"Talk to Me." Using VUI to craft a new user experience at Nodal
By Lisa Layton
August 7, 2019
3 min read
How many times have you turned to technology to find your friend’s new flat, or to order the Chinese takeaway you’ve been craving all week, or to simply check the weather?
Can you remember a time before the magic of finding out that nearly anything you wanted was available at your fingertips? I remember having to wait until 6pm to see the weather forecast on the TV before I could plan whether or not to leave the brolly at home and I still shudder at this and the many other frustrations of the pre-smartphone age.
Embedded with our current tech, VUI has the potential to make more of an appearance in our daily tasks, in applications far beyond its current usage
As technology continues to make leaps and bounds, we are seeing new innovative ways in which it is intertwined with our day to day lives.
This has sparked my interest in VUI (Voice User Interface) and how it can be applied at Nodal. Embedded with our current tech, VUI has the potential to make more of an appearance in our daily tasks, in applications far beyond its current usage.
We already have smart AI (Artificial Intelligence) paired with voice commands working as our own personal electronic assistants; such as Google Maps directing us to turn left at a junction, or Siri updating us with the weather forecast before we venture outside. We can have a two-way conversation with these devices and the answers they provide us are delivered in humanistic tones.
I come from a traditional design background, having worked solely in the world of print across genres ranging from cookery to lifestyle books. Don’t get me wrong, I love flicking through hard copies of printed material just as much as the next person; however, specialising in UX design, I can see great opportunities for technology outside of printed media.
I work with an amazing pool of talented people at Nodal, where innovation is encouraged and the support of colleagues and the ethos of the company allows employees to try out new ideas and concepts.
The first new technology that I’ll be exploring is the use of VUI on the Nodal platform. VUI can benefit Nodal by building an efficient assistant, providing users with the choice of interacting on the platform in a different way. The ambition of this research is to go beyond simply using voice commands as a substitute for a click, but rather promote the use of VUI as a tool for furthering users’ holistic experiences and to make their interactions with the platform easier.
The future is bright when we think about the possibilities of treating technologies and devices as our own assistants to make our lives easier. I will keep you updated on how our journey evolves and the new features that we develop at Nodal.
Tags: