Fall 2023

AI Audiobook Helper

Reach out to Audio Creatives | Create AI Tool Recommendations

Fall 2023

AI Audiobook Helper

Reach out to Audio Creatives | Create AI Tool Recommendations

Fall 2023

AI Audiobook Helper

Reach out to Audio Creatives | Create AI Tool Recommendations

AI Audiobook Helper
Case Study

As the globe becomes more aware of AI and its
useful applications, Dolby Labs has found a
great opportunity to implement potential
tools to support up-and-coming content
creators.

These user-generated content creators
would be creating audiobooks as a
hobby/side-gig and distribute their work on
social platforms like Spotify or Audible.

But how would they start creating audiobooks
without any prior experience or confidence?

AI Audiobook Helper
Case Study

As the globe becomes more aware of AI and its useful applications, Dolby Labs has found a great opportunity to implement potential tools to support up-and-coming content creators.

These user-generated content creators would be creating audiobooks as a hobby/side-gig and distribute their work on social platforms like Spotify or Audible.

But how would they start creating audiobooks without any prior experience or confidence?

AI Audiobook Helper
Case Study


As the globe becomes more aware of AI and its useful applications, Dolby Labs has found a great opportunity to implement potential tools to support up-and-coming content creators.

These user-generated content creators would be creating audiobooks as a hobby/side-gig and distribute their work on social platforms like Spotify or Audible.



But how would they start creating audiobooks without any prior experience or confidence?


Deliverables
Wireframes
Handoff Document
Research Report





Tools
Miro
Figma
Google Docs
Paper & Scissors

Deliverables
Wireframes
Handoff Document
Research Report

Tools
Miro
Figma
Google Docs
Paper & Scissors







Deliverables
Wireframes
Handoff Document
Research Report





Tools
Miro
Figma
Google Docs
Paper & Scissors

View Research Report

Overview

Approach

Activities

Walkthrough

Overview

Walkthrough

Approach

Activities

Overview

Authors want to expand their reach and their content medium. Some intend to narrate their work themselves. However, they often struggle to find tools and resources for best narrating practices while creating an audiobook for the first time.

Additionally, some authors do not feel comfortable narrating their books. Authors are often unable to produce audiobooks from home due to a lack of approachable narration and production tools for audiobook creation beginners.

Overview

Authors want to expand their reach and their content medium. Some intend to narrate their work themselves. However, they often struggle to find tools and resources for best narrating practices while creating an audiobook for the first time.

Additionally, some authors do not feel comfortable narrating their books. Authors are often unable to produce audiobooks from home due to a lack of approachable narration and production tools for audiobook creation beginners.

Walkthrough
In order to create the groundwork for an audiobook creation tool, I compiled tool/
feature recommendations for a platform that would:

Walkthrough
In order to create the groundwork for an audiobook creation tool, I compiled tool/feature recommendations for a platform that would

Walkthrough
In order to create the groundwork for an audiobook creation tool, I compiled tool/feature recommendations for a platform that would

1. Onboard novice UGC audiobook creators with simple screens showing how the tool works with imported manuscripts and audio files

1. Onboard novice UGC audiobook creators with simple screens showing how the tool works with imported manuscripts and audio files

2. Provide an AI narration bot to provide tips, tricks, and narration best practices

2. Provide an AI narration bot to provide tips, tricks, and narration best practices

3. AI chatbot that provides tailored feedback for audio quality assurance and editing

3. AI chatbot that provides tailored feedback for audio quality assurance and editing

4. The same AI chatbot would help with formatting the audio file correctly and
uploading it to the author's preferred platform, such as Audible(ACX), Spotify, and other popular audiobook platforms

4. The same AI chatbot would help with formatting the audio file correctly and uploading it to the author's preferred platform, such as Audible(ACX), Spotify, and other popular audiobook platforms

4. The same AI chatbot would help with formatting the audio file correctly and uploading it to the author's preferred platform, such as Audible(ACX), Spotify, and other popular audiobook platforms

View Wireframes

Approach

Main Project Goal

Create an audiobook creation tool with AI features that promote confidence and creativity in authors new to narrating their books

Contribution

  1. Created Writer/Author Workshop Activities

  1. Created and tested a paper prototype walkthrough

Design Goal

Create an audiobook creation tool with AI features that promote confidence and creativity in authors new to narrating their books

Contribution

1

Created Writer/Author Workshop Activities

2

Created and tested a paper prototype walkthrough

Writer's Workshop
Goals


In order to aid UGC writers with writing, narrating, and editing their audiobooks, I created goals and aligned workshop activities with these questions:


What emotions or struggles come about during the creation process?

How do you assume AI would work in the audiobook space?

What is your step-by-step process while creating an audiobook?


Word Cloud


I wanted to understand the emotions and struggles writers feel during the writing process

















Common Issues


Writer's Block

Mental roadblocks occur as they determine the plot

Motivation

Committing to a project is time-consuming and most story topics/threads are redundant

Engagement

Starting a new project was exciting but as they planned chapters, they would be dealing with plot holes, diverging character paths, and worldbuilding troubles



Challenging Assumptions


The activity focused on assumptions within the audiobook field and what writers thought about AI based on our questions:


Question 1

AI can feel emotions and cannot reach the point of human emotions and feelings, what is your view on AI aiding with the writing process?


Question 2

How do you perceive the overall functioning of AI based on outputs presented to you?


Question 3

What are your views of AI in the scope of writing?


Findings














ChatGPT can help with writer's block, but it cannot introduce emotions and depth while writing


Character Makeovers

Changing Names and Dialogue, Retaining the Core Plot


Seamless Transitions

Improving Flow Between Scenes with AI Assistance


Constructive Feedback

Enhancing Transitions and Providing Creative Insights


Filling the Gaps

AI's Role in Generating Twists, Transitions, and Creative Ideas




Mind Mapping


From here, I thought that we needed an activity that would help bridge the gap between what the writers were thinking their step-by-step process is and what it looks like when writing it on a whiteboard.


Each participant wrote their views in a process format at first. Then, they marked each step where AI could make the stage more efficient with a star icon.




















Findings


AI Use Cases


AI can edit any grammar or tone inconsistencies


AI could draft and re-use scenes within previous plot


AI can provide feedback and recommendations after narration


AI could ensure plot/scene consistency


AI could suggest new paths and nuances to combat writer's block

Growing a Following


Posting on platforms like ACX could help with finding collaborations


Collaborating builds connections for later work and better audiobooks


Distributing audio content on different platforms increases user engagement



Context


I was embarking on my third design sprint while creating these workshop activities


My main goal was to frame the activities towards bonding the participants to prime them for more reflective questions about their current pain points in recording audio as a side-hobby, so that they might receive support in the evolving space

Stakeholder Interviews
Goals
In order to understand the gaps and design opportunities for authors, I decided conducting online interviews as it
allows:
1. An opportunity to understand how a problem develops for audio creators
2. Allows the team to align our ideation with users in the audio creation space
3. Wide range of information to gain an informed design perspective alongside audio creators

Stakeholder Interviews
Goals
In order to understand the gaps and design opportunities for authors, I decided conducting online interviews as it
allows:
1. An opportunity to understand how a problem develops for audio creators
2. Allows the team to align our ideation with users in the audio creation space
3. Wide range of information to gain an informed design perspective alongside audio creators

View Miro Board 1

View Miro Board 2

Demographics

Narrators

Podcasters

Writers

Narrators Podcasters Writers

Outcome


At this point in the process, I was reaching out to narrators, podcasters, and writers across Fiverr, Spotify, and on Purdue's campus


By the end of the interviews, I felt confident enough to move past my assumptions about the audio recording process and narrow my insights into action plans for crafting a persona and user scenarios


Paper Prototyping
Goals
One of the first things that came to mind was paper prototyping interfaces and features based on the affinity
diagramming. These insights guided me in creating criteria.

Criteria
1. Features cannot be platform-specific
2. Screens need to be simple and micro-interaction-based
3. Paper should be moveable to simulate a live demo


 Paper Prototyping
Goals
One of the first things that came to mind was paper prototyping interfaces and features based on the affinity
diagramming
These insights guided me in creating criteria

Criteria
1. Features cannot be platform-specific
2. Screens need to be simple and micro-interaction-based
3. Paper should be moveable to simulate a live demo


 Paper Prototyping
Goals
One of the first things that came to mind was paper prototyping interfaces and features based on the affinity
diagramming
These insights guided me in creating criteria

Criteria
1. Features cannot be platform-specific
2. Screens need to be simple and micro-interaction-based
3. Paper should be moveable to simulate a live demo

Sketched Screens


Outcome
I was inspired by the AI feedback bot from Packback. The sidebar would separate critiques into different categories for the content creator to view and apply if necessary. This helps simplify the editing experience for the novice audiobook creator by giving them agency.

Live Paper Demo


Outcome
After being inspired by Packback, I decided to look into other apps, like Audacity, Auphonic, and Descript for best practices and features. In the end, I made paper cutouts that could be moved in a live demo while user testing.



Outcome
After being inspired by Packback, I decided to look into other apps, like Audacity, Auphonic, and Descript for best practices and features. In the end, I made paper cutouts that could be moved in a live demo while user testing.

Sketched Screens


Outcome
I was inspired by the AI feedback bot from Packback. The sidebar would separate critiques into different categories for the content creator to view and apply if necessary. This helps simplify the editing experience for the novice audiobook creator by giving them agency.

Live Paper Demo


Outcome
After being inspired by Packback, I decided to look into other apps, like Audacity, Auphonic, and Descript for best practices and features. In the end, I made paper cutouts that could be moved in a live demo while user testing.

Context

With the audio creation space being still relatively new, I decided upon paper prototypes in order to gain quick and effective feedback on its form and function


It also helped to sketch out wireframes and re-do features with scraps of paper, since it brought me back to my pre-school days of arts and crafts, we brought me a lot of joyful memories during this project

Context

With the audio creation space being still relatively new, I decided upon paper prototypes in order to gain quick and effective feedback on its form and function


It also helped to sketch out wireframes and re-do features with scraps of paper, since it brought me back to my pre-school days of arts and crafts, which brought me a lot of joyful memories during this project

Lessons from the project…

Stepping up applies to more than the group leader
In this project, I took up a leadership role in teaching my fellow group members how to conduct research activities/advocate for our findings during meetings.

However, I saw that one leader was not enough for the group to work cohesively.

It took myself and two other group members to lead our 9-person team forward in our deliverables & motivation.

Advocating is good, but requires active listening too
During meetings with Dolby Labs, the team counted on my public-speaking experience to lead our team and Dolby Labs into alignment.

Sometimes, this would lead us to new considerations/insights.

Other times, it would stagnate our team's progress and frustrate Dolby Labs.

From this, I learned that myself and the team were advocating without actively listening to Dolby Labs. Our efforts are only worthwhile when we actively listen to other's perspectives and opinions, which is a lesson in humility and leadership once more.


Lessons from the project…

Stepping up applies to more than the group leader
In this project, I took up a leadership role in teaching my fellow group members how to conduct research activities/advocate for our findings during meetings.

However, I saw that one leader was not enough for the group to work cohesively.

It took myself and two other group members to lead our 9-person team forward in our deliverables & motivation.

Advocating is good, but requires active listening too
During meetings with Dolby Labs, the team counted on my public-speaking experience to lead our team and Dolby Labs into alignment.

Sometimes, this would lead us to new considerations/insights.

Other times, it would stagnate our team's progress and frustrate Dolby Labs.

From this, I learned that myself and the team were advocating without actively listening to Dolby Labs. Our efforts are only worthwhile when we actively listen to other's perspectives and opinions, which is a lesson in humility and leadership once more.


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