Machine Talk: Speech in Human-Agent Interaction

Due to technological advancements, communicating with computer systems using natural language has become a casual phenomenon.

Speech-based systems, like Siri or Cortana, have become widely popular among people due to their convenience. Speech interaction encompasses a social component as it reflects the fundamental human capacity for communication and enables interpersonal engagement through verbal exchange. This makes human-agent interaction an essential topic of research in the field of human-computer interaction. When trying to achieve a higher user experience with speech-based systems, it is important to have a greater focus on the application fields of personal assistants and speech-based video games.

In this talk, PhD Candidate Nima Zargham will give a broad perspective on approaches when designing desirable human-agent speech interaction and discuss relevant design factors.