CS 466/566 Voice Assistants

Credit Hours:

4/3

Course Coordinator:

Caterina Paun

Course Description:

Provides an introduction to voice technologies and how to design and build voice-enabled applications, by learning the concepts, techniques, and frameworks needed to build fully functional chatbots and virtual assistants. Students will explore the conversational design process and how to build effective voice user interfaces (VUIs) and conversational user interfaces (CUIs), and create voice-enabled applications and virtual assistants using popular APIs and platforms.

Prerequisites:

Admission to program.  Course assumes a working knowledge of JavaScript and Node.js or Python.

Goals:

Upon the successful completion of this class, students will be able to:

1. Describe the concepts, tools, and techniques needed to build chatbots
2. Explain the current hardware, software, and ecosystem surrounding chatbots, virtual assistants, and other voice-enabled apps
3. Apply the key concepts of voice user interfaces (VUIs) and conversational design
4. Build several voice-enabled applications using different platforms (Alexa, Google Assistant, and web)

Textbooks:

Designing Voice User Interfaces: Principles of Conversational Experiences, Cathy Pearl, O’Reilly Media, 2017

Major Topics:

• Understanding voice and human speech
• Chatbots and virtual assistants
• Designing chatbots
• Voice user interfaces (VUI) and conversational user interfaces (CUI)
• Chatbots with the Alexa platform (Alexa Skills Kit)
• Chatbots with Google Assistant
• Web and cloud APIs that leverage voice

Grade Distribution:

Class participation, homework, and a take home final