Ouvia: A User-centered Framework for Measuring Usability of Speech Translation in Real-World Communication Scenarios
arXiv:2606.06177v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: Speech translation (ST) is increasingly adopted in user applications, yet its evaluation largely focuses on decontextualized testbeds and holistic quality, rather than end users' communication needs. We introduce Ouvia, an evaluation framework for measuring user-perceived usability of speech translation outputs in real-world settings. Ouvia focuses on one-to-one communication: an English speaker needs to convey a request to a Portuguese speaker, and the message is automatically translated. Through a custom web app and multi-phase study design, we
The increasing adoption of speech translation in user applications necessitates better evaluation methods that focus on real-world usability rather than decontextualized tests. This framework addresses a growing need as ST technology matures for practical deployment.
This framework could lead to significantly more effective and user-centric speech translation tools, impacting global communication, business operations, and accessibility. It shifts the focus from raw accuracy metrics to actual user experience and communication success.
The standard approach to evaluating speech translation will likely incorporate user-centered usability metrics, moving beyond purely technical benchmarks. This will drive product development towards more practical and effective solutions for end-users.
- · Speech translation developers
- · Multilingual communication platforms
- · Users of speech translation technology
- · Platforms with poor usability
- · Traditional decontextualized evaluation methods
Improved speech translation products will emerge, better catering to specific user communication needs.
Enhanced cross-cultural communication in business, healthcare, and personal settings may lead to greater global integration and understanding.
The methodology could be extended to other AI-driven communication tools, fostering a broader shift towards user-centric AI evaluation across various domains.
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