Designing Transparent AI-Mediated Language Support for Intergenerational Family Communication

TL;DR

This paper introduces GenSync, a chat interface that enhances intergenerational family communication by making translation processes transparent, thereby improving conversational quality and intimacy.

Contribution

It presents a novel transparent translation interface for AI-mediated communication and evaluates its impact on family interactions.

Findings

Transparent translation improves conversational quality and intimacy.

Black-box translation disrupts conversational flow.

Translation visibility influences user experience and usability.

Abstract

Intergenerational linguistic differences pose challenges to effective and intimate family communication. This paper presents GenSync, a chat-based interface that supports intergenerational understanding through different forms of translation visibility. We conducted a controlled within-subjects study with 16 family dyads (32 participants), comparing three conditions: no translation, black-box translation, and transparent translation that displays both original and interpreted messages. The results show that translation visibility plays a critical role in shaping conversational experiences. Transparent translation supported conversational quality, intimacy, and usability, while black-box translation often disrupted conversational flow. These findings position intergenerational language support as a form of interpretive mediation and contribute design implications for AI-mediated communication in socially sensitive contexts.