One obvious application of topic maps is assisting with issues of localization. Usually that means having an interface in different languages, displaying time/date/money in different ways and sometimes being sensitive to the layout preferred by a given culture.
Topic maps can do all of that and enable developers to interchange the information they have developed for localization.
It occurs to me that the years of research on localization of interfaces should be useful in developing localization of information.
I rather like that, the localization of information. Enabling users to find and use information as they understand it.
Having localized interfaces is important and I don’t want to take anything away from that goal. But, enabling users to find and use the information they need seems like a logical next step. One that topic maps can help developers take.