Alternative Input Methods For Conversational Interfaces

Conversational interfaces are on the rise. Even though the power is voice is unbeatable as the user is able to express their response in any way they want, speaking out loud or typing the response on a mobile device might not be the easiest or convenient way to respond.

This is a short exploration on how to provide alternative input methods depending on the bot's anticipated question.

What's your name?
- Provide suggestions about the user's name. The device itself or some personal account they have logged in earlier might contain enough information to know the user's name in advance.
- No luck? Still give the option for the user to type in their name.

When were you born?
- We already have multiple interfaces for inputing dates (Calendar views, Pickers etc). Each one has pros and cons.
- Let the user type the date in the format they prefer. "I was born in the 19th of December, 1990", "December 19th, 1990" or even "1990-12-19" are valid inputs.

What is your favorite color?
- In addition to the user being able to type the name of the color they like, we can present any type of color picker depending on the granularity we need to provide.
- I think my favorite color is "#B71C1C" 🤔