ABSTRACT

This chapter draws attention to some features of recent work on natural language processing (NLP) – and specifically, natural language generation – that support personalised interaction between machines and humans. It introduces generation systems, and describes our work on personalised museum guidance. The chapter outlines the kinds of language problems that have to be addressed, by way of an example from Intelligent Labelling Explorer (ILEX), and then steps back to identify the way in which personalisation leads on to the topic of personality. It focuses on personalised museum guidance, with examples drawn from our work on ILEX, the Intelligent Labelling Explorer. The chapter also focuses on methods that have been developed for investing NLP systems with personality. It explores some of the problems associated with personalisation and with personality, along with potential design solutions. The chapter concludes that there are ethical reasons why designers should develop NLP systems that can be made less personalised, and project less personality.