Innovation of the Day: Lily
Smart speaker teaches Chinese 🔈 🇨🇳
Smashing its Indiegogo crowdfunding goal in January 2019, Lily is a voice-activated smart speaker that teaches Chinese through direct conversation. It was developed in San Francisco by language learners, machine learning engineers specializing in voice processing and audio engineers. Pre-orders started at USD 149. The smart speaker is capable of interactive conversations, real-time translation, playing vocabulary games, and helping users prepare for Chinese proficiency exams. An accompanying app allows users to see pinyins, perfect pronunciation and learn Chinese characters.
Two key things to note today:
- High tech, high human. Learning a new language relates to two age-old human needs: self-improvement and connection. Yes, this innovation uses today’s latest technology — machine learning, voice processing, IoT — but it does so to serve fundamental needs in a more efficient, accessible and affordable way. Along with more structured lessons, Lily offers a casual and conversational approach to learning. That expectation for intuitive interactions impacts every customer experience today. Is your use of technology facilitating (or hampering!) a more natural CX?
- Look beyond the success (or failure) of a single innovation. As of January 28th, Lily is 11983% funded, having raised close to USD 1.2 million. Still, there is no guarantee that Lily works or will become Alexa for languages. While the skeptics wait to see if all the promised features deliver, you can already start reacting to the potential expectations they reflect. Ask your team: which of Lily’s many features would delight your customer?
PS. It’s on the opposite end of the spectrum but this device reminded us of Chineasy, a team favorite and low-tech crowdfunding success from 2013. Anyone else still have their flash cards?
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