The introduction of the Voice User Interface, or VUI, has disrupted the hitherto quiet relationship between computers and people. When we take a step back and consider how popular voice-activated gadgets and virtual assistants have become, it becomes clear that we need to go further into the VUI design. According to research, 40% of those who possess a voice-controlled speaker need human interaction. This begs the question: Is VUI altering the human-device relationship? The answer is entirely up to you, but before we jump to conclusions, let’s define what a voice user interface is and how to construct a VUI design.

What is a VUI (Voice User Interface)?

Voice User Interfaces (VUI) enable users to communicate with a device or app using voice commands. Screen fatigue has become a more prevalent concern because of the growing usage of digital gadgets. And this has facilitated the creation and adoption of voice user interfaces. VUIs provide hands-free, comprehensive control of devices and applications without looking at the screen. The world’s biggest corporations, notably the “Big Five” technology giants Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook, and Apple, have produced or are developing voice-enabled artificial intelligence assistants and voice-controlled products.

What Is the Function of a Voice Interface?

A voice-based user interface results from integrating numerous Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, including Speech Synthesis, Automatic Speech Recognition, and Named Entity Recognition. Voice user interfaces may be integrated into devices or inside apps.

The VUI’s backend infrastructure and AI-powered speech components remain in a private or public cloud, where the VUI processes the user’s voice and speech. The gadget responds to the user’s intent using AI technology.

How to Create a Voice-Activated User Interface

At its core, building a speech interface is like designing a GUI or any other kind of user interface. We can simplify the VUI design process by breaking it into smaller parts.

1. Conduct a User Survey

Begin by mapping the customer journey to understand the relationship between the user persona and an assistant persona at different phases of an engagement.

Concentrate on monitoring and comprehending the user’s requirements, motivations, and actions.

The designer should emphasize opportunities for voice interactions in the user flow. This is true when the customer journey map does not generate. If a customer journey already exists, the designer should determine if voice interactions may help optimize the user flow. Designers should prioritize resolving users’ issues.

2. Conduct a competitor analysis of the VUI

Designers should do a competition study of their VUI to see how their rivals utilize voice interactions. Determine the app’s use case, the voice commands utilized in the app, and what users think based on the reviews.

3. Establish Requirements

Define the user’s pain points, requirements, and needs. Apart from user research and competitive analysis, you might perform interviews and user testing. Capture several situations before converting them to conversation flows. Moreover, utilize flow charts to document user needs through user stories. Following that, create dialogue flows for each of them.

Proceed to prototype VUI dialogues using dialogue flows that demonstrate the device’s interface with the user.

Designers of graphical user interfaces must construct dialogue flows and the communication between the system and the users. A dialogue flow is like a prototype; it is a script that describes the back-and-forth communication. Fortunately, there are prototype programs that make creating dialogue flows much easier.

4. Testing

It’s like role-playing while testing the conversation flows between the system and the user. One person assumes the role of the gadget, while the other assumes the role of the user to ensure that the communication proceeds smoothly.

5. Recognize the Structure of a Voice Command

When creating a graphical user interface, designers must continually consider various interaction situations and each aim, i.e., what is the user attempting to accomplish in this scenario? So, when a user provides a voice command, it comprises three components at its core: purpose, utterance, and slot.

The Benefits of VUI

Dictating is quicker than inputting text messages, making it handier for users.

Ease of use: Not everyone gets along well with technology. However, any user may use speech to instruct VUI devices or AI helpers to do a job.

Hands-free: In some situations, such as driving, cooking, or when you’re not near your device, speech is much more convenient than typing or tapping.

Eyes-free: VUI enables users to interact without using their eyes. In situations like driving, you may maintain your concentration on the road rather than the gadget.

Conclusion

A speech interface is a VUI (Voice User Interface) that refers to an interface that accepts voice input. It is distinct from a tangible user interface, which involves physical motions like tapping or swiping to engage. To build a good voice user interface, designers must do extensive research and observations on the user persona the device persona and construct natural-flowing conversation flows.

For more information about Voice User Interface Design, connect with web development services firm Aalpha.