SitePal

Infobox Software
name =



caption = SitePal Screenshot
author =
developer = Oddcast 134 W. 37th Street7th FloorNew York, NY 10018
released =
latest release version =
latest release date =
latest preview version =
latest preview date =
operating system = cross platform
platform =
language =
genre = Website animated avatar
license = commercial
website = [http://www.sitepal.com/ SitePal.com]

SitePal is a speaking avatar platform for small and medium sized businesses developed by Oddcast.

SitePal allows users to deploy "virtual employees" on websites that can welcome visitors, guide them around the site and answer questions.

The use of SitePal on commercial websites has been controversial because may visitors report finding them annoying. Some research has shown that they can increase sales in comparison to using static photographs. cite web|url = http://home.att.net/~jBaugher1/f4_41.html|title = SitePal Review -- Case Study Reveals Huge Improvement In Conversions|accessdate = 2008-10-08|last = O'Berry|first = Denise|authorlink = |year = 2007|month = November]

Development

The technology used was the result of more than 4 years of research at Stanford University. The research was based on a literature review and other previous work in the field of artificial intelligence research.

The SitePal AI option uses the AIML programming language, which is partially editable by users. This allows web designers to simulate normal human conversation by using keywords or key phrases that the bot can respond to.

Features

The company provides web designers with options to customize the chosen avatar. A large selection of faces, clothing, hair, backgrounds, voices and other details are available. If a web designer wants to use a particular face, Sitepal can create one from a photo. Thus, a mascot or a known face can be simulated.

With SitePal, while a bot can be created with a large amount of customization, it cannot pass the Turing test and does not qualify as AI. The bot can, however, be classified as a chatbot.

peech

Sitepal avatars talk through text-to-speech (tts) software. [cite web |url = http://www.sitepal.com/tts |title = Text to Speech |date = September 29, 2007 |author = SitePal |accessdate = 2007-09-29 ]

A short paragraph can be written (up to 600 characters) and the text-to-speech engine will compile the actual speech, which can be reproduced and edited. The tts engine is not perfect, but it comes close to actual speech and is easy to understand. Tts can be further enhanced by some commands, like /laugh and /loud which make the avatar laugh or talk loud. Even pronunciation is possible.

The web designer can record and upload his or her own audio messages. Alternatively Sitepal offers professional voice acting service at extra cost. [cite web |url = http://www.sitepal.com/how |title = Make Avatars & Create Virtual Characters for Your Website |date = September 29, 2007 |author = SitePal |accessdate = 2007-09-29 ]

User interaction

The company provides 5 options for visitor interaction:

* No interaction. The avatar simply says a pre-fixed message.
* FAQ mode. Questions can be configured, which are clickable and the user can hear the answer.
* Lead mode. The avatar prompts the user to type his email and short message, so it can be sent to the webmaster (usually used on a "contact us" page)
* Chatbot mode. The avatar greets the user, and he can type his questions and have a conversation with the bot. With predetermined replies, this can work as an FAQ as well.
* API customization. Experienced programmers can make their avatar interact with their website, making it talk when the user clicks on a link or when other triggers occur. Even dual avatar conversations can be created, like a talk show.

Posting options

The company provides five options for posting the avatar:

* Embed in webpage (via javascript)
* Embed in HTML
* Send by email
* Publish to eBay
* Embed in Flash

Benefits

SitePal claims that a website equipped with one of their talking avatars will:

*Increase Sales
*Ensure that the website's message is both seen and heard
*Engage visitors and spur them to buy
*Increase the time that visitors spend on the website
*Increase website traffic through increased return visits
*Provide an edge over other non-equipped websites [cite web |url = http://www.sitepal.com/business |title = Business Benefits |date = September 27, 2007 |author = SitePal |accessdate = 2007-09-27 ]

Criticism

Early reviews, such as one by Troy Dreier published in PC World in 2002 were positive and described SitePal as: "an engagingly simple and personal tool, and the price is reasonable for what it adds to a site". Although Dreier did note that the program had "bugs that suggested it hadn't been tested thoroughly". [cite web
url = http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,757825,00.asp
title = A Virtual Host for Your Web Site
date = October 12, 2002
author = Troy Dreier
accessdate = 2007-09-26]

In more recent years, reaction to SitePal has been much more negative with reviews such as Tom Spring writing in a PC World review citing SitePal ads and described his reaction as "Not so nice". [cite web
url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127207-page,1-c,softwareservices/article.html
title = Net Watchdog: The Most Annoying Online Ads
date = September 26, 2006
author = Tom Spring
accessdate = 2007-09-26]

Paul Bissex, writing in E-Scribe News described SitePal as "heinous... and embarrassing if anyone is within earshot...they creep me out" [cite web
url = http://e-scribe.com/news/276
title = I hate those SitePal ads
date = September 8th, 2006
author = Paul Bissex
accessdate = 2007-09-26]

Research on effectiveness

In one single-website research project Anita Campbell had half the visitors to "Small Business Trends" see a SitePal and the other half see just a static photograph. Over 11,000 visitors the SitePal avatar improved sign-up for a newsletter 144% over the control condition.

References

External links

* [http://www.SitePal.com SitePal]
* [http://www.tuesdaynetworking.com/ Example of a Site Pal deployment on a website]