TalkBack: a conversational answering machine

Current asynchronous voice messaging interfaces, like voicemail, fail to take advantage of our conversational skills. TalkBack restores conversational turn-taking to voicemail retrieval by dividing voice messages into smaller sections based on the most significant silent and filled pauses and pausing after each to record a response. The responses are composited into a reply, alternating with snippets of the original message for context. TalkBack is built into a digital picture frame; the recipient touches a picture of the caller to hear each segment of the message in turn. The minimal interface models synchronous interaction and facilitates asynchronous voice messaging. TalkBack can also present a voice annotated slide show which it receives over the internet.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: UIST
• Authors: Vidya Lakshmipathy, Chris Schmandt, Natalia Marmasse
• Keywords: Asynchronous Voice Messaging, Current Asynchronous Voice, TalkBack, UIST 2003