AIDA - An Intelligent Digital Assistant
Target Cost: $200
Dimensions: answering machine up to fax machine
Processor: NS486 or equivalent
Input: telephone keypad, voice and optional scanner
Output: LCD screen and optional printer
Features:
Full answering machine, email, ability to identify important individuals
and messages, message forwarding, fax* capability (scanner and printer required for some fax options), conversion of messages between
formats* (fax, email, voice), simple voice commands* for most functions including sending email
Features:
- Forward unanswered messages to alternate destination via telephone or Internet.
- Forwarding only for messages from selected individuals.
- Forward messages after hours from office phone/fax/email to home phone from selected individuals.
- Check email/fax/phone messages from telephone when out of town.
- Exchange/forward voice messages over the Internet.
- Call pager to alert when fax/phone/email arrives from selected individuals.
- Provide customized greeting based on individual.
- All of this is done using a standard phone line and standard ISP services.
University of California Santa Cruz, Computer Science Department
AIDA Technology
Internet and telephone integration
AIDA integrates the telephone network and the Internet using best features of each. When appropriate, store and forward is done via the Internet, avoiding long distance phone charges.
Java
AIDA is being implemented in Java for a number of reasons.
- Using Java will allow the AIDA software to run on any appropriately equipped workstation as well as on AIDA hardware. The AIDA hardware is designed to be used in locations that do not have a workstation or personal computer that is constantly powered on. An AIDA device could also be used while on travel.
- Using Java will make it easy for two AIDA devices to communicate and share information.
- Using Java will make it easy to add features to AIDA devices that require at least intermittent connection with a server. This could be to provide additional storage capacity, or additional computational services.
- Using Java will make it easy to have a family of AIDA hardware devices that all run the same application, possibly substituting different interface components.
- Furthermore, such functionality can be easily added, even dynamically to an existing AIDA device.
Machine Learning
Using machine learning algorithms developed at UCSC, AIDA will learn how to handle messages by generalizing from its past experience. In the early stages of development, it is expected that the user will help AIDA by providing answers to simple questions and indicating when proposed actions are inappropriate. Over time AIDA will develop a database that includes both traditional address book type information and information about how various messages should be handled. This will allow AIDA to customize its actions to suit particular users without the need for programming.
NS486
The NS486SXF will make possible the functionality of AIDA on a very small, inexpensive device. The only significant functionality required for a minimal AIDA device that is not integrated on the NS486SXF chip is a modem. In addition, high end AIDA devices might also include Ethernet support.
Physical Connections
An AIDA device has the following connections:
- 2 Standard telephone line connections - handset and POTS line
- Power cord
- USB connection for printer and scanner support (optional)
- 10BaseT Ethernet connection (optional)
University of California Santa Cruz, Computer Science Department