Frittella F.M. Usability research for interpreter-centred technology: The case study of SmarTerp

Berlin: Language Science Press, 2023. — vi, 190 p. — (Translation and Multilingual Natural Language Processing 21). — ISBN 978-3-96110-403-1.Technological advancement is reshaping the ways in which language interpreters operate. This poses existential challenges to the profession but also offers new opportunities. This books moves from the design of the computer-assisted interpreting tool SmarTerp as a case study of impact-driven interpreting technology research. It demonstrates how usability testing was used to achieve an interpreter-centred design. By contextualising the case study within the past and current developments of translation and interpreting technology research, this book seeks to inform and inspire a redefinition of the conceptualisation of interpreting technology research — not just as a tool to understand change but to drive it into a sustainable and human direction.Acknowledgements.
Introduction.
Usability engineering.
The concept of usability.
Usability engineering.
Empirical evaluation in usability engineering.
Usability testing.
Translation technology.
Developments and current landscape.
Computer-assisted translation (CAT) tools.
CAT tool design, development and reception.
CAT tool research.
Need analysis and tool requirements.
Evaluation research.
Discussion: Usability engineering in CAT.
Interpreting technology.
Developments and current landscape.
Computer-assisted interpreting (CAI) tools.
CAI tool design, development and reception.
CAI tool research.
Need analysis and tool requirements.
Evaluation research.
Discussion: Usability engineering in CAI.
SmarTerp.
Background.
Design and development process.
Need analysis.
Focus group and contextual inquiry.
Design-focussed literature review.
Design requirements and features.
General UI features.
Item classes.
Technical specifications.
Testing.
Usability test of SmarTerp: Methods.
Aims.
Choice of research approach.
Study design.
Materials.
Test speech design.
Test video.
Post-task questionnaire.
Semi-structured interview protocol.
Participants.
Recruitment.
Training.
First iteration: Pilot study.
Second iteration: Main study.
Procedure.
Data analysis.
Performance data.
Questionnaire data.
Interview data.
First iteration: Pilot study.
CAI tool inaccuracies.
Users’ performance.
Task success rates.
Response to CAI tool inaccuracy.
Error patterns.
Users’ perception.
Post-task questionnaire.
Interviews.
Usage problems and design recommendations.
Methodological validation.
Second iteration: Main study.
Users’ performance.
Task success rates.
Error patterns.
Users’ perception.
Post-task questionnaire.
Interviews.
Drivers of users’ satisfaction.
Usage problems and design recommendations.
UI design.
Display of problem triggers.
SmarTerp’s technical specifications.
Discussion.
General principles of interpreter-CAI tool interaction.
Users’ performance.
Users’ perception.
Training needs of CAI tool users.
CAI tool UI design.
Tentative heuristics.
Open design questions.
Limitations.
Future work.
Methodological recommendations.
Conclusion.
Appendix A: Test speech.
Briefing (communicative context).
Reading instructions.
Transcript.
Appendix B: Training speech.
Briefing (communicative context).
Reading instructions.
Transcript.
References.
Name index.