Future Interfaces Sessions All-at-Once

Tutorial: 13. Designing Speech User Interfaces

Nicole Yankelovich, Sun Microsystems Laboratories, USA
Jennifer Lai, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, USA

Benefits
Learn how to design an effective speech interface by understanding the challenges and benefits of using speech technology. Also, learn strategies for designing effective prompts, methods for handling user and system errors, as well as techniques for providing user feedback.

Origins
An updated version of a highly regarded CHI 98 tutorial.

Features

• basic concepts of speech input (recognition) and output (synthesis)
• examples of speech products and application areas
• design issues that affect both multi-modal and speech-only systems including techniques for providing user feedback, strategies for designing effective prompts, methods for handling user and system errors
• user studies that are appropriate at different stages of a speech application's life cycle

Audience
Intended for user interface designers and application developers who are interested in understanding the issues involved in designing effective speech interfaces. No prior knowledge of speech input or output is assumed.

Presentation
This tutorial uses a combination of lecture and small group exercises. Examples of existing products and research prototypes, both live demonstrations and recorded audio and video, are used to illustrate system features and design techniques.

Instructors
Nicole Yankelovich, formerly Principal Investigator of the Speech Applications project at Sun Microsystems Laboratories, has published numerous papers on user interface design, speech applications, and hypertext. Jennifer Lai is a Speech Interface designer at IBM Research. She has published papers on the use of speech in multi-modal systems and the development of statistical language models, and holds three patents in natural language translation.

Related Tutorials

• 16. Design Issues for Next Generation Interfaces (Sunday afternoon)
• 29. Designing Hands-Free, Eyes-Free, Silent (or Noisy) Environment, and Accessible Interfaces (Monday)
• 31. Speech User Interfaces for Mobile Devices (Monday afternoon)

Tutorial: 16. Design Issues for Next Generation Interfaces

Anne Schur, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA
Scott D. Decker, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA
Richard May, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory / University of Washington, USA

Benefits
Gain a better understanding of the directions, issues, and technologies involved in the development of next generation interfaces (NGI). Experience NGI interface characteristics through exercises and be provided with effective strategies and techniques to design NGIs.

Origins
Derived from hands-on, real-life application experience gathered together for the first time for this CHI 99 tutorial.

Features

• identification of the characteristics and needs of NGI
• identification of issues to consider in designing NGI
• discussions of strategies and techniques that can be used to practically design for the NGI and move current interfaces to the NGI

Audience
Intended for those designing and implementing NGIs for the first time. Knowledge of human-computer interface design and traditional windows interfaces helpful.

Presentation
Divided into 3 segments: physical interactions, social interactions, and ambient interactions. Each section will follow the format of lecture, an exercise, and follow-up discussion.

Instructors
Anne Schur has 15 years of experience in the design of human-computer interfaces. Currently she designs information architectures for web spaces and leads research in NGIs. Scott Decker is working at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developing virtual environments, collaboration tools, and NGIs. Richard May has 12 years of experience working in and leading research projects in scientific visualization, immersive technologies, video technologies, and NGIs.

Related Tutorials

• 13. Designing Speech User Interfaces (Sunday)
• 29. Designing Hands-Free, Eyes-Free, Silent (or Noisy) Environment, and Accessible Interfaces (Monday)
• 31. Speech User Interfaces for Mobile Devices (Monday afternoon)

Tutorial: 29. Designing Hands-Free, Eyes-Free, Silent (or Noisy) Environment, and Accessible Interfaces

Gregg Vanderheiden, Trace Research and Development Center, USA
Shawn Lawton Henry, Compuware Corporation, USA

Benefits
Understand the issues and strategies for creating interfaces which do not depend on particular sensory modalities or physical capabilities. Knowledge gained will help you comprehend related topics, such as the issues of mobile computing and access by intelligent agents, as well as access by users with disabilities and older computer users.

Origins
New for CHI 99.

Features

• discusses design of eyes-free and limited vision interfaces
• discusses design of hands-free and limited manipulation interfaces
• discusses design of interfaces for silent or noisy environments
• introduces types of disabilities and the accessibility issues that each raises
• explains how research into disability access issues provides insight into the problems presented by mobile computing and intelligent agents
• presents guidelines for designing interfaces from phones to web pages
• offers a foundation for understanding international accessibility standards
• discusses benefits to all users from incorporation of "access" features.

Audience
Anyone involved in product development, especially mobile or accessible user interface design. No knowledge of disability or accessibility issues required.

Presentation
Lecture, exercises, demonstrations, video, and case studies.

Instructors
Gregg Vanderheiden, a professor in the Industrial Engineering Department's Human Factors Program, is Director of the Trace R&D Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the lead investigator for the NCSA-PACI Universal Design program. Shawn Lawton Henry is a Senior Usability Specialist with Compuware Corporation, where she specializes in user interface standards and accessibility of computer software.

Related Tutorials

• 13. Designing Speech User Interfaces (Sunday)
• 16. Design Issues for Next Generation Interfaces (Sunday afternoon)
• 31. Speech User Interfaces for Mobile Devices (Monday afternoon)

Tutorial: 31. Speech User Interfaces for Mobile Devices

Elisa M. del Galdo, Canon Research Centre, UK
Tony Rose, Canon Research Centre, UK

Benefits
Gain a basic understanding of speech recognition systems and the ways in which speech may be used to enhance user interfaces. You will be given the opportunity to apply this knowledge to existing mobile products and devices in a practical exercise.

Origins
A new tutorial for CHI 99. A similar tutorial was given by the authors at HCI 98 in Sheffield, England.

Features

• an explanation of the fundamental concepts in speech recognition
• the costs and benefits of speech user interfaces
• an examination of the interfaces to existing mobile devices
• techniques and guidelines for the design of speech-user interfaces
• practical experience in the application of techniques and guidelines

Audience
Intended for individuals who have some user interface design experience, and are interested in the design of user interfaces that incorporate speech recognition technology. No knowledge of speech recognition required.

Presentation
Brief lectures and small-group practical exercises.

Instructors
Elisa M. del Galdo works within the Speech and Language Group at Canon Research Centre Europe, Ltd., and is responsible for the design and evaluation of speech interfaces for existing products and new product concepts. She has published extensively on the design and evaluation of user interfaces, particularly in the area of internationalisation. Tony Rose is a member of the Speech and Language Group at Canon Research Centre, and is currently working on a variety of technologies including interface design for information retrieval systems. He has published widely on speech and language technology.

Related Tutorials

• 13. Designing Speech User Interfaces (Sunday)
• 16. Design Issues for Next Generation Interfaces (Sunday afternoon)
• 29. Designing Hands-Free, Eyes-Free, Silent (or Noisy) Environment, and Accessible Interfaces (Monday)