SitePal
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 SitePal Screenshot |
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| Developed by | Oddcast
134 W. 37th Street 7th Floor New York, NY 10018 |
| OS | cross platform |
| Genre | Website animated avatar |
| License | commercial |
| Website | SitePal.com |
SitePal is a speaking avatar platform for small and medium sized businesses developed by Oddcast.
SitePal allows users to deploy "virtual employees" on websites that can welcome visitors, guide them around the site and answer questions.
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[edit] Development
The technology used was the result of more than 4 years of research at Stanford University. The research was based on a literature review and other previous work in the field of artificial intelligence research.
SitePal uses the AIML programming language, which is partially editable by users. This allows web designers to simulate normal human conversation by using keywords or key phrases that the bot can respond to.
[edit] Features
The web designer using SitePal has many options to customize the chosen avatar. A large selection of faces, clothing, hair, backgrounds, voices and other details are available.
An interesting feature is that if a web designer wants to use a particular face, Sitepal can create one from a photo. Thus, a mascot or a known face can be simulated.
With SitePal, while a bot can be created with a large amount of customization, it cannot pass the Turing test and does not qualify as AI. The bot can, however, be classified as a chatbot.
[edit] Speech
Sitepal avatars talk through text-to-speech (tts) software.[1]
A short paragraph can be written (up to 600 characters) and the text-to-speech engine will compile the actual speech, which can be reproduced and edited. The tts engine is not perfect, but it comes close to actual speech and is easy to understand. Tts can be further enhanced by some commands, like /laugh and /loud which make the avatar laugh or talk loud. Even pronunciation is possible.
The web designer can record and upload his or her own audio messages. Alternatively Sitepal offers professional voice acting service at extra cost.[2]
[edit] User interaction
There are 5 options for interaction with the user:
- No interaction. The avatar simply says a pre-fixed message.
- FAQ mode. Questions can be configured, which are clickable and the user can hear the answer.
- Lead mode. The avatar prompts the user to type his email and short message, so it can be sent to the webmaster (usually used on a "contact us" page)
- Chatbot mode. The avatar greets the user, and he can type his questions and have a conversation with the bot. With predetermined replies, this can work as an FAQ as well.
- API customization. Experienced programmers can make their avatar interact with their website, making it talk when the user clicks on a link or when other triggers occur. Even dual avatar conversations can be created, like a talk show.
[edit] Posting options
There are 5 options for posting the avatar:
- Embed in webpage (via javascript)
- Embed in HTML
- Send by email
- Publish to eBay
- Embed in Flash
[edit] Benefits
SitePal claims that a website equipped with one of their talking avatars will:
- Increase Sales
- Ensure that the website's message is both seen and heard
- Engage visitors and spur them to buy
- Increase the time that visitors spend on the website
- Increase website traffic through increased return visits
- Provide an edge over other non-equipped websites[3]
[edit] Pricing model
SitePal pricing runs from basic service at USD$9.95 to $49.95 per month. Each package includes different numbers of audio streams, models and functionality.[4]
[edit] Criticism
Early reviews, such as one by Troy Dreier published in PC World in 2002 were positive and described SitePal as: "an engagingly simple and personal tool, and the price is reasonable for what it adds to a site". Although Dreier did note that the program had "bugs that suggested it hadn't been tested thoroughly".[5]
In more recent years, reaction to SitePal has been much more negative with reviews such as Tom Spring writing in a PC World review citing SitePal ads and described his reaction as "Not so nice".[6]
Paul Bissex, writing in E-Scribe News described SitePal as "heinous... and embarrassing if anyone is within earshot...they creep me out"[7]
[edit] References
- ^ SitePal (September 29, 2007). Text to Speech. Retrieved on 2007-09-29.
- ^ SitePal (September 29, 2007). Make Avatars & Create Virtual Characters for Your Website. Retrieved on 2007-09-29.
- ^ SitePal (September 27, 2007). Business Benefits. Retrieved on 2007-09-27.
- ^ SitePal (April 23, 2008). Detailed Pricing Comparison. Retrieved on 2008-04-23.
- ^ Troy Dreier (October 12, 2002). A Virtual Host for Your Web Site. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ Tom Spring (September 26, 2006). Net Watchdog: The Most Annoying Online Ads. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
- ^ Paul Bissex (September 8th, 2006). I hate those SitePal ads. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
