Technical report | Dialogue Systems & Dialogue Management

Abstract

A spoken dialogue system (SDS) is a specialised form of computer system that operates as an interface between users and the application, using spoken natural language as the primary means of communication. The motivation for spoken interaction with such systems is that it allows for a natural and efficient means of communication. It is for this reason that the use of an SDS has been considered as a means for furthering development of DST Group’s Consensus project by providing an engaging spoken interface to high-level information fusion software. This document provides a general overview of the key issues surrounding the development of such interfaces.

Executive Summary

A spoken dialogue system is a specialised form of computer system that operates as an interface between users and the application, using spoken language as the primary means of communication. This report provides a general overview of some of the key themes identified in the area of spoken dialogue systems and their dialogue management capability. We discuss the strengths and disadvantages of some of the approaches in the presented theory, identifying possibilities for future research. We also provide an evaluation of the suitability of the theory presented as relevant to the informed development of a dialogue management capability within DST Group’s Consensus project.