re: The (Speech) World is Flat

DeanAvila — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 13:03:11 GMT

I really like your idea around flattening out as much of the conversation as possible, which gets me thinking about the second example. In my opinion, the second example isn't necessarily more efficient because it correctly interprets the sentence "Well, I left my car there at 10 this morning and I'm wondering when it'll be ready." I think the real improvement comes from asking for the work order number at the very start of the conversation. This allows the system to provide context to the conversation and immediately participate in a meaningful way. Here's a slight revised version of the exchange:

MACHINE: "Welcome to Circeo's Auto Park. Could please enter or speak your work order number?"

CUSTOMER: "Uh, yeah, it's 45572."

MACHINE: "Thanks...I see that your car is right on schedule and that you can pick it up any time after 3 this afternoon. Is there anything else we can do for you?"

CUSTOMER: "Nope. That's it. Thanks."

This exchange is possible today without the need for sophisticated program. Of course, if the customer doesn't have a work order number yet or doesn't have it handy, then you have a more complex exchange. But the point is that the first priority of any speech app should be to identify any prior history/context with respect to the caller. In the same way that now when you order a pizza, the cashier first asks you for your phone number, and then asks if you'd just like to order the same thing as last time, which leads to a much more efficient exchange.

re: The (Speech) World is Flat

Magnus — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 17:21:22 GMT

Maybe that cup of Delta came down so well because of your melancholic state that day - after all, the Portuguese are famous for their 'saudade' which can be translated as nostalgia or even melancholy. Since I am a huge coffee fan currently located in Lisbon I know much about these local blends and most of them are really great indeed. Delta Platina is a favourite with a higher content of Arabica beans than the Ouro (Phil probably understands this) which makes it somewhat smoother. Both are quite expensive even at the big supermarket, 17 € for a kg of Platina and 15 € for the Ouro. If you are looking for a *really* dark blend then Buondi, which is also Portuguese in spite of its Italian sounding name, is the real deal, the beans are pitch black. Tastes great at the coffee shops but a bit too sharp when it comes out of my cheap espresso machine at home. My personal favourite at the moment though is another Portuguese brand called Cafés Tofa - dark, smooth and with lots of body. Just like Buondi it's not available in any stores - the local coffee shop owner sells me a kg under the counter for 13 € - so I don't know if Phil could get hold of it...

Another pastime of my mine here in Lisbon is looking for a tech writer job, but so far I've been more successful in sipping coffee. :-)