The best links to get started with Conversational UI and chatbots
We recently collaborated with Adrian Zumbrunnen to launch uxchat.me: a bot that keeps you up to date with the greatest and latest in UX. The talkative bear presents fresh content about UX in a new, chat-like, format. It also served us as a conversation starter about conversational UIs and the challenges that this new type of interaction represents to our field.
Below, a list or articles that inspired us during this project. Big thanks to all authors and I hope this list is useful for your next chatbot project :)
Chatbots Magazine beginner's guide
Chatbots Magazine is a great Medium publication about… Chatbots. Their beginner's guide is a great start point to get introduced to this universe.
"All talk and no buttons"
A list apart is one of our favorite blogs and this article, divided in two parts, provides thoughtful thinking on how our craft will change with conversational UIs and basic GUI patterns for this new-old interface.
Adrian Zumbrunnen's conversational portfolio
Before giving life to our lazy bear, Adrian had made his own website conversational and wrote an insightful article about his learnings.
The current state of conversational interfaces
Smashing Magazine's editor Cosima Mielke analyzes some current examples of Conversational UIs and gives a peek in things to come.
Intercom's principles for bot design (and more)
An interesting take on principles to shape how bots should be designed, from a company that has one of the best design publications on Medium.
Another great one from them:
Beyond the conversational UI
Daniel Eckler's essay on design for humanity presents some thoughts on the current state of CUIs and how the line between computers and humanity is getting blurrier.
Your chatbot needs a personality
And is probably not your own. Choosing the right words and metaphors for the bot's context is essential to good user experience. Groaaaar!
Chatbot, Imma let you finish, but…
The right words might not be enough if they are delivered on the wrong channel. Or even if a chat is not the most appropriate interface to your user's needs. A great article by Meydad Marzan.
All bots in the world for the most popular platforms
ChatBottle is a useful bookmark listing real chatbots available for Messenger, Slack and Telegram. For your delight and inspiration.
The UX bear chatbot
The UX bear is waiting for you — whether you need a quick example of conversation UI to share with a colleague, or you want to dive deep in a conversation about UX.
If you have any suggestions, please comment below.
And if you like the list, please share the love ❤