translate?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
No, it is free. We use GTranslate. If you use Drupal CMS; there are free and paid services.

Is there a way to restrict Google site translation to displaying only languages that have had content reviews?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
You would have to hack it, but it can be done.

For content that is heavy in jargon (i.e. scientific language, taxes, etc.), human reviews are super necessary.

DWSN member:
One best practice I learned was to translate to Spanish first and use the Spanish translation to translate to all other languages. Automated translations do exponentially better start from a language other than English!

AWS has a free translation service tier, right?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
AWS translate free tier: Amazon Translate pricing

Is the AWS translate solution developed by ODI code available for other agencies to use?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
ODI does not offer standardized translation services, however, AWS, Google, and Microsoft offer cloud-based automated translation services that work better than the free Google translate widget.

For template web standards, would this require third party libraries like jQuery or PrimeFaces?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:

Yes, this version of the template has a dependency on Bootstrap (which has a dependency on jQuery).

No, Bootstrap 5 is not dependent on JQuery. The template is not dependent on JQuery by design; we’ve been working to remove JQuery from the template for years.

Are there any CA style names that are also used in Bootstrap causing conflicts in case it is also used?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
There isn’t a bootstrap conflict because it’s built on it.

I know you have a .NET core MVC sample, has anyone tried to adapt the new template to the .NET Blazor templates?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Not yet.

Poll Question: Which type of content would you find most useful when implementing a template or design system?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Poll Results: 70 Responses

Get started guidance14%

Usage content for components and patterns20%

Examples31%

Source Code23%

Implementation notes for components and patterns10%

Is there somewhere we can get the non-minified css and js code?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
If it’s not in GitHub, you can use a free tool like: beautifier.io

What does 11ty stand for?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Eleventy.

Have you checked to see what frameworks all the different State Departments are actually using?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
We have looked at that, HTML and .NET were at the top outside any CMS implementations.

What about WordPress template?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
That’s on the docket.  This is in the works and being tested – more info coming soon!

Don’t some teams need special permission to look at GitHub?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Any public GitHub repository can be viewed by anyone, even CDT staff.  Some CDT resources require special authentication to view.

Poll Question: Which type of repository are you more likely to use?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Poll Results: 55 Responses

Robust repo (full page examples of all components and patterns)50%

 

Simple repo (minimal)23%

 

I do not use repos31%

 

What do you mean by repo?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
A code repository. What GitHub and other version control tools call the place where the code set is stored.

Anyone going to try the template with nextjs?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
The template has a React version, which would be a good start for someone to look at Next.js.

Poll Question: Do you write content for websites or digital content?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Poll Results: 83 Responses

Yes71%

 

No28%

 

Poll Question: Have you used the content design principles on the Design System website?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Poll Results: 83 Responses

Yes38%

 

No61%

 

What is the website link?

Poll Question: Would you like being part of a network like this?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Poll Results: 83 Responses

Yes75%

 

No24%

 

Poll Question: How interested are you in getting short content design tips?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Poll Results: 79 Responses

Not at all interested1%

Not interested1%

Not sure10%

Interested73%

Very Interested13%

What was Michael's email for the content design group?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
michael.sullivan@innovation.ca.gov

Does anyone know of a training consultant for ADA Compliant documents?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
CDT has accessibility training: Workforce Development – Course Schedule

Universal Analytics’ sunset date is currently July 1, 2023, with the sunset how does the roadmap look for analytics capability in future? We are interested in gaining insights for our web-estate to make key on-going decisions around content & design.

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
I am sure GA4 can do whatever you need it to do. Google analytics isn’t going anywhere.

Would you please provide Google Analytics 4 links?

Should I use a carousel?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
shouldiuseacarousel.com

Which design system component is good to use in place of banner carousels? Managers demand advertising their latest campaigns on the homepage.

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Comm strategy + containers (like a news area, etc). be intentional with the content.
A standard banner, but it really depends on your content and audience: Template WebStandards.CA.GOV / Patterns

Think page geography and scale to make things important. Callouts, etc.

Could a news / what's new feature (with an archive if nec.) work?

DWSN Coordinator/presenter:
Yes! A news or blog ‘pattern’ can be an alternative to a carousel if the content is regularly updated and time sensitive. Check out a few different ‘newsrooms’ on ca.gov for inspiration:

However, if the content stays relevant over time, it should also live outside of the newsroom—somewhere within your information architecture, so it’s easier to find (both for people and search engines).

Here are collected and shared poll responses from the community members.

Share reasons why departments should provide website content in languages other than English.

    • More English as second language
    • So everyone can access legal information
    • Understanding the topics for people who don’t speak English
    • Serve all Californians.
    • There may be people from outside of the U.S. that may want to use the website and are not fluent with English.
    • Accessibility, better communication and understanding, education, effective information
    • For many of our customers English is a 2nd language. We want everyone to get the same information.
    • CA state provides services to all people in CA. This includes people who don’t speak English or are more comfortable reading in another language.
    • Respect
    • English is a hard language and should not be the barrier between accessing services and not. We have to meet people where they are.
    • Accessibility and inclusive
    • Meet people’s desired language of use
    • It is important to provide services to all Californians
    • Content is for all people
    • Dignity
    • Because informing people in the language they speak includes them in the process and shows them we respect them as they are.
    • Based on our analytic data, a good portion of our users default browser language is set outside English domain.
    • To meet people where they’re at! Which includes English as a second language and non-English speakers.
    • To make it more comfortable to the user to get the information!
    • To ensure that diverse communities can understand what services are available to them.
    • Because Cali is a diverse state!
    • Civil rights
    • THE LAW
    • Equitable service to customers
    • We serve all Californians and we should meet them where they are, including the language they prefer.
    • Inclusion
    • Accessibility: Our job is to serve all Californians, not just those fluent in English.
    • For better dissemination of information to the public
    • Because of the diversity in California
    • To more effectively represent the diversity of California
    • For accessibility
    • It’s more accessible, makes the site more inclusive and equitable
    • Inclusion and engagement
    • We are meant to serve ALL Californians
    • Serve more Californians!

Responses total: 56

Language10%

English8%

People8%

Californians6%

Information5%

Services4%

Inclusion4%

Diverse4%

Accessible4%

California3%

What tools or services do you use to provide website content in languages other than English?

none at this time CAWeb still uses the Google Widget Coworkers dept staff contracted translators Department translators Humans whenever possible deepl.com certifed translators Staff Old Google translate sad face Humans do our translationst Google Translate Person/employee to translate for the Spanish pages dept Depends! Best case is a vendor doing human translation. Next best is an automated service checked by humans. face i18n javascript NPM package Friends and family (unofficial) Contactors Google Contract out Still using Google translate Smartling Votes No, much needed! npm Translation team

Responses total: 56

Google translate 4%

None at this time 1%

CAWeb still uses the Google Widget1%

Coworkers1%

Dept staff 1%

Contracted translators 1%

Department translators 1%

Humans whenever possible 1%

deepl.com1%

Certified translators1%

Staff1%

Old Google translate sad face 1%

Humans do our translations 1%

Person/employee to translate for the Spanish pages 1%

Depends! Best case is a vendor doing human translation. Next best is an automated service checked by humans. 1%

i18n javascript NPM package 1%

Friends and family (unofficial) 1%

Contactors 1%

Google1%

Contract out 1%

Still using Google translate1%

Smartling1%

No, much needed! 1%

Translation team 1%