Chapter 3. Overview of the Methodology

Voice user interface design is both an art and a science. It is an art in the sense that it is a design activity requiring the application of careful craftsmanship and aesthetic judgment. It is a science in the sense that it calls on a scientific understanding of human cognitive capabilities and linguistic behaviors. It is also an engineering practice in which you can apply appropriate metrics and testing in all phases of design.

We begin by looking at the key underlying methodological principles that drive many of the details we cover throughout the book. Following that, we lay out the primary steps of the methodology. Finally, we discuss issues that arise when you apply the methodology to real-world projects (with real-world constraints).