Location

Online

Event Website

https://hicss.hawaii.edu/

Start Date

4-1-2021 12:00 AM

End Date

9-1-2021 12:00 AM

Description

Virtual assistant systems promise ubiquitous and simple access to information, applications and physical appliances. Their foundation on intent-oriented queries and support of natural language makes them an ideal tool for human-centric application. The general approach to build such systems as well as the main building blocks are well-understood and offered as off-the-shelf components. While there are prominent examples in the service sector, other sectors such as the manufacturing and process industries have nothing comparable. We investigate the practical challenges to build a virtual assistant using a representative and simplified case from the domain of knowledge retrieval. A qualitative study reveals two major obstacles: Firstly, a high level of expectations from users and, secondly, a disproportional amount of effort to get all details and having a robust system. Overall, implementing a virtual assistant for an industrial application is technical feasible, yet requires significant effort and understanding of the target audience.

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Jan 4th, 12:00 AM Jan 9th, 12:00 AM

Practical Challenges of Virtual Assistants and Voice Interfaces in Industrial Applications

Online

Virtual assistant systems promise ubiquitous and simple access to information, applications and physical appliances. Their foundation on intent-oriented queries and support of natural language makes them an ideal tool for human-centric application. The general approach to build such systems as well as the main building blocks are well-understood and offered as off-the-shelf components. While there are prominent examples in the service sector, other sectors such as the manufacturing and process industries have nothing comparable. We investigate the practical challenges to build a virtual assistant using a representative and simplified case from the domain of knowledge retrieval. A qualitative study reveals two major obstacles: Firstly, a high level of expectations from users and, secondly, a disproportional amount of effort to get all details and having a robust system. Overall, implementing a virtual assistant for an industrial application is technical feasible, yet requires significant effort and understanding of the target audience.

https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-54/in/ai_based_assistants/6