Breaking Language Barriers: A Proposal for Expanding Global Accessibility through Comprehensive Language Support

[GENERAL] Name and Surname of Main Applicant

Shawn Roller

[GENERAL] Email address of Main Applicant

shawn@gerowallet.io

Additional Applicants

chris@gerowallet.io, Kostas@gerowallet.io

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

4

[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.” in this field.

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project outputs 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.” in this field.

Any libraries directly funded by Catalyst will be open source. Certain aspects of GeroWallet may not be open source.

[METADATA] Category of Proposal

Regional Expansion

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

The main goal of our project is to address the accessibility challenge faced by non-English speakers around the world in accessing the Cardano ecosystem. We believe that the adoption and use of blockchain technology should be a global activity, not limited to western culture or English-speaking regions. We will translate wallet text for mobile applications and browser extensions into the top 35 languages. This is not limited to wallet text. It will include Cardano onboarding YouTube videos that are translated in native languages with both audio translations and subtitles.. 

These languages have been strategically chosen based on multiple factors. First, they represent the native languages of countries with the highest number of internet users, thus aligning with the digital nature of blockchain technology. Second, some of these languages are spoken in regions with high levels of cryptocurrency activities, which signals a strong potential for the adoption of Cardano ecosystem. For instance, languages such as Mandarin Chinese and Hindi cover two of the world's most populous countries that are rapidly digitizing and embracing blockchain technology.

Third, several languages on our list correspond to countries where the local population is underserved by current banking systems, or where local currencies are highly volatile. Providing accessibility to the Cardano ecosystem in these languages, such as Hausa in Nigeria, can play a pivotal role in promoting financial inclusion and stability in such regions.

Lastly, these languages represent a broad global coverage, allowing us to tap into various unexplored markets and helping us bring a diverse group of new users into the Cardano ecosystem.

In essence, our solution will make Cardano more accessible to a truly global audience, facilitating mass adoption. The incorporation of these translations will be carried out meticulously, maintaining the highest standards of quality to ensure ease of use and understanding for all new users, regardless of their language.

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

Our proposed solution addresses the challenge of language barriers in the Cardano ecosystem by translating wallet mobile applications and browser extensions into the top 35 languages. Additionally we will include translated onboarding videos via YouTube on both translated audio and subtitles.

This addresses the problem by making Cardano more accessible to non-English speakers, thereby expanding its user base. Many non-English speakers are potential users of blockchain technology, and our solution can help bring them into the Cardano ecosystem.

By reducing language barriers, we not only open up opportunities for new users but also for developers, investors, and businesses from non-English speaking regions who are interested in Cardano. This can potentially lead to more projects being built on Cardano, more investments flowing into the ecosystem, and more businesses adopting Cardano for their operations.

The benefits to the Cardano ecosystem are substantial:

Increased Accessibility: By providing language support for the major global languages, we drastically improve accessibility to Cardano’s ecosystem for non-English speakers around the globe.

Enhanced User Experience: A wallet is the first window into the blockchain for many users. By offering a wallet that is accessible in their native language, we are providing them with a more comfortable and smoother onboarding experience.

User Growth: By attracting non-English speakers to the Cardano ecosystem, we can significantly increase the user base, thereby strengthening the ecosystem.

Diversity and Inclusion: Our project will contribute to making the Cardano ecosystem more diverse and inclusive, a fundamental tenet of the decentralized philosophy.

Increased Adoption: With a broader user base, the adoption of Cardano technology and ADA could also see a significant increase.

In conclusion, our solution directly addresses the challenge of language barriers in the Cardano ecosystem and brings numerous benefits that could help drive the growth and adoption of Cardano.

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

The success of our project will be gauged through a multi-dimensional approach encompassing both quantitative and qualitative metrics:

• User Growth: The primary and most direct measure will be an increase in the number of Wallet users who utilize the newly translated versions of the app. This can be tracked via analytics on the number of downloads, installations, and active users segmented by language or region.

• User Engagement: We will also monitor user engagement metrics such as frequency of app usage, number of transactions per user, and the balance of wallets to understand how deeply the users are engaging with the Cardano ecosystem.

• User Feedback and Reviews: User satisfaction is an essential measure of success. We will actively seek out user feedback and monitor reviews on the App Store, Google Play Store, and Chrome Web Store. Any positive change in the average rating or the sentiment of the reviews could be attributed to the increased accessibility due to translations.

• Community Engagement: Posting regular updates on community platforms and tracking the engagement received (likes, shares, comments, etc.) can provide insights into how well the community is receiving the multilingual support.

• These metrics will collectively provide a comprehensive view of the project's success, ensuring we capture not just the increase in user numbers but also their satisfaction and engagement levels.

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

Our primary goal is to ensure transparency and active communication with the Cardano community throughout the project. Here are the ways we intend to share the project's outputs and results:

Codebase and Documentation: Since the language pack (including the original English JSON file and all translated JSON files) will be open source, the codebase will be available on our GitHub repository. We will update the README file with the project's latest progress and features, making it easy for anyone to follow along with the project.

Usage Analytics: Once the translations are deployed, we will share usage analytics publicly. These reports can include the number of users per language, user retention, and other relevant data to measure the project's impact.

These methods ensure that our progress and results are transparent and that we stay accountable to the community. They also provide multiple touchpoints for us to engage with our users and gather valuable feedback.

Project Blog Posts and Updates: Regularly posting updates on the project's progress on popular platforms such as Medium, our project website’s blog, and Twitter. These posts can detail recent accomplishments, hurdles overcome, and next steps. We'll also share behind-the-scenes insights into the translation process, giving the community a better understanding of our work.

Community Engagement: We will actively engage with the Cardano community on social platforms and forums such as Discord, Cardano's official forum, and Telegram. We aim to create an open dialogue where we can address any questions or concerns, gather feedback, and understand our users' needs better. We also plan to run AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions with our developers and project managers, providing an interactive platform for communication.

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

Our team has a proven track record in the blockchain industry, particularly within the Cardano ecosystem. We have successfully developed and launched GeroWallet, which currently serves over 20,000 users worldwide across various platforms such as Chrome, Brave, iOS, and Android. This demonstrates our ability to deliver high-quality projects with complex requirements.

Our team’s expertise ranges from blockchain development to UX/UI design, and quality assurance, ensuring that we have all the necessary skills to undertake and successfully complete this project. Our members are highly proficient and certified in their respective fields, bringing in a wealth of experience from working on similar projects.

We have always prioritized transparency and accountability in our work. Throughout this project, we intend to maintain a high level of communication with the Cardano community. We plan to regularly share our progress, challenges, and victories through blog posts, updates on our website, and social media channels. We also intend to actively seek feedback from the community to ensure our work aligns with their expectations and needs.

We are one of the few Cardano wallets that have been audited by third parties. We have an active bug bounty on all of our applications, further indicating our commitment to security and transparency.

We have successfully managed similar translation projects in the past, translating our browser extension into 8 languages. This not only shows our experience in managing translation projects but also provides a solid base from which to expand the languages supported by our wallet.

You can view an example of onboarding via YouTube to support Swahili speakers here: Kusanidi Gero Wallet yako

Notable but Non-exhaustive list of successful milestones

• Founding member of the Cardano DeFi Alliance
• Emurgo DeFi Course first cohort Instructor
• Non-custodial Cardano wallet web extension
• Non-custodial Cardano wallet android application
• Non-custodial Cardano wallet Apple application
• Gero Media Player- Play audio NFTs directly in your wallet
• The first mobile Cardano DEX aggregator functionality
• ADA wallet staking functionality
• ADA wallet Hardware wallet support (Ledger, Trezor)
• ADA wallet multi-asset sending functionality
• Store, send, view, Cardano NFTs and CNTs directly in the wallet
• GERO Cardano node stake pool operations
• 2 succesful sold out NFT policies
• Fiat on-ramp integration

In conclusion, our proven expertise, past experiences, commitment to transparency, and active engagement with the Cardano community make us highly capable of delivering this project with a high level of trust and accountability.

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

The main goals of our project are:

To translate the GeroWallet browser extensions into an additional 20 languages, building on the 15 we already support, which include Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Thai. This will bring the total to 35 languages, providing an even more comprehensive global coverage.

To translate the GeroWallet mobile application into an additional 34 languages.

To provide Cardano onboarding material for all 35 languages.

To ensure that the quality of translations are at a level that not only provides a clear understanding of the functions of the wallet but also makes the user experience enjoyable and seamless.

To maintain continuous updates and improvements to the translations as the Cardano ecosystem grows and evolves, making sure all users can stay updated with the latest developments.

As for validating the feasibility of our approach, we have a two-pronged strategy:

Proof of Concept: We have already successfully translated the GeroWallet extension into 15 languages, which serves as a proof of concept for our project. This shows that our approach of using machine translation, supplemented by native speakers for verification and contextual correction, is both practical and effective.

Community Validation: To further ensure the quality and usability of translations, we will actively seek feedback from the community. For instance, we can share beta versions of the newly translated apps/extensions with a selected group of native speakers from the Cardano community. Their constructive feedback will help us finetune the translations and make necessary adjustments, ensuring the final product is accurate, easy-to-understand, and user-friendly.

Post-launch Monitoring: After launching each translated version, we will continue to monitor user feedback and app analytics to identify any room for improvement. This allows us to make continuous enhancements to the translations, ensuring they stay relevant and beneficial for our users.

By pursuing these goals and validating strategies, we believe we can successfully accomplish our mission of enhancing global accessibility to the Cardano ecosystem through GeroWallet.

The languages currently designated to be translated are:

Mandarin Chinese

Spanish

Hindi

Bengali

Portuguese

Russian

Japanese

Western Punjabi (Lahnda)

Marathi

Telugu

Wu Chinese

Turkish

Korean

French

German

Vietnamese

Tamil

Yue Chinese (Cantonese)

Urdu

Javanese

Italian

Egyptian Arabic

Gujarati

Iranian Persian

Bhojpuri

Min Nan Chinese

Hakka Chinese

Jinyu Chinese

Hausa

Kannada

Indonesian (Malay)

Polish

Yoruba

Xiang Chinese

Greek

[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: Project Kickoff (Week 1)

Tasks:

Finalize project scope, requirements, and timelines.

Set up project management and communication tools.

Align the team on the project objectives and milestones.

Expected timeline: End of Week 1

Milestone 2: Language Translation (Weeks 2-5)

Tasks:

Identify and engage professional translators and native speakers for each of the 35 languages.

Use machine translation tools to create initial translations.

Have native speakers review and refine these translations.

Expected timeline: End of Week 5

Milestone 3: Implement Translations (Weeks 6-8)

Tasks:

Implement new translations into the GeroWallet mobile application and browser extensions.

Perform preliminary internal testing to ensure translations are correctly integrated.

Expected timeline: End of Week 9

Milestone 4: UI/UX Accommodations (Weeks 9-11)

Tasks:

Modify the UI/UX to accommodate right-to-left languages.

Perform necessary design alterations and adjustments to ensure a seamless user experience across all languages.

Expected timeline: End of Week 11

Milestone 5: Quality Assurance and Testing (Weeks 12-13)

Tasks:

Conduct extensive testing of the translations and adjusted UI/UX across different devices and platforms.

Address and rectify any bugs or issues discovered during the testing phase.

Expected timeline: End of Week 13

Milestone 6: Community Validation (Week 14)

Tasks:

Release beta versions of the newly translated apps/extensions to a selected group of users for feedback.

Refine translations based on feedback received.

Expected timeline: End of Week 14

Milestone 7: Launch and Promotion (Weeks 15-16)

Tasks:

Officially launch the translated versions of the GeroWallet app and extensions.

Conduct promotional activities and community engagement to increase awareness about the new language support.

Expected timeline: End of Week 16

Milestone 8: Maintenance and Continuous Improvement (Week 17 onwards)

Tasks:

Monitor user feedback and app analytics post-launch.

Implement updates and improvements to the translations based on this feedback and any new developments in the Cardano ecosystem.

Expected timeline: Ongoing after Week 17

Please note that these timelines are only estimates and may be adjusted as necessary based on the actual progress and unforeseen challenges.

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

Milestone 1: Project Kickoff

Deliverables: A finalized project plan, roles and responsibilities, communication and project management setup.

Outputs: Project documentation including the plan, roles and responsibilities, and communication strategy.

Outcomes: A clear, agreed-upon direction for the project with set roles for all team members.

Milestone 2: Language Translation

Deliverables: 35 new translated language files for the GeroWallet app and extensions.

Outputs: A comprehensive set of accurate, user-friendly translations for the new languages.

Outcomes: The GeroWallet application and extensions translated into 35 languages in total.

Milestone 3: Implement Translations

Deliverables: Fully functional versions of the GeroWallet app and extensions in the new languages.

Outputs: Deployable app and extension versions that support the new languages.

Outcomes: Expanded accessibility and usability of the GeroWallet app and extensions for non-English speaking users.

Milestone 4: UI/UX Accommodations

Deliverables: Adjusted design files that accommodate right-to-left languages.

Outputs: Finalized and implemented UI/UX designs that ensure a seamless user experience across all languages.

Outcomes: A more inclusive GeroWallet app and extensions that caters to users of both left-to-right and right-to-left languages.

Milestone 5: Quality Assurance and Testing

Deliverables: A bug-free, user-friendly GeroWallet app and extensions in the new languages.

Outputs: Completed testing reports and updated versions of the app and extensions that rectify any identified issues.

Outcomes: Enhanced reliability and usability of the GeroWallet app and extensions across different devices and platforms.

Milestone 6: Community Validation

Deliverables: Refined versions of the translated apps/extensions based on user feedback.

Outputs: Constructive feedback reports from the community and an updated translation and design roadmap.

Outcomes: Optimized translations and a heightened sense of community involvement in the project.

Milestone 7: Launch and Promotion

Deliverables: An official launch of the translated versions of the GeroWallet app and extensions.

Outputs: Increased awareness and usage of the GeroWallet app and extensions through promotional activities.

Outcomes: A wider user base for the GeroWallet app and extensions, particularly among non-English speaking users.

Milestone 8: Maintenance and Continuous Improvement

Deliverables: Regular updates and improvements to the translations based on user feedback and new developments.

Outputs: New versions of the GeroWallet app and extensions with updated translations.

Outcomes: Continued relevance and user satisfaction with the GeroWallet app and extensions as the Cardano ecosystem evolves.

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

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

The Cardano ecosystem aims to bring about a global transformation in finance and various other sectors. Accessibility, including language inclusivity, is an important part of achieving this goal. By making GeroWallet more accessible to users worldwide through translation into multiple languages, we are removing a significant barrier to entry.

With an investment of 149,166 ADA , we're looking to bring the wallet to an exponentially larger audience. This can result in an increase in Cardano's adoption, which could have a positive effect on the value of ADA and the broader ecosystem.

Given that we are aiming to translate GeroWallet into 35 additional languages, that equates to just 1300 USD per language. This cost is relatively low when considering the potential impact on the expansion of the Cardano user base.

Further, the project's value isn't confined to the duration of the project itself. The translations will continue to attract and accommodate non-English speaking users for years to come. Hence, the investment's long-term return can significantly outweigh the initial cost, representing excellent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem.

[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