Say what? why users choose to speak their web queries

The context in which a speech-driven application is used (or conversely not used) can be an important signal for recognition engines, and for spoken interface design. Using large-scale logs from a widely deployed spoken system, we analyze on an aggregate level factors that are correlated with a decision to speak a web search query rather than type it. We find the factors most predictive of spoken queries are whether a query is made from an unconventional keyboard, for a search topic relating to a users' location, or for a search topic that can be answered in a "hands-free" fashion. We also find, contrary to our intuition, that longer queries have a higher probability of being typed than shorter queries.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: INTERSPEECH
• Authors: Maryam Kamvar, Doug Beeferman
• Keywords: Aggregate Level Factors, INTERSPEECH 2010, Search Topic, Signal Processing, Spoken Interface Design