Should Crowdsourcing Be In Your Mix?

Crowdsourcing: Jeff Howe coined the term and wrote the book; many companies are buying into the idea. Wikipedia defines it as "the act of taking a task traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people, in the form of an open call.”

To use the collective intelligence of many to do the work of a specialized few is good in theory. When it saves companies money, all the better, right? If you have a large, diverse group of qualified people, the knowledge of the crowd is a useful resource.

Is crowdsourcing the answer to the growing need for translations?

Crowdsourcing translation work for free has gotten a lot of press lately. No longer are non-profit companies requesting help on the cheap, companies are using free labor for profit. Internet sites like Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn all crowdsource translations and the industry seems to embrace it.

According to Howe, “[i]f there is one industry where crowdsourcing can turn things upside down, it is the translation industry.” Based solely on supply and demand, Howe claims the few hundred thousand translators existing worldwide are not enough to meet the growing need.

What about quality? In general, good professional translators will not work for free. If they do, it is for passion or prestige. Translating is laborious and intensive work. A good translation is not something the majority of native speakers of any language can produce. It is kind of like saying all English speakers are great English writers.

Ultimately, there is a place for crowdsourcing in the mix of human and machine translation but it is not the solution for everyone. It is not a good option for companies concerned about their brand, or in the highly-technical medical or legal fields where precision is unyieldingly required and confidentiality would preclude dumping out content to the masses.

Companies need to consider which solution will yield the best and most cost effective results and plan accordingly. Where quality is less important than cost, and where deadlines are unimportant, crowdsourcing translation projects is effective, but the reality is, you get what you pay for.

DUR 2T YR RX?

Reaching a global patient means more than just speaking their native language. You have to know HOW to reach them too.

What is the one thing you rarely see a teenager without?

That’s right: their cell phone.

It rings and bings constantly as text messages, Tweets and Facebook posts stream in.

If they happen to be one of the 186,300 people under the age of 20 who have diabetes, why not put that attachment to good use?

Historically, healthcare professionals have struggled to gain teen compliance, with little success; however, a recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests texting may be the way to make it happen.

Researchers used a program to send text messages to young liver transplant patients reminding them to take their medications. The results were “with text messaging, patients were more likely to take their medications than they had been before.”

Let’s apply this lesson. Whether you communicate in English, Spanish or Mandarin, the message is only effective if it reaches the intended target.

DUR 2T YR RX?
(Did you remember to take your medication?)