iSchool Capstone

Wave: Real-time translation for limited English proficiency users

Project tags:

equity & inclusion

mobile or web development

ux & interaction design

Project poster

Approximately half of the US immigrant population is limited English proficient (LEP). The language barrier leads to stress and health issues and hinders immigrants’ employment opportunities, social environment, and more. Existing online translation services don’t offer further explanation and are often unusable for immigrants with limited education, including low reading and writing comprehension in their home language. Our app bridges this gap and provides real-time, interactive translation help from bilingual and multilingual volunteers who can further explain translations and the context surrounding them, whether cultural or technological. Wave helps LEP users navigate daily life with independence and peace of mind.

Project participants:

Michelle Lee

Informatics

Patrin Sinteppadon

Informatics

Paola Vanegas

Informatics

Tiffany Wong

Informatics