Tell us of a problem with a product which bothers you.

● How would you use technology to solve the problem?

Propose more than one potential solution (max 3)
● Compare and choose the best solution for the problem
● How would you measure whether the chosen solution is
working?
● What might be the reason for this chosen solution to fail ?

Devansh Chaudhary
dev.devanshchaudhary@gmail.com
9929011689
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 PRODUCT

Product & DuoLingo is a freemium language-learning platform that includes a website and app. As of
Problem October 2018, the platform offers 81 different language courses in 37 languages. The app has
about 300 million registered users across the world.
Solutions

#1 PROBLEM
#2
#3 ● Language learning is a slow process in general. On DuoLingo, an average user would be
prepared for immersive experiences after about 400 hours of learning.
Best Solution
● Communication has been widely accepted as an essential result of language teaching,
but has been neglected as an important component of the language teaching process.
Success This requires the process to include features that incorporate learning into everyday
Metrics
interactions.
● Learning through an app’s prepared course flow removes spontaneity and makes the
Challenges
process predictable and mechanical.

Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 SOLUTIONS

Product &
Problem

Solutions

#1
#2
A custom add-in within
#3 the floating selection
toolbar to see the
Best Solution translation of any word quizzes based on recently
that is selected and, if
desired, add the word to a
Success “Word Nest” which can be
Metrics accessed later.
Challenges
A feature that tracks the A DuoLingo keyboard that
user’s location and gives dynamic translations
prepares contextual to predicted words. Once
the sentence is
learnt words completed, the
predictions are removed
to show the entire
translation with an option
to hear it.

Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 SELECTIVE TRANSLATION & IF THE WORD IS ON THE SCREEN, IT
WORD NESTING CAN BE IN YOUR NEST!

Product &
Problem
An addition to the floating text selection
toolbar that translates selected words.
Solutions

#1 Once the translation pops up, it can be

clicked on for the phonetics of the text
#2
#3
The popup can then be dragged to the bottom
Best Solution of the screen to add it to a “Word Nest”

The “Word Nest” would be a vocabulary bank

Success
on the app that stores words for later reference
Metrics
and revision

Challenges

Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 VISUAL LEARNING & TAILORED TESTS TO CHECK IF YOU
CONTEXTUAL QUIZZES REMEMBER WHAT YOU SEE

Product &
Problem
The app studies the user’s locational data
and tracks the recently visited place
(eg. Park, Restaurant, Mall, etc)
Solutions

#1 On the basis of the location, a small quiz is

prepared around words/phrases related to
#2 the place. The complexity of the quiz varies
with the user’s level of learning.
#3

For eg, a user in levels 1-5 who just visited a

Best Solution restaurant is asked translations for words that
he may have learnt so far (like “apple”). For
higher levels, questions like the adjacent
Success screens may be asked.
Metrics
In coherence with the gamified model of the
app, the quiz gives an incentive of earning
Challenges “Lingots” i.e., the app’s currency. To ensure
relevance and quick call backs, the quiz (not
more than one per day) lasts only for 24 hours
post visiting a place.
Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 COMMUNICATIVE INTEGRATION LEARN FROM WHAT YOU SAY, NOT
WITH LINGOBOARD US!

Product &
Problem
A DuoLingo keyboard (LingoBoard) that can
be used as the default keyboard across all
apps (like Grammarly, SwiftKey etc)
Solutions

#1 The keyboard has a toggle feature that

translates the predicted inputs. Tapping on
#2 these outputs plays the word’s phonetic

#3
As soon as the sentence is completed (using a
‘.’, ‘?’ or ‘!’), the feature removes all predictions
Best Solution and translates the entire sentence

Long pressing the translated sentence plays a

Success
voice simulation of the full text and tapping it
Metrics
allows the user to use the translation

Challenges

Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 COMPARISON

Product &
Problem SOLUTION

Solutions Inclusion of word nest “Visual” retention can Incorporates learning into
facilitates retention make learning faster daily conversations
PROS
#1 Any content on screen can Quiz on past learnings High accessibility across
be scanned and stored enhances revision different applications
#2
Cluttering of the selection Lack of learnt words in the Toggling off can diminish
#3 menu question bucket the utility of the feature
CONS
Customized menus on User may find it intrusive User may find it intrusive
Best Solution some apps inhibit this

ACCESSIBILITY
Success
Metrics EASE OF
IMPLEMENTATION

INCORPORATION
Challenges
DATA COMFORT

UTILITY
Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 SUCCESS METRICS

Product &
Problem

No of cases where the No of times the translation

Solutions Keyboard is used as default was switched off

#1
#2
No of translated sentences No of times phonetic
#3
used while writing translations were heard

Best Solution

Success A/B tests to study learning

User Feedback/Reviews
Metrics curve growth for users

Challenges
By tracking different metrics on different timelines we can determine which reason is causing
success or failure. A/B Testing can be used to measure how metrics are affected.

Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 CHALLENGES

Product &
Problem

Users may prefer other Users’ concerns about data

Solutions Keyboards over this privacy

#1
#2
Functionalities may seem The functionality may fail if
#3
complex and drive users away users use slang/bilingual terms

Best Solution

Success
Metrics Apart from the above, there may be rare cases of improper translation because of loss of context
during the process. The user, if not aware of the toggle options available, may find the translated
section cluttered and stop usage altogether.
Challenges

Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL
 CONCLUSION

Product &
Problem

Solutions

#1
#2
#3 The LingoBoard comes across as the best solution. Thank
It incorporates translations into daily You!
communication thus giving the user a feel for the
Best Solution
language. This makes the user familiar with the
linguistic constructs and takes their conversational
comfort to a higher level. This steepens the
Success
Metrics learning curve and enhances the process.

Challenges

Conclusion
v.nnd.2015.06
CONFIDENTIAL