Boston Voice Users' Group Presentation

1
(No Transcript)
2
Utter Command Human-Machine
Linguistics,Human-Machine Grammar, and a New
Speech Interface
Kim Patch July 12, 2005
3
Introduction

• Human-machine linguistics
• Human-Machine Grammar
• Redstart Systems and Utter Command
• Demo of Utter Command speech interface software

1
4
Human-Machine Linguistics

• Leverages the way the human brain processes
  language to make spoken communications with
  machines fast and efficient

2
5
Keys to a successfulspeech interface

• Wording that dovetails with instinct (Bicycles)
• A concise, easy to remember vocabulary (Talking)
• Overall framework rules
• (Apple peeler)

3
6
Human-machine grammar

• System of words and rules
• Designed to limit cognitive effort
• Easy to learn
• Doesnt require computers to decode natural
  language or handle a large number of synonyms

4
7
Books that have informed Human-Machine Grammer

• Words and Rules by Stephen Pinker
• Linked by Albert-László Barabási
• The Psychology of Everyday Things by Donald
  Norman
• The Humane Interface by Jef Raskin

5
8
Books Relevant points

• Words and Rules - speech involves rules that are
  built on the way the brain works

6
9
Books Relevant points

• Words and Rules - speech involves rules that are
  built on the way the brain works
• Linked - the smaller and more connected the
  vocabulary, the easier it is to remember

7
10
Books Relevant points

• Words and Rules - speech involves rules that are
  built on the way the brain works
• Linked - the smaller and more connected the
  vocabulary, the easier it is to remember
• The Psychology of Everyday Things - difficult to
  use interfaces usually have design flaws

8
11
Books Relevant points

• Words and Rules - speech involves rules that are
  built on the way the brain works
• Linked - the smaller and more connected the
  vocabulary, the easier it is to remember
• The Psychology of Everyday Things
  difficult-to-use interfaces usually have design
  flaws
• The Humane Interface - good interfaces follow
  habit and instinct

9
12
Command-BuildingGuidelines

• Match commands to meaning
• Use words the user sees on the screen when
  possible
• Balance ease of saying and ease of remembering
• Keep commands succinct
• Dont use synonyms
• Conserve words by using multiple meanings

10
13
No synonyms in theHuman-machine dictionary

• "This" is the only word that refers to something
  that is highlighted or on the clipboard.
• e.g. "This Cut", or "This Bold"
• "Back and Forward are the only words that
  refer to moving a selection
• e.g. "Word Back 3" moves the word nearest the
  cursor 3 words to the left.

11
14
Conserve words by using more than one
meaning Top

• The word Top has two meanings in the Renji
  dictionary
• The beginning of a document e.g. Go Top
• The top half of a paragraph or document e.g.
  Graph Top

12
15
Conserve words by using morethan one meaning
Numbers

• Number of times to hit a key
• "Backspace 3"
• Selecting an object like a line or paragraph
• "3 Lines"
• Absolute measure
• Volume 50"

13
16
Word Pairs make vocabularysuccinct and easy to
remember

• Back, Forward
• On, Off
• Before, After
• Up, Down
• Long, Short
• Open, Close

14
17
What do you call the wordbefore the cursor?

• "3 Befores" selects the three words before the
  cursor
• "3 Afters" selects the three words before the
  cursor

15
18
Combined Commands make vocabulary succinct
andeasy to remember

• 3 Lines Bold - selects and bolds the three lines
  below the cursor
• 3 Graphs Cut selects and cuts the three
  paragraphs below the cursor

16
19

• Dedicated to promoting Human-Machine Grammar
• We all use speech
• First product Utter Command

17
20

Utter Command

• Will launch in Fall
• DNS Pro required
• Free sample macros available soon at
  www.redstartsystems.com
• Sign up for email updates at
• www. redstartsystems.com

18
21
Conclusion

• Human-Machine Linguistics
• Human-Machine Grammar
• Utter Command

19