Abstract

Abstract The term “conversation design” is quite new, but design work on voice user interfaces and text chatbots has been around for decades. With advances in AI/machine learning, what are the areas in which conversation designers are still necessary? What challenges still exist in speech recognition and NLU when it comes to designing effective CUIs (Conversational User Interfaces)?

Bio Cathy Pearl is a Conversation Design Lead at Google, and the author of the O’Reilly book, ‘Designing Voice User Interfaces’. She has been designing and creating Voice User Interfaces (VUIs) for over 20 years and is passionate about helping everyone make the best conversational experiences possible.

Previously, Cathy was VP of User Experience at Sensely, whose virtual nurse avatar helps people stay healthy. She has worked on everything from programming NASA helicopter pilot simulators to designing a conversational iPad app in which Esquire magazine’s style columnist tells users what they should wear on a first date. She has an MS in Computer Science from Indiana University and a BS in Cognitive Science from UC San Diego