University Interactive Virtual Assistant (UIVA) | Collegites AI Video tool free
Education
Introduction
In a world where the demand for timely and accurate student support continues to grow, universities are increasingly turning to technology to meet this need. A recent research study has introduced a pioneering tool that aims to enhance student assistance and streamline university information dissemination. This innovative solution is the University Interactive Virtual Assistant (UIVA), developed by Ravindra Vut and Muin Ahmed Khan, and published in the October 2023 issue of the Grands International Journal of Engineering and Technology.
Every year, thousands of students embark on their higher education journey, seeking guidance on various aspects such as courses, fees, placements, and accommodations. Traditionally, human counselors have provided this support, but the overwhelming demand makes it increasingly challenging for universities to deliver timely assistance. UIVA steps in to fill this gap, acting as a virtual assistant designed specifically for Sage University and operating 24/7. This means that both students and parents can access answers to a wide range of queries, including those related to course details, fee structures, hostel accommodations, and mess facilities. Essentially, UIVA serves as a personal counselor that is available around the clock.
So, how exactly does UIVA function? The system employs a combination of speech recognition and natural language processing technologies, allowing users to interact with UIVA through voice commands. These commands are converted into text, processed, and responded to in either speech or text format. The authors conducted a thorough literature review leading to the development of UIVA, analyzing various existing virtual assistants like Google Assistant, Cortana, and Siri. However, these general-purpose assistants often lack the specific focus required to address university-related queries. UIVA aims to bridge that gap by zeroing in on the needs of prospective students and their families.
The methodologies incorporated into UIVA include both speech-to-text and text-to-speech technologies. The system is built using APIs that expand its knowledge base, enabling it to efficiently handle a wide range of queries about university services and facilities. Testing results indicate that UIVA achieves high accuracy in answering university-related questions, including queries about fees and course information. It outperforms existing virtual assistants in addressing university-specific inquiries, proving effective even in challenging communication environments with varying voice tones and background noise.
A comparative study highlighted the several advantages UIVA offers over traditional virtual assistants. Notably, UIVA can resolve queries directly on the same platform, whereas other assistants often redirect users to different sites. Additionally, UIVA boasts faster response times and a more manageable API size, making it both efficient and user-friendly.
In conclusion, UIVA represents a transformative advancement for universities, especially in times when in-person interactions are limited, such as during the pandemic. It enables students and parents to access essential information conveniently, without being constrained by traditional office hours or complicated systems.
We extend our gratitude to Ravindra Vut and Muin Ahmed Khan for their innovative research that has paved the way for UIVA.
If you found this article informative, be sure to stay tuned for more updates on cutting-edge research and technology!
Keywords
- University Interactive Virtual Assistant
- UIVA
- student support
- speech recognition
- natural language processing
- university services
- Sage University
- real-time information
- API
FAQ
What is UIVA?
- UIVA stands for University Interactive Virtual Assistant, a tool designed to provide students and parents with real-time information on university-related queries.
Who developed UIVA?
- UIVA was developed by Ravindra Vut and Muin Ahmed Khan and published in a research paper in October 2023.
What kind of questions can UIVA answer?
- UIVA can assist users with questions about courses, fees, placements, hostel accommodations, and other university services.
How does UIVA function?
- UIVA uses speech recognition and natural language processing technologies, allowing users to interact with it through voice commands that are converted into text responses.
In what way does UIVA differ from traditional virtual assistants?
- Unlike general-purpose virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Siri, UIVA focuses specifically on university-related queries, providing quicker and more accurate responses tailored to prospective students and their needs.