Evaluating TM Interfaces/Matching

Evaluating TM Interfaces/Matching is a short-term (10 month, Jan 2010 – Sept 2010) project funded by DCU’s OVPR, and lead by Dr. Sharon O’Brien and Dr. Minako O’Hagan (SALIS, DCU).

This project involves an eye tracking-based usability evaluation of translation technology, specifically translation memory tools. The Tobii 1750 eye tracker will be used to record how professional translators use translation memory tools with different layouts (primarily vertical vs. horizontal layouts) and with different levels of segmentation (sentence only vs. sub-segment matching). Our objective is to gather data on the tool design and UI layout that best facilitates the type of work carried out by translators in industry with a view to providing recommendations to translation tool designers on what UI issues translators are faced with. This builds on our pioneering research using eye tracking to investigate issues such as cognitive load in translation memory tools in general and while post-editing machine translation output, perception of machine-translated subtitles for films, readability of controlled language input and machine-translated output. This will open a new avenue of research into the field of Human Computer Interface (HCI). Combined with our current research into digital game localisation which seeks locale-specific UI, the new HCI angle with the use of eye tracker will facilitate our expertise at CTTS to develop into this highly sought after field with considerable commercial interest with the opportunity to bid for bigger European funding in future. PIs: Dr Sharon O’Brien/ Minako O’Hagan/. Support requested: Research assistant, payment for translators and some training.

Please contact Dr. Sharon O’Brien for further information on this project.