Customizing the voice assistant¶
You can customize the voice assistant to fit your app’s needs and color scheme. To access the customization options:
In Alan Studio, at the top of the code editor, click Integrations.
Click the Web, iOS or Android tab and use the options below to set up the necessary style and behavior for the voice assistant.
You can do the following:
(iOS/Android) Take screenshots
(iOS/Android) Keep the session active
(iOS/Android) Use the wake word
(iOS/Android) Use the wake word in the background mode
Note
The Alan button settings are configured at the project level. If you have several projects, you need to configure the button settings for them separately.
You can specify different settings for every environment in the project: Development, Testing or Production, and for each platform or SDK: web, iOS or Android.
Some of the customization options are available on specific pricing plans. For details, see Alan pricing.
Enabling or disabling the Alan button¶
Use this option to show or hide the Alan button for users of your app.
Default |
on/visible |
Platforms |
Web/iOS/Android |
Enabling or disabling the Speech-to-Text panel¶
Use this option to show or hide the Speech-to-Text panel for users of your app. The Speech-to-Text panel is active when the user gives voice commands to the app, showing the recognized input, and helps with visual feedback.
Default |
on/visible |
Platforms |
Web/iOS/Android |
Note
The ‘Speech To Text’ panel is not displayed in mobile web browsers on the Web platform.
Recording intent audio¶
Use this option to record every voice command given by users. Audio recordings will be available in the project logs. Recording audio is a great way to debug user flows and adjust your voice script accordingly. We have taken extra security measures to ensure that all recordings are protected and available only to you as the project owner.
Default |
off |
Platforms |
Web/iOS/Android |
Playing the ready-to-listen sound¶
By default, when the user interacts with Alan, a special sound is played when Alan is ready to listen for user’s utterances. If you do not want the sound to be played, you can disable the Play ready-to-listen sound option.
Default |
on |
Platforms |
Web |
Saving the button position¶
The Alan button is draggable, so the user can change the button position in the app. Enable this option to keep the latest button position after page refresh.
The button position is kept during the current dialog session; once a new dialog session starts, the button is put to the default position.
Default |
off |
Platforms |
Web |
Changing the Alan button visual style¶
Use this option to customize the Alan button visual style to match your brand design and color scheme. You can do the following:
Default |
blue |
Platforms |
Web/iOS/Android |
Changing the button styles¶
By default, the Alan button is blue. If the default color does not fit the color scheme of your site or app, you can change it. In the Integrations view, to the right of the Alan button visual style field, click Change and in the Button Style section, choose the necessary colors for every Alan button state.
The Alan button has four states:
Idle State: the default state of the Alan button
Listening State: this state is applied when Alan waits for a user utterance
Processing State: this state is applied when Alan is analyzing the user input
Speaking Back State: this state is applied when Alan speaks back to the user
To save the configured color scheme, in the Integrations view, to the right of the Button Code field, click Save and define the scheme name. You can switch between the default color scheme and saved color schemes at any time.
Changing the button size¶
The default size of the Alan button displayed in the app is 64px. You can define the necessary button size directly in Alan Studio. In the Button Size section, drag the slider right or left to make the Alan button larger or smaller.
Replacing the Alan logo¶
To customize the look and feel of the Alan button, you can replace the Alan logo on top of it with a custom icon or your company logo.
To replace the Alan logo, in the Integrations view, to the right of the Alan button visual style field, click Change. In the Logos settings section, click Add custom logos, select one or more image files and use the right and left controls below each button state to assign the image to this state.
For best results, the images you select must meet the following requirements:
The image must be square.
The recommended image size is 400x400 pixels.
The images must be in the PNG, GIF or SVG format.
The images should have transparent areas around the icon or logo.
Note
The SVG format is currently supported only on the Web platform.
To switch back to the default logo, select the initial image for the necessary Alan button state.
Changing the voice, accent and rate¶
Use this option to change Alan’s voice:
In the Integrations view, to the right of the Alan voice field, click Change.
In the languages list, select the language for the voice assistant, the regional accent and the voice type.
Use the slider to define the speaking rate (speed) in the range of 0.3-2.5, where 1 is normal speed. For example, to set the speaking rate to half as fast, drag the slider to 0.5; to set the speaking rate to twice as fast, drag the slider to 2.
Default |
English, US, Alan voice, normal speed (1) |
Platforms |
Web/iOS/Android |
Setting the microphone timeout¶
Use this option to set the period after which the Alan button is automatically deactivated. This option helps users save on battery/traffic and avoid unwanted commands. Also, the microphone timeout functionality pairs great with using the wake word.
Default |
10s |
Platforms |
Web/iOS/Android |
Taking screenshots¶
Use this option to take screenshots of the app with every voice command given by users. Screenshots will be available in the project logs. Taking screenshots is a great way to debug user flows and adjust your voice script accordingly. We have taken extra security measures to ensure that all screenshots are protected and available only to you as the project owner.
Default |
off |
Platforms |
iOS/Android |
Keeping the session active¶
Use this option to keep the voice session active even when the user puts the app in the background mode. If this option is enabled, the user will be able to continue the conversation with Alan even while actively using other app.
Default |
off |
Platforms |
iOS/Android |
Using the wake word¶
Use this option to allow users to activate the Alan button and a voice session without touching the screen of their mobile devices. All that the user needs to do is say the wake word: "Hey, Alan" or "OK, Alan".
Default |
off |
Platforms |
iOS/Android |
Using the wake word in the background mode¶
Use this option to allow users to activate the Alan button with the wake word even if the app runs in the background mode. With this option enabled, after the app is put in the background, the user can say the wake word: "Hey, Alan" or "OK, Alan" and start interacting with Alan.
The app running in the background mode will remain collapsed. To bring the app to the foreground, the user can tap the microphone bar at the top of the device screen or the app icon itself.
Requirements and limitations:
Together with this option, you must enable the Keep active while the app is in the background and Enable “Hey Alan” wake word options. Otherwise, the wake word in the background mode will not work.
(For iOS) To allow the background mode for an iOS app, in your XCode project, go to the Signing and Capabilities tab. In the top left corner, click + Capability and in the capabilities list, double-click Background Modes. In the Modes list, select the Audio, AirPlay, and Picture in Picture check box.
VoIP apps having a higher priority such as Skype or telephone can interrupt Alan voice sessions. If this happens, the wake word will not work until the user re-opens the app.
Default |
off |
Platforms |
iOS/Android |