User Story 2 - As a stakeholder, I want users to be able to add voice memos to their posts or to their post replies, so that users have higher flexibility in expressing their ideas

[DachiCharkviani]

Justification:
Adding a voice recording feature will enable users to post voice replies or memos, setting NodeBB apart from other blog platforms. This enhancement will increase user engagement by providing a more dynamic, accessible, and expressive way to participate in discussions. It will especially benefit those who find typing long responses time-consuming. Moreover, it will make the app more inclusive, allowing users with visual impairments to contribute and engage more easily. Additionally, the feature is ideal for communicating complex topics, such as scientific concepts, which may be difficult to explain effectively through writing alone.

Impact:
This feature will have a significant impact on user retention, engagement, and differentiation from competitors. It increases accessibility, offering a communication method that caters to users with disabilities or those who prefer verbal communication. Moreover, the mobile user experience will also improve, allowing for hands-free participation thereby making the platform appeal to a broader range of users.

Effort:
The effort to implement this feature is estimated as medium-to-high due to the need for voice recording API integration and managing audio storage across different devices. It requires both frontend and backend development to ensure full functionality on various devices. The system must be able to handle large audio files without compromising performance, audio quality or user experience.

Backend:

• Implement scalable audio storage to store voice recordings.

• Integrate APIs to handle the upload and retrieval of audio files.

• Ensure voice memos are tied to authenticated users, similar to how text posts are managed.

• Implement efficient data handling to manage large audio files and prevent system overload.

Frontend:

• Design a user-friendly interface for recording, playback, and submission of voice memos.

• Integrate voice recordings within posts, allowing users to play the audio files directly in the discussion thread.

• Provide error message for users who use devices without microphone access and want to record a message.

• Add a microphone icon in every location where users can create a topic, allowing them to record a voice message when pressed.

Estimation of Time Required for Implementation: 30-40 hours