Designing for voice interfaces
Brian Colcord's framework for creating effective voice interfaces, emphasising compelling use cases, conversational design, and user-centred approaches to voice interaction design.
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Have a compelling reason to use voice:
Users already have established habits with touch and click interfaces. Provide a compelling reason to switch to voice over existing interaction methods.
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Set user expectations and build trust:
Users should understand what’s possible with the system. Handle misunderstandings empathetically, honestly, and helpfully.
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Make it naturally discoverable:
Unlike GUIs with labels and constraints, voice interfaces must be flexible whilst allowing users to discover capabilities naturally during tasks.
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Mimic how people naturally speak:
Ensure the system understands and responds using natural language as completely as possible, despite processing constraints.
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Create context through modality and state:
Use available GUIs to enhance voice experiences. Allow switching between voice and traditional methods, and clearly indicate system state: listening, processing, or responding.