“No, I will not go out with you on a date” – Virtual Agents and Backstory

August 26, 2011 By

There’s an amusing story in Venturebeat today about how virtual agents get “hit on” frequently:

http://venturebeat.com/2011/08/26/virtual-customer-service-agents-are-constantly-getting-hit-on/

The focus of the story is on the VirtuOZ animated characters and their “looks.”  What’s fascinating is that we see this exact same behavior from a certain percentage of Users with text-only engagement.  We think it’s because our “characters” are well drawn through words alone!

This was an obvious issue back during our early development – We created a zone called “backstory,” so that each virtual character would be able to engage on a more personal level, yet control the situation.  So, yes, you can ask our virtual agents on a date, their favorite movies and a range of other topics (though, there are child safe filters in place for most agents).

With mobile engagement, we find that this level of personalization is what is absolutely necessary to create memorable and successful consumer engagements.

So, sure, ask away…you never know what you may find out about someone!

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, Conversational AI, Friendly machines, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Mobile Marketing: Just answer the customer’s questions!

August 17, 2011 By

This was a humorous and insightful post on MediaPost today about the mobile experiences that many QR codes lead to:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=156030#

So I turn the tables on my better, skeptical half and pose the question to her. “How would your smartphone best serve you here?”

She is a lifetime shopper. This is actually a no-brainer for her. She points to the cosmetics counter as we pass. “Tell me what shades match my skin color. There are too many choices here.” We pass by the women’s clothing section. “Tell me what that skirt goes with that you also have in the store.” We go to a restaurant and she suggests, “Tell me what the nutritional value of this menu item is — and whether it has any ingredients my kid might be allergic to.”

In other words:  Let the customer ask a contextual and relevant question and give them a reply.

This is exactly what our MOBILE FAQ product offering is designed to fulfill.  In fact, we’ve started prototyping a cereal product that touches on the specifics in the quote (allergies, nutritional value, etc.).

Carrying this one step further, this is why we believe that personalized mCoupons are going to replace the one-size-fits-all model — Customers don’t want to be pushed the same offering that everyone around them is receiving — They want their smart phone to deliver “smart” to them.

The closing paragraph is worth inserting:

Why would we as an industry squander that opportunity on half-measures and disappointing brand puffery that runs the risk of poisoning the well and turning people off to the prospect of a clickable world. They can tell us what they want to know, apparently without breaking a sweat, once we stop trying to impress them with what is new and cool — and instead focus on answering their simplest questions.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, mobile marketing, Products, QR TAgs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Conversational Messaging and mHealth

August 16, 2011 By

This story caught our attention today, about using SMS “reminders” for mHealth in Kenya:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/health/16global.html?scp=6&sq=kenya&st=cse

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2960783-6/abstract#

Now imagine that the health workers could query the system for instant answers to common questions?  Or, be lead through step by step simulations for circumstances they face?

We can route via SMS, but, even at the 1-cent per message, our platform would be delivering 3x or more messages than a “notification system.”  With expanded data access, there would be no per message costs, using mobile web.  There is also the capability to work through “light data” engagement such as IM platforms; including pushing mobile web pages through IM widgets.

But, the natural next step is to bring conversational engagement to mHealth to deepen the value that’s offered.

We’d welcome an opportunity to discuss this with any groups working in this space.

Filed Under: AI conversation, Conversational AI, mHealth, Mobile, mobile english Tagged With: , , , ,

Personalized Mobile Advertising does NOT need GPS

August 11, 2011 By

Terrific post over @paidcontent today:

http://paidcontent.org/article/419-mobile-advertising-personalized-ads-coupons-score-with-users/

Highlight:

According to a new survey, it’s not location-relevant advertising that is most valued by mobile consumers; it’s mobile ads that are personalized to a users’ tastes.

So, let’s look at our Mobile Retail demo with a virtual clerk.  In a couple of quick messages, the Brand derives market research data and the User is delivered a personalized mobile coupon specific to their needs that day, at that place, at that time.  All without GPS, accelerometers or Ouiji Boards.

Just ask them.

 

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Friendly machines, mobile marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mobile Technology and Developers v. Average User

August 5, 2011 By

Each day there’s a story about one platform, or another, being the winner-take-all in the mobile universe.  Or, a story about how some new technology/platform means the death rattle of another.

Today’s story is about an image recognition feature added to LAYER’s AR engine that sounds like Google GOGGLES, but, with more brand control on directing the action of the scan:

http://www.fastcompany.com/1771451/augmented-reality-kills-the-qr-code-star

Cool!

Except, how does anyone know when and where to use this?  How many people use LAYER to begin with?

These new tools and technologies are rushed to market before establishing user acceptance or demand.  Just when you think LAYER is one thing, it’s now another?

Market-Fit is forgotten in the excitement of new and shiny toys.

This blog post from over at CONQUENT touched on GPS and Location Check-in tools; which reminded me I hadn’t used Foursquare in over a year either.  Do regular folks with their mobile devices care about GPS enabled engagement, except for when using GOOGLE MAPS?  I don’t think so.  Yet, GPS based platforms still are funded and come to market almost daily.  Why?  Because Developers and the technology are cool.  Because it’s there.  Because putting things together in new combinations may come up with a killer app through serendipity, if not through smarts.

But, sometimes we come across mobile technologies that seem inherently “right.”

The TOUCHANOTE platform that uses NFC and EVERNOTE: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8686751.htm is one of those matches that seems really perfect.  OK, way ahead of the curve in many respects (by a year?), but, it seems practical, useful and maybe even fun.  It also seems that an “average user” (whatever that means) would find ways of applying this to their daily lives without a lot of complication.  We also see applications that are of great value for specific mHealth related applications using a platform and tools like this.

We spend a lot of time thinking about how the “average user” and their mobile device want to hang out together?  How do they enjoy acting together?  We’re not so focused on the early-adopter iOS user (less than 10% of the mobile population) since they tend to love all things shiny and new.  That’s great.  But, it may not indicate how the mainstream will behave.

We know that “short, text-based conversations” on mobile continue to be the #1 use of the device.  That’s where we remain focused, though we see these conversations being triggered from a range of interfaces.

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Friendly machines, mLearning, Mobile, mobile marketing, NFC, QR TAgs, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , ,

mLearning Simulations and Story…Encouraging Exploration…

August 2, 2011 By

“Precision oftentimes kills the ability of the learner to discover multiple real-life applications.”

There have been a couple of follow up blog posts to the WIRED article entitled: IN PRAISE OF VAGUENESS.

One notable blog post is here:  VAGUE STORIES HELP LEARNERS DISCOVER.

This is very consistent with the responses we’re receiving from ESL teachers that note how our ESL conversational simulations allow vague and varied responses — they don’t encourage precision and fixed responses — they encourage conversational exploration.  We allow the vague. 

Please stop by our http://ESLai.com unit and try out the simulation/stories developed with the contentAI engine. 

The articles are worth reading, here’s another quote. . .

“Sometimes, precision is dangerous, a closed door keeping us from imagining new possibilities. Vagueness is that door flung wide open, a reminder that we don’t yet know the answer, that we might still get better, that we have yet to fail.”

Does this same “wide open door” deepen user engagement for mobile marketing and entertainment applications?

We’re guessing, “yes.”

Filed Under: AI conversation, AI conversational network, Conversational AI, ESL, Mobile, mobile english Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

QR Leads to AR without AR – Clever Mobile Campaign

July 29, 2011 By

This was an interesting post from @RickMathieson over at:

http://mathieson.typepad.com/genwow/2011/07/trident-lates-to-use-qr-talking-heads-video.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+GenerationWow+%28Generation+Wow%29

Showing a Trident print ad, with QR, that leads to an “AR’ish” experience without AR.  Near as we can tell, it’s just a video being pushed from the QR scan.

Here’s the Youtube link directly:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X62xhsDqdBQ&feature=player_embedded

What interests us about the format is how we could FIRST engage in a quick “chat” with the end user and then deliver, for example, one of ten, different videos so that it is a more unique and personalized experience for each end user.   It’s a very clever format to expand upon.  Let’s hope we see more uniquely mobile experiences coming off of QR codes (and NFC) rather than shrunken internet experiences.

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, AI conversational network, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, Friendly machines, mobile marketing, NFC, Products, QR TAgs, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

“Conversation” – One Way to Solve the Dilemma of Mobile Context

July 20, 2011 By

Despite all the sensors within a mobile device, “context” remains allusive.

The quest to really understand someone’s state of mind vis a vis chips, session management and sensors is noble.  But, people aren’t “read” so easily.

Why not just ask them?

At  least half the value of a mobile device is it’s use a two-way communication tool.  It’s the essence of the medium.  But, apps and mobile web generally operate outside of “conversation.”

Our Retail Demo (shopGirl) remains relevant to the ongoing discussion about “mobile context.”  It appears to be a simple, very short and quick back/forth conversation with a virtual sales clerk.

But, that clerk then delivers one of five possible mobile coupons based on the User’s “stated interest” at that specific time.

i.e. “in context.”

Passing sensor data through to the virtual agent will increase it’s “intelligence,” but, ultimately, no one can tell you what a mobile user is really thinking, except that mobile user.

Conversation is the fastest path today to determine contextual value for the End User.

It’s also a lot of fun to create.

There are some terrific insights and discussions going on around Mobile Context, these are current favorites:

http://yiibu.com/articles/wider-context/

http://www.cloudfour.com/on-mobile-context/  (including the comment section; great reading)

And this excellent piece on how “personalization” is the key to contextual…

http://www.dmolsen.com/mobile-in-higher-ed/2011/07/20/redefining-mobile-context-by-making-it-personal/?utm_source=direct-awe.sm&utm_medium=awe.sm-twitter&utm_campaign&utm_content=twitterfeed&awesm=awe.sm_5PHTZ

Filed Under: AI conversation, AI conversational network, Conversational AI, mLearning Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Mobile Web = Quick Loading plus Access to Deep Info with Conversational Apps

July 19, 2011 By

“An even 50 percent are only willing to wait five seconds or less for an application to load before exiting.”

http://gigaom.com/mobile/consumers-losing-patience-with-the-slow-mobile-web/

You’d better be light and quick.

We are.

With a twist.

Please take a look at our demos and our MOBILE FAQ product in particular.  Which generates a response to the User’s input and refreshes in under :3 seconds – All without forcing user navigation or their attention to dense text.

Where each response can also deliver light graphics specific to the User’s input as well as Links to audio and video files or more complex text data.

It’s not unusual for our mobile web apps to receive User engagement in the 2-3 minute range (commercial demos) and in the 10-15 minute range (mobile learning).  We have an exceptionally low bounce rate and high page view rate.

How can we apply our platform to your User’s needs and attention span?

 

Filed Under: AI conversation, AI conversational network, Brands and Mobile, Conversational AI, mobile marketing, Virtual Agents Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Kids…Early Adopters…Talking to Cereal Boxes…

June 24, 2011 By

This was a brilliant post over on @RWW with the outstanding line:

“The majority of kids (77%) imagined future technologies with human-level responsiveness…”

Full post here:  http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/to_understand_the_future_of_tech_listen_to_kids.php#more

This is one reason we often suggest applications for “talking to characters on cereal boxes,” or extending children’s film and television properties to include interactive conversations with the characters…

It’s what kids are waiting for.

The full .pdf of the study CHILDREN’S FUTURE REQUESTS FOR COMPUTERS & THE INTERNET is here:  http://latd.tv/kids/kidsTech.pdf

Filed Under: AI conversation, Brands and Mobile, Friendly machines Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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