Facebook’s Dave Feldman writes a blog on medium.com that discusses interaction design. The most recent post examines how useful chatbots are vs. GUI’s. (https://medium.com/@dfeldman/bots-conversation-is-more-than-text-1c76d153e13d) Cutting through the hype, Dave gives some examples of how adhering to one design camp or another can create a frustrating experience for a customer. When you move the online dialog into the real world of ordering a meal in a restaurant, it’s quickly apparent that neither type of design approach makes sense. In one case, the experience is cold and inhuman, even though it’s efficient. In the other, the amount of information conveyed makes it impossible to consider all the choices and come to a decision. The trick is to use each approach judiciously, and probably together, depending on the amount of information to convey, the type of dialog needed in order to make a decision, and the human element that creates a warm, satisfying customer experience. Check it out. It’s both entertaining and instructive.
