Hands-On Chatbots and Conversational UI Development: Build chatbots and voice user interfaces with Chatfuel, Dialogflow, Microsoft Bot Framework, Twilio, and Alexa Skills - Softcover

Janarthanam, Srini

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1788294661 ISBN 13: 9781788294669

Publisher: Packt Publishing, 2017

Synopsis

Build over 8 chatbots and conversational user interfaces with leading tools such as Chatfuel, Dialogflow, Microsoft Bot Framework, Twilio, Alexa Skills, and Google Actions and deploying them on channels like Facebook Messenger, Amazon Alexa and Google Home

Key Features

• Understand the different use cases of Conversational UIs with this project-based guide
• Build feature-rich Chatbots and deploy them on multiple platforms
• Get real-world examples of voice-enabled UIs for personal and home assistance

Book Description

Conversation as an interface is the best way for machines to interact with us using the universally accepted human tool that is language. Chatbots and voice user interfaces are two flavors of conversational UIs. Chatbots are real-time, data-driven answer engines that talk in natural language and are context-aware. Voice user interfaces are driven by voice and can understand and respond to users using speech. This book covers both types of conversational UIs by leveraging APIs from multiple platforms. We'll take a project-based approach to understand how these UIs are built and the best use cases for deploying them.

We'll start by building a simple messaging bot from the Facebook Messenger API to understand the basics of bot building. Then we move on to creating a Task model that can perform complex tasks such as ordering and planning events with the newly-acquired-by-Google Dialogflow and Microsoft Bot framework.

We then turn to voice-enabled UIs that are capable of interacting with users using speech with Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

By the end of the book, you will have created your own line of chatbots and voice UIs for multiple leading platforms.

What you will learn

• Design the flow of conversation between the user and the chatbot
• Create Task model chatbots for implementing tasks such as ordering food
• Get new toolkits and services in the chatbot ecosystem
• Integrate third-party information APIs to build interesting chatbots
• Find out how to deploy chatbots on messaging platforms
• Build a chatbot using MS Bot Framework
• See how to tweet, listen to tweets, and respond using a chatbot on Twitter
• Publish chatbots on Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

Who This Book Is For

This book is for developers who are interested in creating interactive conversational UIs/Chatbots. A basic understanding of JavaScript and web APIs is required.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Let's take a walk
3. Talking about weather
4. Build your own CV bot
5. Build a journey planner bot
6. Build a food ordering bot
7. Make your own news station bot
8. Whats on TV
9. Building a Kitchen Bot

About this title

About the Author

Srini Janarthanam is an expert in conversational systems and has been working in the field for over 15 years. He has led and worked on several projects, building conversational systems for a variety of domains including tourism, healthcare, and education. He obtained doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Edinburgh for his work in Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing.

He is currently the co-founder and director of Chatomate, a UK brand building tailored chatbots, AI, and automation solutions for businesses. Previously, he worked as a research associate at Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh. He has published over 50 articles and papers in online chatbot magazines, journals, and international research conferences.

Edition details

• Publisher: Packt Publishing
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1788294661
• ISBN 13: 9781788294669
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 392