In: Trends in E-Tools and Resources for Translators and Interpreters
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Electronic tools have become an important part of a translator’s work. However, professional translators are not always satisfied with the tools they have at their disposal. In addition, many translators are not aware of all the existing types of tools they can use. In this way, it is necessary to investigate translators’ needs regarding electronic tools, as well as to provide them with the necessary training to help adopt them. In this article we discuss different methods that can be applied to investigate user requirements in the context of translation tools. User surveys are one of the most popular methods. We present the process of implementation and the results of a user survey on translation technologies focusing on different factors that influence translators’ adoption of tools, such as their education and computer competence. We also discuss translators’ preferences regarding features and characteristics of computer-assisted translation (cat) tools. The findings of the survey show that translators do not only expect their cat tools to have a full set of features, but also to be easy to use and intuitive. We suggest that usability of translation tools is closely related to the users’ productivity, which has to be taken into account when investigating translators’ needs regarding electronic tools.