What will voice interactions look like in ten years and what does this mean for designers? I'll talk about the rise of the voice user interface (VUI) and where this exciting new interface could be headed. https://youtu.be/QRNkD6O2vLA

1. The Future of Voice UI:
From Mediocre to Magical
Jeff Humble
Head of Design
JeffBumbles

2. Jeff Humble
Head of Design
JeffBumbles
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3. The Rise of the Voice Interface
A VUI in Every Home
7 Reasons VUIs Will Be Magical
Jeff Humble
Head of Design
JeffBumbles

4. The Rise of the Voice Interface

8. It’s 2017

9. It’s 2017

10. It’s 2017
“Millions”

11. Smart Assistant companies claim
their speech recognition software
is now at 4.9% word error rate.
Humans average around 5.1%

13. Siri
Google Assistant
!
!!
!
!
!
!!
!
DEVICE APP PLATFORM

14. Siri
Google Assistant
DEVICE APP PLATFORM

16. $3 Billion Industry by 2020

17. COMMAND-AND-CONTROL
Users explicitly indicate when they
want to speak
Closed conversation with beginning
and end
User can give a command at any
time (using explicit action/wake
works)
(mediocre)

18. COMMAND-AND-CONTROL CONVERSATIONAL
Users are not required to indicate
when they are going to talk
Longer back-and-forth between
user and VUI
Uses natural turn-taking
techniques: asking a question,
pauses, explicit direction
(mediocre) (magical)
Users explicitly indicate when they
want to speak
Closed conversation with beginning
and end
User can give a command at any
time (using explicit action/wake
works)

19. (mediocre) (magical)
COMMAND-AND-CONTROL CONVERSATIONAL

20. What will the iPhone
of voice interfaces
look like?

22. A VUI in Every Home

25. What if someone
is listening?
Ulrich Mühe as Gerd Wiesler in The Lives of Others

26. The conceptual model of a bugged flat
• Microphone is always on
• It’s being recorded or actively listened to
• There are NO signifiers that someone is listening

27. The reality of all smartphone owners
• 2 Cameras
• 1 GPS unit
• 1 Microphone

28. (Pause to check if audience looks like this)

29. IDEAL
SOLUTION
SAFE
(designed ethically)
USEFUL
(full functionality)

30. I don’t think we get to decide IF VUIs
become a thing, but, as UX designers, we
do get to decide HOW they are designed

31. 7 Reasons VUIs Will Be Magical
7 Reasons VUIs Will Be Magical

32. 1. The visually impaired can take
full advantage of today’s tech

34. 2. Talking is faster than tapping

37. 3. Voice is hands-free, eyes-free,
and omnidirectional

39. 4. VUIs are cheaper & smaller
than touchscreens

43. 5. The device can change, but the
UX remains the same

44. DEVICE APP PLATFORM
Siri
Google Assistant
!
!!
!
!
!
!!
!

45. DEVICE APP PLATFORM
Siri
Google Assistant
!
!!
!
!
!
!!
!

47. 6. Speech conveys more
meaning than text

48. Sure

50. • age
• gender
• regional background
• personality
• current emotional state

51. 7. Our interactions with technology
become more human

57. Hey Joe. You sound sick. Shall I cancel your 9AM
meeting and make you a hot tea?
Ugh…Morning, Google

58. Remember how you told me that
you wanted to prioritise your
career over finding a partner?
Google, am I in love with Jason?

59. Remember in our last session when we talked
about cycles of depression? Have you thought more
about that since our last session?
Hey, Google. I’m
feeling down today.

60. Congratulations on pronouncing your first word, Evelyn!
I’m going to call your mother and father into the room.
Ga…ga…ga…Google!

61. I’m just fine, Gladys. You sound like you’re feeling much
better today. Want to pick up our chat from yesterday?
Why, hello Google. How are you, deary?

62. 1. The visually impaired can take full advantage of today’s tech
2. Talking is faster than tapping
3. Voice is hands-free, eyes-free, and omnidirectional
4. VUIs are cheaper & smaller than touchscreens
5. The device can change, but the UX remains the same
6. Speech conveys more meaning than text
7. Our interactions with technology become more human

63. Who gets to create the future of voice?

65. Thanks
Jeff Humble
Head of Design
JeffBumbles