Translating Your Research and Concepts Across Various Disciplines

In the realm of academic writing, the importance of clear and effective communication cannot be overstated. A new system, called WriteAhead, is making waves in supporting non-native English graduate students, particularly when writing journal abstracts.

Developed by Dr. Ann-Marie Hübscher at the Universities of Bern and Lausanne (Switzerland), WriteAhead offers six distinct types of suggestions to help students navigate the complexities of academic writing. These suggestions range from collocations and transitional phrases to more specific advice tailored to various app or website sections.

The system works by learning from the learner's input in the writing section. At runtime, it generates a set of matching writing recommendations, providing a personalised approach to academic writing support.

The objective of any research study is clear: it should either provide a precise response, support a theory, point out an issue, or develop designs for new products. WriteAhead, in its approach, aligns with this principle, aiming to facilitate the writing process and improve the quality of research outputs.

Research in communication technology also emphasises the need for quick idea presentation, often using formats like storyboards, drawings, graphs, or bullet points. WriteAhead, with its focus on efficient and contextualised writing, aligns with this philosophy, making research more accessible and understandable.

However, research is a complex process, requiring careful consideration of multiple factors. Translation of research and innovation, for instance, involves a multitude of interrelated variables. Balancing and prioritising these lessons learned is essential to translating research findings into real-world design solutions.

The effectiveness of converting research into design depends on the capacity to comprehend and present the results clearly. WriteAhead, with its automatic creation of domain-specific corpora of abstracts from the Web, aims to simplify this process, providing students with a wealth of information to draw from.

Moreover, the system prioritises team ideas during research generation, recognising that projects may reveal numerous issues and challenges. Prioritising team ideas is crucial in ensuring that the best ideas are given the attention they deserve.

The ultimate goal of UX research is to provide design solutions, using research-based insights and knowledge to address client and user demands. WriteAhead, by facilitating efficient and effective writing, contributes to this goal, providing students with the tools they need to present their research in the best possible light.

Group insights should consider various app or website sections, focusing on areas highlighted by study insights. In the case of WriteAhead, this means ensuring that the system is tailored to the needs of academic writers, providing them with the support they need to succeed.

The majority of students using the system have expressed satisfaction with the method. This, combined with the system's ability to improve writing quality, suggests that WriteAhead is a valuable tool in the academic writing toolkit.

The approach used by WriteAhead has been cited in works such as Anton's (2018) "Training for translation between disciplines: a philosophy for life and data sciences curricula" and Eagle's (2023) "How can we make sure research translates into compelling design?". These citations underscore the system's value and its potential to shape the future of academic writing support.

In conclusion, WriteAhead is a promising system that offers a personalised approach to academic writing support. By providing students with a wealth of information and tools, it aims to simplify the research and writing process, making it more accessible and understandable for all.