Alt Editor

Alt Editor is a web-based subtitle editor designed to serve two distinct user groups with a single interface. It aims to innovate the traditionally slow subtitling process with three goals:

• AI Automation: Automate subtitle creation.
• Beginner Accessibility: Enable obstacle-free completion of the first subtitle.
• Power User Efficiency: Provide keyboard-centric fast editing workflows.

The core challenge was guiding novices while not hindering experts within a single interface.

Traditional subtitling is slow and complex, requiring transcription, timecode adjustment, and verification. I had to satisfy two conflicting user needs:

Additionally, I had to resolve browser/OS reserved key conflicts while serving both groups in one product.

Analyzed competitors (Subtitle Edit, Vrew) and professional workflows. Established the principle: "Separate flows by behavior, but keep a single interface."

1. Beginner Flow (Mouse-centric)

• Intuitive Layout: Core actions (timeline, merge/split) fixed at top/near timeline.
• Click-Only Completion: Designed to complete "Navigate → Select → Edit → Export" with mouse only.
• Onboarding: Overlay and short guide video to show clear starting point.

2. Power User Flow (Keyboard-centric)

• Alt Shortcuts: Designed Alt-based set to avoid browser/system conflicts.
• Two-Hand Pattern: Distributed keys for seamless Typing ↔ Play/Pause ↔ Timecode adjustment.
• Learning: Persistent shortcut hint bar to induce natural learning.

3. Web Constraints & Visibility

• Simplified State: Visible selection, modification status, and export readiness at a glance.
• Combined Solution: Alt mapping + Context Menu + Real-time Chatbot.
• Progressive Disclosure: Core features first, advanced features revealed by proficiency.

4. Resolution & Adaptability

Although mobile support was excluded, I conducted user research to ensure usability on small laptops (e.g., 13-inch screens) and designed the interface accordingly.

Achieved ~3,000 cumulative users. The editor structure and shortcut system became the foundation for the SUBUP Workspace translator editor.

Impact & Limitations

• Organizational Impact: Unified flow, Alt shortcuts, and state visibility designs reused as reference.
• Limitation: Improved expert speed, but failed to data-validate beginner completion rate.
• Regret: Deprioritized beginner error recovery (Undo/Redo) and save funnel optimization to solve browser constraints.

Key Learnings

• Constraints First: Map browser/OS reserved keys early for consistent design.
• Observability = Outcome: Prepare logs/event maps before features to track real-time funnels.
• Separate Mechanisms: Beginners need guardrails (modals, chatbot); Experts need efficiency (shortcuts, menus).