Coo-ee Podcast

In this episode of the Coo-ee Podcast, we explore the fascinating world of robot voice design and its impact on user experience. Imagine purchasing a friendly-looking social robot, only to be met with a cold, mechanical voice that feels completely out of place. This disconnect can lead to frustration and hinder meaningful interactions. So, how can designers ensure that a robot’s voice aligns with...

In this episode of the Coo-ee Podcast, we are going to dive into a fascinating study on discoverability in voice user interfaces (VUI). We explore the paper "What Can I Say? Effects of Discoverability in VUIs on Task Performance and User Experience" by Kirschthaler, Porcheron, and Fischer, published at the 2nd Conference on Conversational User Interfaces. The study examines two key strat...

In this episode of the  Coo-ee Podcast , we dive into the research study  May I Interrupt? Diverging Opinions on Proactive Smart Speakers , presented at the 3rd Conference on Conversational User Interfaces. This study examines how people feel about smart speakers that go beyond responding to commands and proactively initiate conversations. Through an online survey with 47 participants, researchers...

In this episode of the  Coo-ee Podcast , we explore the groundbreaking study  Eschewing Gender Stereotypes in Voice Assistants to Promote Inclusion  by Andreea Danielescu. Published at the 2nd Conference on Conversational User Interfaces, this research dives into the social implications of voice assistant design, from reinforcing gender stereotypes to excluding non-binary individuals and marginali...

In this episode of the Coo-ee Podcast, we dive into the fascinating study,  “What’s in an Accent? The Impact of Accented Synthetic Speech on Lexical Choice in Human-Machine Dialogue”  by Benjamin R. Cowan, Philip Doyle, Justin Edwards, Diego Garaialde, Ali Hayes-Brady, Holly P. Branigan, João Cabral, and Leigh Clark. The study reveals how the accent of virtual assistants influences our word choice...

This episode of the Coo-ee Podcast dives into the complexities of gender perception in voice user interfaces (VUIs), exploring Selina Jeanne Sutton’s paper,  Gender Ambiguous, Not Genderless: Designing Gender in Voice User Interfaces with Sensitivity . Sutton critiques the idea of “genderless” voices and advocates for “gender ambiguous” designs that challenge societal biases and promote inclusivit...

In this episode of the  Coo-ee Podcast , we dive into the fascinating world of Conversational User Interfaces through the lens of a study titled  “The User Experience of ChatGPT: Findings from a Questionnaire Study of Early Users”  by Marita Skjuve, Asbjørn Følstad, and Petter Bae Brandtzaeg. Presented at the 5th International Conference on Conversational User Interfaces, this research sheds light...

In this episode of the Coo-ee Podcast, we delve into a thought-provoking study titled  “I Don’t Know What You’re Talking About, HALexa: The Case for Voice User Interface Guidelines”  by Christine Murad and Cosmin Munteanu. Published at the 1st International Conference on Conversational User Interfaces, this paper tackles the usability issues that plague voice interfaces like Alexa and Google Home....

In this episode of the  Coo-ee Podcast , we dive into the study  “Understanding Circumstances for Desirable Proactive Behaviour of Voice Assistants: The Proactivity Dilemma”  by Nima Zargham, Leon Reicherts, Michael Bonfert, Sarah Theres Voelkel, Johannes Schoening, Rainer Malaka, and Yvonne Rogers. Published in the  Proceedings of the 4th Conference on Conversational User Interfaces , the study e...

In this episode of the  Coo-ee Podcast , we delve into the fascinating world of conversational user interfaces (CUIs) and explore the challenges of creating seamless voice interactions. Using the paper  Progressivity for Voice Interface Design  by Fischer et al. as our guide, we uncover why conversations with voice assistants often falter and how progressivity can help keep interactions on track....

In this episode of  The Coo-ee Podcast , we explore the paper  Voice Assistants and Older People: Some Open Issues by Sayago, Neves, and Cowan, presented at the 1st International Conference on Conversational User Interfaces. The study dives into the unique challenges older adults face when using voice assistants like Amazon Echo or Apple Siri and highlights how these devices can be redesigned to b...

In this episode of  The Coo-ee Podcast , we delve into a study by Asbjørn Følstad and Marita Skjuve, presented at the 1st International Conference on Conversational User Interfaces. The research explores how customer service chatbots can better meet user needs, highlighting efficiency, escalation paths, and practical functionality over human-like design. Learn how these findings can help transform...