Natural Human-Human-System Interaction

Abstract

The importance of a vision can be that of providing a model within which we think and create. If the model is outdated, thinking becomes unduly constrained. The paper proposes to replace the paradigm of human-computer interaction (HCI) with a more comprehensive model for thinking about future systems and interfaces. Recent progress in speech technologies has managed to establish a powerful application paradigm, i.e. that of natural task-oriented spoken language dialogue systems. This application paradigm points towards the broader goal of natural humanhuman- system interaction (HHSI) in virtual, combined virtual and physical, and physical environments. On the backdrop of the natural HHSI model and the rapidly changing environment of advanced systems research, the types of research that are likely to be needed in the future are discussed. The discussion deliberately de-emphasises next-generation systems research in order to shift the focus to a range of equally important, existing or emerging research objectives which sometimes show a tendency to be overshadowed by the next-generation challenges.