Thinking of the whole system (Gomer Pyle built my ATM)
Monday, 14. November 2005, 17:20:28
When you think about the personality of the system you are designing, it's difficult to grasp and anticipate the scope of impact it will have with the users. Microsoft's "clippy" was an attempt to give some personality to a help system that would help ease the interaction experience of looking for help (more here). I think it's pretty well accepted that they were not successful (although some people love that little guy). Here is an interesting (funny) example of a bank ATM that is not as obvious with the personality they are trying to project, but I thought it was worth a quick note:
It's pretty common knowledge that automated systems use voice prompts with english accents to make the "machine" sound more intelligent and/or professional. I noticed a bank ATM that had the english accented female voice prompting me through my transaction- but the software referred to itself in print as "Shazam" as in... "Thank you for using Shazam!"
It just seemed such a funny (both meanings of the word) pairing to me- I'm picturing and (mentally) listening the english lady telling me "Thank you for using Shazam." -Then the words floating around my head are "golly","shucks" and other assorted phrases you'd hear around Mayberry beautifully crafted with that rich english accent. Admit it. By now, you've spoke that quote in your head at least once already.
I don't think it's too arguable to say that the "Shazam" name given to the ATM software doesn't invoke the same feeling and psychology as the female voice. They probably didn't put too much stock into this- they just used whatever voice prompts they could easily get a hold of (standard stock)- but it takes away (very slightly, I admit) from the overall "feeling" of the system/experience. Of course, I would not be surprised if I was the only person that ever notices this.
Anyway, I walk away with my money and some strange mental image of a Gomer Pyle and Elizabeth Hurley love child that makes me chuckle a bit, and I guess that's still more entertaining than any other ATM I've used- so that's a bonus in my book.
It's pretty common knowledge that automated systems use voice prompts with english accents to make the "machine" sound more intelligent and/or professional. I noticed a bank ATM that had the english accented female voice prompting me through my transaction- but the software referred to itself in print as "Shazam" as in... "Thank you for using Shazam!"
It just seemed such a funny (both meanings of the word) pairing to me- I'm picturing and (mentally) listening the english lady telling me "Thank you for using Shazam." -Then the words floating around my head are "golly","shucks" and other assorted phrases you'd hear around Mayberry beautifully crafted with that rich english accent. Admit it. By now, you've spoke that quote in your head at least once already.
I don't think it's too arguable to say that the "Shazam" name given to the ATM software doesn't invoke the same feeling and psychology as the female voice. They probably didn't put too much stock into this- they just used whatever voice prompts they could easily get a hold of (standard stock)- but it takes away (very slightly, I admit) from the overall "feeling" of the system/experience. Of course, I would not be surprised if I was the only person that ever notices this.
Anyway, I walk away with my money and some strange mental image of a Gomer Pyle and Elizabeth Hurley love child that makes me chuckle a bit, and I guess that's still more entertaining than any other ATM I've used- so that's a bonus in my book.
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