VOICE BOT DESIGN WORKSHEET
CONTEXT
In what context is the person engaging with this bot?
If someone is expecting any specific functionalities (e.g. booking a movie ticket, asking for weather information), this bot is not for them. The bot will entertain the user or offer a little emotional support.
What’s the relationship dynamic between the person and the bot?
The user seeks care and attention; the bot then will engage with them in a supportive manner.
PERSONALITY
Who is the “character” speaking?
One adjective to describe the character is “polite.” The bot has a tendency to please the user with careful wording.
What are its motivations?
Talking to my Google home sometimes feels like it’s just a one-way conversation, like talking to a wall. Sure, it gives me the desired information (e.g. notify weather today, play requested songs, set the alarm, and etc.); I feel it is not sincere enough to be emotionally engaged with.
From time to time, I ask Google Home some weird questions...
What is the power dynamic between person and bot?
Even if the person wants more from the bot (e.g. asking to love them or to be their romantic partner), the bot always sets the boundary and tries to be realistic, yet very polite.
INTENTS
What general “intents” do we need to detect?
Asking for love/attention, seeking for affirmation, being a little flirtatious.
Intents used in designing the bot.
What are its motivations?
It might be just for me but I feel it's getting harder to keep a relationship or have friends around in these days. Even if we all know it's not from a real human, it's still nice to hear some supportive comments.
FALLBACKS
What should the bot say when it doesn’t understand?
I’m glad to see this question on the list. I briefly checked the default messages for fallbacks used in Dialogflow. The sentences like “Sorry, what was that?”, “One more time?” or “Say that again?” are straightforward but again don’t feel sincere enough to me. I would rather design it to say more elongated sentences (e.g. “Could you say that again, I didn’t get all of what you were saying” or “Could you speak more slowly for me?”).
Newly added responses:
SAMPLE DIALOG
What are the back and forths for each turn of conversation?
Hi, there! / I'm here just for you. What's your mood today?
I feel sad. / So sorry to hear that. Sometimes eating food can help improve your mood. What do you like to eat?
So we are friends now? / Sure thing!
Red is my favorite color. / What a beautiful color it is. I love red too. I knew we would be best friends. So many things in common!
Can you love me? / Wow, I didn't see that coming. But we can definitely start off as friends.
Can you be my mom/boyfriend/friend?
There are three separate entities for the types of companion: family member, partner(romantic relationship), and friend. Depending on the parameter, the bot's answer will change accordingly.
DEMO VIDEO