Low Fidelity Prototype

Description

Our app is a discord bot called Translator.io. Initially, we are focusing on translating text chat in different languages between users. This is what our prototype is simulating. Later on in the quarter, we will look into translating voice chat as well.

To add the bot to a server, the owner of the bot will generate a link, which is then sent to an administrator of the server that the bot will be added to. After the bot is added, its commands and functions will be available for that server.

In terms of components, once Translator.io is added to the server, the server members will be interacting with the bot by typing ‘/’ and then multiple options will pop up. These represent the different possible commands the bot will accept right now. For the prototype we have a single backslash command, “/hola”. This command when run will send back “hello” which is a translation of spanish to english. Later on we plan to develop the user interface where a message can be put in the server and Translator.io will respond back with the translated message.

For now, we are faking the language translation. Right now, we have a single command which is /hola, and it always returns “hello”. We will later implement a general ‘translate’ command that takes in the message we want translated as a parameter. We are thinking of using the Google Translate API for text translation. The following is an image of the commands for the discord bot and output after running a command:

Findings from the wizard of oz testing

For our wizard of oz session, our main goal was to see what the users’ thoughts on how Translator.io would be used as well as whether there were any parts that they didn’t like at the moment. After completing the wizard of oz session and getting feedback, we learned that a general translator command would be something that users would like to have where users can put in the command and the message will be translated or the message translates automatically. Furthermore, we asked about whether a direct message would be a better alternative, but users said that our current approach is an easier way to use it for them. After asking for some possible improvements, one of the users in the wizard of oz testing suggested we implement a way for the bot to be restricted to only certain discord channels since users didn’t want every channel to have messages translated.

After completing the session, we found the findings promising enough to continue the project since overall the testers in the wizard of oz session felt like it was a good idea but there are many changes that would have to be made. In the next iteration, we will remove the hola command since it doesn’t do anything and instead have a more general command. Furthermore, we will change the structure of the message that is sent to the users and make it more informative. For example, putting the language that is being translated from and adding the original message and the translation. Also, adding the ability to restrict the bot to certain channels which will give more power to the users. In terms of things that will stay the same, we plan to use a command that will be used to translate a message like what was done in the wizard of oz testing session.