Character Building

While many of us can seamlessly text and type in our native language, millions around the world lack that ability. Most living languages are not fully supported on digital platforms, raising a critical question: How can we ensure that every language—and the communities that speak them—can fully participate in the digital world?

Join CHM for a thought-provoking panel exploring the challenges and innovations in digital language support, starting with character encoding. Hear from Unicode pioneers and language experts as they discuss the evolution of language support, the barriers to true linguistic inclusivity online, and why ensuring digital access is about more than just code—it’s about culture, identity, and the survival of languages.

What You'll Gain:

• A deeper understanding of the intersection between technology and culture through the lens of digital language support.
• Insight into the critical role of the non-profit Unicode Consortium, which provides the character encoding used by every computer and mobile phone, and much more. 
• A renewed appreciation for how digital accessibility shapes global connectivity—whether you're a developer, linguist, historian, or simply curious.

Language is the foundation of human connection. Let’s explore what it takes to ensure no language is left behind in the digital age.

Agenda 

5:30 p.m. 
Member Reception Check-in Opens

6 p.m. 
Member Reception

7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. 
Program