Voice User Interface Design with Ilana Shalowitz of Emmi

VFH Episode 3

In this episode, Teri welcomes Ilana Shalowitz, Voice User Interface (VUI) Design Manager at Emmi.

Ilana Shalowitz is a well-respected authority in the voice-first design technology space, and she joins me today to talk about some of the key principles to consider when designing a voice-first experience for healthcare applications.

Some tips from Ilana!

Recommended reading: Designing Voice User Interfaces by Cathy Pearl, and Voice User Interface Design by James P. Giangola and Jennifer Balogh
Research before getting started!
Listen to conversations with an ear for how people speak to each other, to determine what makes a good audio experience.
Talk to people about your voice application, both about the idea itself (i.e. the strategic direction) and to test the conversation itself (i.e. Wizard of Oz testing)
Remember designing a voice user interface experience is a lot like creating art or composing music; a “tapestry” of appropriate statements “woven” together.
Consider how to build rapport with the user: consider your brand persona, set appropriate expectations, use the names of the users, be consistent in the way information is delivered, and develop trust.