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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n Source: Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) simply mean a visual way to interact with a device\u201a whilst Conversational User Interfaces (CUIs) allow one to talk to the UI as a way of interacting with a device. Though CUIs aren\u2019t completely new\u201a they are rapidly becoming smarter\u201a more natural\u201a and\u200a \u200atherefore\u200a more useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The UI has evolved from a text-based user interface in the early generations of computers\u201a where the interaction with one\u2019s computer was a series of text inputs and outputs. The graphical user interface (GUI) became popular in the early 1980\u2019s\u201a and has dominated technology ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though GUIs are here to stay for some time and cannot be done away with altogether\u201a their monopoly is going to be challenged more than ever before by the rise of Conversational User Interfaces (CUI) bots\u201a virtual assistants and invisible apps. As they become mainstream\u201a Conversational User Interfaces (CUI) will forever change the way we design\u201a develop and interact with our technology. In short\u201a the Conversational UI is going to be the next big digital disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n We are rapidly building intelligent applications that we can talk to in order to get things done. As the basic technologies required for this are already in place\u201a we may witness a situation where conversational user interfaces may replace GUIs altogether\u201a to become the gateway to the digital world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n CUI doesn\u2019t just mean conventional speech technologies. Natural language recognition makes it possible to understand the intention of our words\u201a even when we misspeak. This has been made possible due to advances in machine learning and Big Data. Moreover\u201a as CUIs become more sophisticated with AI\u201a their application goes beyond our imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Graphical user interface is a little more complex\u201a as it requires many clicks through different screens. We need to manipulate a number of graphical objects such as buttons and text boxes to accomplish simple tasks like booking a ticket\u201a making a reservation for our favourite show or online shopping. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There has been a rapid increase in information and tasks available to us. This requires application designers to capture more functionality into ever decreasing screen size. In the near future\u201a interface screens may be replaced with a conversational user interface that enables the users to talk with their devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mobile personal assistants like Apple\u2019s Siri\u201a Nuance\u2019s Dragon Mobile Assistant and Samsung\u2019s S-Voice can rightly be described as first-generation CUIs. Though the apps help us with some basic tasks\u201a the scope of their comprehension and helpfulness is currently limited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Amazon\u2019s echo is a digital assistant like Siri or Google now. It accepts voice commands and responds with answers in natural language by name Alexa. One can use this cloud connected CUI to perform various tasks right from ordering it to play favourite music to controlling home appliances lights and thermostats. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Google\u201a Facebook and Amazon can easily know the user\u2019s purchase behaviour through analytics. However\u201a CUI will understand our tastes\u201a our routines\u201a what ingredients are running low in our refrigerator\u201a our moods and feelings\u2026 all based on our previous interactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While driving\u201a CUI will answer texts and check directions\u201a enabling us to drive without ever taking our eyes off the road. The service doesn\u2019t stop there\u201a but extends to muting notifications and playing our favourite music to avoid driving distractions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The interface allows us to double-check the\u00a0inventory tracking parameters\u00a0of a product in a massive warehouse without having to stop a forklift.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n CUI will provide the most capable Virtual Assistants to ever hit the market. This is the coolest part about the CUI of the future. Those of us with a fully functioning set of senses and limbs can handle GUI tech well. But for users with disabilities of sight or limbs\u201a CUI will open up the world in ways GUI never could\u201a and never will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n CUIs are Intelligent Interfaces that understand\u201a comprehend and apply the information fed to them. While receiving a diagnosis based on our symptoms is plain utility\u201a to understand those symptoms\u201a locate the nearest specialist\u201a and cross-reference your schedule for an appointment based on the doctor\u2019s availability is intelligence. This is the future we can look forward to with CUI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A CUI can allow people to talk about virtual objects or upcoming events that have no graphical representation\u201a such as a distant GPS location or an upcoming payday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However\u201a there are drawbacks. As it doesn\u2019t have a visual side\u201a CUI can only be perceived by the ears\u201a and one could be competing with other conversations on the same channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides\u201a certain tasks like multiple selections\u201a document browsing\u201a and map search are still far better performed by GUI with a pointing device and buttons to click.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Having said this\u201a voice recognition accuracy has improved dramatically in recent years; language and reasoning programmes have reached a useful level of sophistication. Better models of cooperation and collaboration are on the rise. Going forward\u201a we\u2019ll soon have intelligent and fully conversational interfaces that will be adaptable to just about anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is perceived to be the interface of the future\u201a made even more necessary as computing propagates beyond laptops\u201a tablets and smartphones to\u00a0smartcars<\/a>\u201a thermostats\u201a wearables and even\u00a0home appliances<\/a>\u201a connecting 5 billion devices on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As dual capabilities\u201a CUI and GUI are changing rapidly\u201a so it\u2019s time for developers to prepare and adapt quickly. This is a unique opportunity for designers to redefine their relationship with these technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The words \u201cWe shape our tools and thereafter they shape us\u2019\u2019 echo this sentiment and what is going to come in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. All Talk and No Buttons: The Conversational UI.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Beyond The GUI: It\u2019s Time for a Conversational User Interface<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. 10 Ways Conversational UI Will Change the Way We Live.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Need for CUI – A Developer\u2019s Perspective <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUser Benefits of a CUI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The pain points of CUI <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n