Effects of a Game on User Engagement of a Spoken Dialog System

Abstract

In this study, we examine the effects of using a game for encouraging the use of a spoken dialogue system. As a case study, we developed a word-chain game, called Shiritori in Japanese, and released the game as a module in a Japanese Android/iOS app, Onsei-Assist, which is a Siri-like personal assistant based on a spoken dialogue technology. We analyzed the log after the release and confirmed that the game can increase the number of user utterances. Furthermore, we discovered a positive side effect, in which users who have played the game tend to begin using non-game modules. This suggests that just adding a game module to the system can improve user engagement with an assistant agent.