Catalyst Communication and Collaborations: Real-Time AI Language translation tool For Catalyst communities

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Ubio Obu

[GENERAL] Email address of main applicant

ubboyoyo@yahoo.com

Additional applicants

Dr. Kotadi Chinai, Ediyangha Ottoho, Daniel Effiom, Iniobong Ekpin, Blessing Izirein

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

10

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language.

No

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.” .

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

No

[GENERAL] If NO, please describe which outputs are not going to be open source. If YES, please write “Project will be fully open source.”

“Project will be fully open source.”

[METADATA] Category of proposal

Translation

[METADATA] SDG rating

SDG goals:

Reduce inequality within and among countries

SDG subgoals:

Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions

Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization agreements

Key Performance Indicator (KPI):

Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations

Universal Human Rights Index (UHRI):

#proposertoolsdg

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

Sofie is from Benin Republique, a French-speaking country in the sub-Saharan region of West Africa, Sofie mistakenly stumbles upon content on youtube that discusses Project Catalyst, its impact, and how to engage. This content is one of those Catalyst/Cardano expansion and onboarding projects which was funded in one of the Funding rounds. The presentation and style of the video are so thrilling, such that it captures Sofie's attention, and Sofie can't wait to be in the next Project Catalyst townhall.

It's Wednesday 6 pm local time in Benin Republique, and despite having a lot to do that day, Sofie has cleared her calendar to be sure she makes it on time to the project Catalyst town hall. Sofie enthusiastically joins the call, and she can't wait to join the conversation. But to Sofies disappointment she doesn't understand what is going on in there, and although she can attest to the fact that the community is very lively and seems like the kind of community she would love to be part of, she unfortunately does not understand English and as such cannot engage, and neither can her contribution be heard. Put yourself in Sofie's shoes, what would you have done?

(a) Stay and keep wasting your time In the community while you do not understand what is going on there

(b) Find a few French contents about Cardano/Catalyst and the town halls to follow up on the engagements in the community.

(c) Leave and probably never return.

Option C, most time seems to be the most logical option to persons like Sofie who step into most of our Town Halls for the first time and do not speak English. Among persons who come to Catalyst town halls and go back after the first time, language will probably be among the top reasons. This problem continues to affect the catalyst community and there is therefore a need for tools that will help improve this process, without these tools more marketing campaigns and outreaches will lead to lesser retention and participation in our meetings. This is why we are proposing the Real-Time AI-Language translation tool For Catalyst communities.

WHAT IS CATALYST WITHOUT COLLABORATION?

Our proposal seeks to develop a tool that will help the Catalyst community to keep people like Sofie who leave the community because of a lack of proper understanding of English. But that's not all, our project seeks to help cross-pollination and interaction among members of the community with other communities. Currently, as an English speaker, you cannot attend effectively a Swahili Catalyst town hall for example, but I thought the essence of the Catalyst community is collaboration. how can we collaborate effectively when we can't understand each other? Communication is impeding our full experience as a community, and this is what this proposal seeks to address. We are yet to experience the full potential of human experience when and where our collaboration has not been fully harnessed. This is why this tool is very important because it speaks to the very heart of what makes us "catalysts"

PROJECT TECHNICALITIES

For this phase of the project, we will be focusing on demonstrating this concept in about 2-3 languages. The concept is that when users come to the town hall, they can install an extension or we will integrate an API into our Zoom meeting which allows users to toggle the language they want, now this is what will be happening, using Natural Language processing as conversations are ongoing in the town hall. Our tool will be translating it in almost real-time to the participant in the toggled language. The following simple algorithm will be followed

(I) Speech is converted to text

(ii) text is segmented into small blocks

(iii) Blocks are applied over a translation algorithm (The latest Transformer based translation models will be utilized)

(iv) Translated speech displayed in the toggled language

(vi) Translated text displayed in the user interface, ensuring it is synchronized with the ongoing conversation or with minute lapse.

This way a user like Sofie will be able to attend Catalyst town hall meetings in real time even when he/she does not understand English. Also, we will be able to cross-pollinate with other regional town halls, as we will be able to at least interact and engage with these town halls, despite our language deficiencies. The effect of this means more collaborations between regional town halls, which of course is not just a challenge objective for us, but in clear alignment with the theme of the fund 10.

CONTEXT SETTING

For some context settings, there are thousands of languages all over the world, and while we aim to see our project get there, for the current phase of our solution, we will only focus on English, French, and Spanish. The success of this tool will see us expand this solution into other languages that will be relevant to the community and it will be open-sourced, so communities can adapt the tool according to their language as well. The other thing worth noting is that this tool will be a Zoom extension and/or Zoom's API, Zoom is currently the most utilized platform for Catalyst town halls, in future proposals we can seek to integrate it into other meeting tools as well.

The project will first be deployed on catalyst continuous testnet, it is when it has been fully effected that we will now move it to the general community or mainet for community usage.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Here is the architectural flow chart design for the proposed solution

[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?

So let's see what the campaign brief says and how it relates to our solution

Catalyst Systems Improvements are proposals that have or will have a high likelihood of advancing the state of the art for innovation platform for Cardano offered by Project Catalyst. Proposals entered in this category must demonstrate improvements in one or more of the following areas:

1. Systemic improvements (Technical or Procedural) that streamline or otherwise enhance Project Catalyst processes. 

So part of the challenge setting brief is for technical or procedural improvements that streamline or enhance the project catalyst process, ours is a technical project that will improve the Catalyst process, making it much more inclusive for participants from all over the world to participate.

Also part of the requirement is that the first product will be deployed on the catalyst testnet, which of course is clearly spelled out in the project description for us, showing clearly how relevant this is to the challenge brief.

But it doesn't stop there, this is one of the few proposals that doesn't only speak to the challenge brief but to the fund theme, which is about collaboration. Our tool is answering the question of how we can better collaborate as the catalyst community.

Generally, this tool will help the community to become more inclusive, will foster collaboration, and will make onboarding to Cardano communities much easier than it currently is.

[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?

The successful development and deployment of the tool to the Catalyst testnet

The successful deployment of the solution to the catalyst mainet

The number of Catalyst meetings/events that this solution will be used in

The quality of interactions that will tool will foster

The amount of cross-pollinated town hall meetings and events as a result of this tool

The number of users of this tool in meetings over a time

The frequency of usage of the tool in the catalyst community

The number of Cardano communities that will be utilizing the tool

[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?

Milestone 1: UI/UX Design and prototyping

Timescale: 1 month

Milestone 2: Tool Development and Refinement

Time scale: 4 month

Milestone 3: Product Testing

Timescale: 1 month

Milestone 4: Testnet Deployment and Initial Engagement

Timescale: 2 months

Milestone 5: Partnerships and Outreach

Timescale: 1 month

Milestone 6: Final Release and Long-Term Support

Timescale: 1 month

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?

Ubio is the CEO of RemoStart, A Blockchain Researcher and an AI expert and researcher with 4 years of experience in developing ML models. He has product management experience and has managed products that are in Agriculture, IoT, health, app development, etc. He has experience working with a range of tech stacks and has about 6 research publications in the field of Artificial Intelligence. His wide experience in tech development makes him ideal for the product management position in this solution. Successfully implemented a fund 9 awarded proposal. He will be in charge of coordinating with faculties and mentors for this project. He is a catalyst Facilitator collective member, organized the CIP-1694 Lagos event, is an African town hall coordinator, and was a moderator at the SingularityNet Deepfunding2 Pitchfest.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ubio-obu-71927276/

http://github.com/ubiodee

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?

To reduce the language problem among participants in the Project Catalyst communities

To increase inclusiveness in the catalyst community

To increase the number of cross-collaborations and communications among participants in Catalyst

To increase the rate of retention of new users in the catalyst meetings

To increase satisfaction among members of the ecosystem

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.

Milestone 1: UI/UX Design and Prototyping

ACTIVTIES

• Task 1: Gather requirements and conduct user research (2 weeks)
• Task 2: Design the user interface and user experience (3 weeks)
• Task 3: Create interactive prototypes for testing (1 week)

Milestone 2: Tool Development and Refinement

ACTIVITIES

• Task 1: Develop the translation algorithm and integrate with Zoom (10 weeks)
• Task 2: Implement real-time speech-to-text conversion (6 weeks)
• Task 3: Apply natural language processing for translation (8 weeks)
• Task 4: Implement user interface components for language toggling and display (6 weeks)
• Task 5: Iterate and refine the tool based on user feedback (6 weeks)

Milestone 3: Product Testing

ACTIVITIES

• Task 1: Conduct internal testing for functionality and usability (2 weeks)
• Task 2: Gather feedback from a small group of external users (2 weeks)
• Task 3: Identify and fix any issues or bugs (2 weeks)

Milestone 4: Testnet Deployment and Initial Engagement

ACTIVITIES

• Task 1: Prepare the tool for deployment on Catalyst continuous testnet (2 weeks)
• Task 2: Launch the tool on the testnet and announce to the Catalyst community (2 weeks)
• Task 3: Engage with the community to gather feedback and insights (8 weeks)
• Task 4: Conduct webinars and demonstrations to showcase the tool's capabilities (4 weeks)

Milestone 5: Partnerships and Outreach

ACTIVITIES

• Task 1: Identify potential partnerships with language-focused communities and organizations (2 weeks)
• Task 2: Initiate collaboration and explore integration opportunities with other Cardano projects (2 weeks)
• Task 3: Conduct workshops and training sessions for community members (2 weeks)
• Task 4: Share success stories and testimonials through various channels (2 weeks)

Milestone 6: Final Release and Long-Term Support

ACTIVITIES

• Task 1: Prepare for the final release of the tool to the general Catalyst community or mainnet (2 weeks)
• Task 2: Ensure scalability, reliability, and user-friendliness of the tool (4 weeks)
• Task 3: Implement long-term support mechanisms, including bug fixes, updates, and maintenance (4 weeks)

[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.

Milestone 1: UI/UX Design and Prototyping

Deliverables:

• User research report, including identified requirements and user preferences.
• UI/UX design mockups and wireframes.
• Interactive prototypes for user testing.

Outputs:

• Clear understanding of user needs and preferences.
• Well-designed user interface and user experience mockups.
• Interactive prototypes for testing and feedback.

Intended Outcomes:

• User-friendly and visually appealing UI/UX design.
• Alignment of the design with user expectations and requirements.

Milestone 2: Tool Development and Refinement

Deliverables:

• Implemented translation algorithm and integration with Zoom.
• Real-time speech-to-text conversion functionality.
• Natural language processing implementation for translation.
• User interface components for language toggling and display.
• Updated tool version based on user feedback.

Outputs:

• Functional and integrated translation tool with Zoom.
• Real-time speech-to-text conversion feature.
• Accurate and reliable natural language processing translation.
• User interface components for language selection and display.
• Updated tool version addressing user feedback and improvements.

Intended Outcomes:

• Real-time translation of town hall conversations in selected languages.
• Seamless user experience in toggling languages and viewing translated text.
• Enhanced usability and accuracy based on user feedback.

Milestone 3: Product Testing

Deliverables:

• Testing plan and documentation.
• Test results and bug reports.
• Fixes for identified issues or bugs.

Outputs:

• Comprehensive testing documentation.
• Identified issues or bugs with associated reports.
• Resolved issues and bug fixes.

Intended Outcomes:

• Ensured functionality and reliability of the translation tool.
• Improved tool stability and accuracy through bug fixes.

Milestone 4: Testnet Deployment and Initial Engagement

Deliverables:

• Deployed tool on Catalyst continuous testnet.
• Documentation and resources for community members to access and utilize the tool.
• Webinar and demonstration materials.

Outputs:

• Active deployment of the translation tool on Catalyst continuous testnet.
• User documentation and guides for tool usage.
• Webinars and demonstrations showcasing the tool's capabilities.

Intended Outcomes:

• Engaged participation from the Catalyst community in testing and providing feedback.
• Increased awareness and understanding of the tool among community members.

Milestone 5: Partnerships and Outreach

Deliverables:

• Identified partnership opportunities and collaboration plans.
• Workshop and training materials.
• Success stories and testimonials.

Outputs:

• Established partnerships with language-focused communities and organizations.
• Conducted workshops and training sessions for community members.
• Shared success stories and testimonials highlighting the tool's impact.

Intended Outcomes:

• Collaboration with external organizations for increased tool adoption and reach.
• Enhanced community engagement and knowledge through workshops and training.
• Increased awareness of the tool's benefits through success stories and testimonials.

Milestone 6: Final Release and Long-Term Support

Deliverables:

• Final release version of the translation tool.
• Documentation for long-term support and maintenance.
• Bug fixes, updates, and maintenance procedures.

Outputs:

• Released version of the translation tool for general Catalyst community or mainnet usage.
• Documentation for ongoing support and maintenance.
• Continuous bug fixes, updates, and improvements.

Intended Outcomes:

• Availability of the tool for widespread use within the Catalyst community.
• Sustainable support and maintenance for long-term usability.
• Continuous improvement and enhancement based on user feedback and needs.

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.

Milestone 1: UI/UX Design and Prototyping

• User research and analysis: 10000 ADA
• Design software and tools: 7000 ADA
• Prototype development tools: 5000 ADA
• project management cost: 3000 ADA
• Total cost for Milestone 1: 25,000 ADA

Milestone 2: Tool Development and Refinement

• Development team for 800+ hours of development(including developers, NLP specialists, and UI/UX designers, front-end dev etc): 150000 ADA
• Zoom integration and API usage: 10000 ADA
• Testing infrastructure and tools: 10,000 ADA
• project management cost: 12000 ADA
• Total cost for Milestone 2: 182,000 ADA

Milestone 3: Product Testing

• Testing resources (including test servers, devices, and tools): 15000 ADA
• Quality assurance personnel: 25000 ADA
• project management cost: 3000 ADA
• Total cost for Milestone 3: 43,000 ADA

Milestone 4: Testnet Deployment and Initial Engagement

• Hosting and server costs: 5000 ADA
• Documentation and resources creation: 5000 ADA
• Webinar and demonstration expenses: 5000 ADA
• Project management cost: 6000 ADA
• Total cost for Milestone 4: 21,000 ADA

Milestone 5: Partnerships and Outreach

• Partnership collaboration expenses: 5000 ADA
• Workshop and training session costs: 5000 ADA
• Marketing and outreach materials: 5000 ADA
• Project management cost: 3000 ADA
• Total cost for Milestone 18000

Milestone 6: Final Release and Long-Term Support

• Final release preparation and deployment: 5000 ADA
• Documentation for support and maintenance: 10000 ADA
• Ongoing support and maintenance costs: 28000 ADA
• Project management cost:3000 ADA
• Total cost for Milestone 6: 46000 ADA

Additional Costs (Applicable to the entire project):

• Contingency (10% of the total project cost): 10,000 ADA

Grand Total: 25,000+ 182000 + 43,000 +21,000 +18000+ 46000+ 10,000 = 345,000 ADA

[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

I estimated the rate for paying project managers using global standard rates

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Global-Project-Manager-Salary

I estimate the rate for paying developers using global standard rates

https://www.fullstacklabs.co/blog/software-development-price-guide-hourly-rate-comparison

[IMPORTANT NOTE] The Applicant agreed to Fund10 rules and also that data in the Submission Form and other data provided by the project team during the course of the project will be publicly available.

I Accept