Evaluation of a speech driven interface

Experiments performed on a prototype speech-driven word processor under development at ISDIP (the intelligent speech-driven interfaces project) based at Hatfield Polytechnic, are described. The objectives of the experiments were to: determine whether there is an increased level of user satisfaction associated with a speech-driven interface; determine whether there is an enhanced learnability factor associated with a speech-driven interface; determine whether the dialogue provided by the speech driven interface can instill confidence in the user in error retrieval; test the hypothesis that attitudes vary with different user groups; determine whether users experience inhibitions when using a speech-driven interface, and if so, whether the degree of inhibition differs with the physical location of the interface; and determine which evaluation criteria users themselves consider important for the evaluation of a speech-driven interface. A methodology is developed for user dependent evaluation of speech-driven interfaces based on the results of experimentation