#conversational computing

In my last blog, I talked about how intelligent computing can be divided into generalized systems and specific domain systems.  This blog deals with how one can be successful commercially in this new computing paradigm.

I expect three groups of players will emerge.  First group is the platform players, who are already dominant players in the platform space such as Amazon, Google, and to less degree Apple.  Second group is the special domain players who have strong hold in their respective domain such Uber in transportation and many others yet to emerge.  

The last group is the technology supplier companies who provide voice recognition or machine learning technologies.  These technology suppliers enable special domain players to provide an integrated experience in their respective industries.  For example, a medical equipment company can integrate voice recognition and machine learning in its equipments so that its equipments can better monitor patient conditions without human supervision.

However, for consumer products such as cooking use case in my last blog, it is more likely these products are integrated with leading consumer platforms such as Echo, Android, or iOS and enhance the user experience by providing specialized sensors.

In MIT Technology Review, 19 September 2007, in an article entitled “Intelligent, Chatty Machines” by Kate Green, the author describes advances in computers’ ability to understand and respond to conversation. No, really.

Conversational computing works by using a “set of algorithms that convert strings of words into concepts and formulate a wordy response.”

The software product that enables this is called SILVIA and it works like this: “during a conversation, words are turned into conceptual data…SILVIA takes these concepts and mixes them with other conceptual data that's stored in short-term memory (information from the current discussion) or long-term memory (information that has been established through prior training sessions). Then SILVIA transforms the resulting concepts back into human language. Sometimes the software might trigger programs to run on a computer or perform another task required to interact with the outside world. For example, it could save a file, query a search engine, or send an e-mail.”

There has been much research done over the years in natural-language processing technology, but the results so far have not fully met expectations. Still, the time will come when we will be talking with our computers, just like on Star Trek, although I don’t know if we’ll be saying quite yet “Beam me up, Scotty.”

From an enterrpise architecture standpoint, the vision of conversational artificial intelligence is absolutely incredible. Imagine the potential! This would change the way we do everyday mission and business tasks. Everything would be affected from how we execute and support business functions and processes, and how we use, access, and share information. Just say the word and it’s done! Won't that be sweet?