Frequently Asked Questions

Last modified: 2024-02-09

Area: General

1. Initial App Usage

· Q: I have downloaded the app, what should I do now?

· A: After downloading, enable location services. As you move, your location is used to identify places matching your filters. I'll notify you about the nearest matching place and show others on the Map page. For detailed information on the Map page, just ask.


2. Screen Icons

· Q: What do the keys at the bottom of the screen represent?

· A: The 'Chat' key opens the Chat page for communication with the Guide. The 'Map' key shows a map of your surroundings. The 'Filter' key lets you set preferences for types of places. Ask for further information on each key as needed.


3. App's Functionality

· Q: What or who are you?

· A: I am a virtual travel guide called Guide. Once you've set your preferences in the filter, I'm here to assist with a range of topics. Just ask your questions, and I'll help.


4. Interacting with the Guide

· Q: How do I interact with the Guide?

· A: Tapp the microphone button on the Chat page to start a conversation. I'll listen and respond to your queries or requests for assistance.

Area: Guide My Trip - Language

1. Changing Language

· Q: How can I change the app's language?

· A: Change the language by tapping the three lines at the top left of the app and selecting either English or Swedish.


2. Future Language Support

· Q: Will the app support more languages in the future?

· A: Yes, we plan to expand our language support in the future.


3. Confirming Language Change

· Q: How do I confirm a language change?

· A: Confirm your language choice by clicking outside the blue box to close the language settings.

Area: Guide My Trip – Navigation

1. App Navigation

· Q: How do I navigate in the app?

· A: The app has four pages: the filter page, the map page, the chat page, and the login-language page. Use these for various functions.


2. Accessing Login and Language Pages

· Q: How do I access the login and language pages?

· A: Push the three lines in the top left corner of the Main area to access both the login page and language settings.

Area: Main - Location Services

1. Location Sharing for Conversations

· Q: Is location sharing necessary for conversations?

· A: Location sharing is not mandatory for conversations. The app will use your last known location. For specific place discussions, ask "Tell me about London" or "Create a tourist walk in Rome".


2. Disabling Location Sharing

· Q: How do I disable location sharing?

· A: Disable location sharing by tapping the circle icon at the top right corner of the app. The icon will change to show that location sharing is off.


· Q: What can I do without location sharing?

· A:  You can still have conversations with me, but not on topics involving me knowing where you are, basically you can ask questions about given places and I will try to respond.

Area: User Interface - Filter Settings

1. Setting Filters for Places

· Q: How do I set filters for place types?

· A: To set filters, push the 'Filter' button at the bottom right of the app and adjust your preferences in the settings.


2. Exploring More Filters

· Q: How do I see more filter types?

· A: Push on the down arrow next to the first level of filters to open the next level of options.


3. Selecting All Filters in a Category

· Q: How do I see more filter types?

· A: Push on the down arrow next to the first level of filters to open the next level of options.


4. Unselecting Filters

· Q: Can I unselect filters?

· A: Yes, unselect a level one filter and all associated level two filters by pushing the selected sign in the box next to the filter name.


5. Removing Selected Filters

· Q: How can I remove a selected level two filter?

· A: Remove a selected filter by pushing on the box next to the filter type.


6. Duplicate Filters in Popular Group

· Q: Why are there duplicate filters in the Popular group?

· A: This is to facilitate faster selection of common filter types.


7. Customizing Popular Filters

· Q: Can I select my own popular filter types?

· A: Not currently, but we plan to introduce this feature in the future.


8. Confirming Filter Changes

· Q: How are changes to filters confirmed?

· A: Confirm changes by navigating to either the Map or Chat page.


9. Overlap in Filter Selections

· Q: Why do selections in the Popular group appear in other groups?

· A: The Popular group aggregates selections from various categories for convenience. To modify this group, email support@voxcompanion.com.


10. Adding or Removing Place Types

· Q: How do I add new or remove place types from my filters?

· A: Send a suggestion to support@voxcompanion.com.


11. Deselecting Places in a Group

· Q: What is the method to deselect places in a group?

· A: Deselect a place by pushing on it directly, or deselect an entire group by unchecking the box next to the group name.


12.  Search for a filter

-Q: How can I search for a specific filter?

-A: On the filter page, you'll find a search field at the top. Simply enter the name of the filter you're interested in, and the system will promptly display the filter groups containing your specified filter. This feature is designed to help you quickly navigate through and access the desired filter without scrolling through the entire list..


13 Requesting Additional Filter Types

-Q: I need more filter types. How can I request additional ones?

-A: We're always looking to enhance your experience with a broader range of filters! If you have specific filter types in mind or wish to suggest new ones, please reach out to us via email at support@voxcompanion.com. We'll explore the possibility of incorporating your requested filters and keep you updated on our progress. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve.


Area: User Interface - Microphone Functionality

1. Microphone Button Function

· Q: What is the function of the microphone button?

· A: Push the microphone button to activate voice recognition. I will listen for a short while, process your speech, and then provide a response.


2. Cancelling Voice Input

· Q: Can I cancel voice input?

· A: Cancel voice input by pushing and holding the microphone symbol.


3. Microphone Indicators

· Q: What does a circling pattern on the microphone indicate?

· A: A circling pattern indicates that your transcribed voice is being updated and sent to the server.


4. Understanding Beeps

· Q: What does a beep signify?

· A: A beep means that I am listening to you. There will also be a beep when I start creating an answer for you.


5. Automatic Beep Feature

· Q: Why do you beep after I have received a message?

· A: Yes, when I have more information available, I will turn on the microphone automatically for follow-up questions. I will always attempt to notify you when more information is available.

Area: User Interface – Manual Typing

1. Using Manual Typing

· Q: What if voice recognition doesn't understand me?

· A: If voice recognition fails, press and hold the field where your voice is transcribed. This will allow you to type your message instead. Type your message, then press the arrow key to send it to me.


2. Keyboard Alternatives

· Q: Can I get another keyboard than the one provided?

· A: Not currently, but we're considering adding this feature in the future.


3. Switching Back to Voice Input

· Q: How do I return to voice input?

· A: To return to voice input, just press the arrow button.

Area: User Interface - Screen Display

1. Screen Display Information

· Q: What information is displayed in the middle of the screen?

· A: The middle of the screen displays your spoken words when using the microphone and messages about app features.


2. Dynamic Information Display

· Q: Why does information in the middle box change over time?

· A: The changing information suggests topics you can discuss with me. Feel free to try them out.


3. App Screen Timeout

· Q: Why does the app screen remain open indefinitely?

· A: The app is designed to stay open for ease of use until you manually close it, switch to another app, or turn off your device.

Area: User Interface - Map Page

1.      General map function

·Q: What is the purpose of the map page?

-A: The map page is designed to display your current location and update it as you move. This feature helps you navigate and understand your surroundings more effectively.

         

2.      Map page controls

-Q: How do the plus and minus buttons on the map work?

-A: These buttons are for zooming in and out on the map, respectively. Alternatively, you can pinch the screen with two fingers: bring them closer to zoom out, or spread them apart to zoom in, offering a tactile navigation experience.

 

·Q: Is there another method to zoom in or out?

-A: You can pinch the screen with two fingers: bring them closer to zoom out, or spread them apart to zoom in, offering a tactile navigation experience.

 

 

·Q: What function does the top button on the right side serve?

·A This button enables you to initiate a chat with the assistant, similar to the functionality available on the chat page, providing a seamless support experience.

         

·Q: What happens if I press and hold on the map?

·A This action triggers the chat functionality, the same as using the top right button, allowing for immediate assistance.

 

·Q: What does the bottom button on the right side do?

·A: Pressing this button centres the map on your current location and keeps the map oriented to your movements, ensuring you are always at the heart of the map's focus.

 

·Q What should I do if my position isn't visible on the map?

·A: Click the focus button located at the bottom right. This action centres the map on your location, making it visible.

 

·Q: How can I close the chat window on the map page?

·A: This action triggers the chat functionality, the same as using the top right button, allowing for immediate assistance

 

·Q: How do I remove the chat window on the map?

·A: A gentle swipe on the map will dismiss the chat window, returning you to the full map view.

 

3.      Places on the map

·Q: What else is displayed on the map page

·A: The map displays various places of interest. These could be locations you've searched for or are filtered to show. Depending on the map's zoom level, these places are indicated by round, blue markers or by their names directly on the map.

 

4.      Place information

·Q: How can I learn more about a specific place on the map?

·A: By tapping on a marker, a detailed information box about that location will appear and be narrated to you. You can stop the narration by pressing the "Stop" key or by tapping anywhere on the map.

 

·Q: How can I remove the information box from the map?

·A: Simply tap anywhere on the map outside the information box. This will close the box and allow you to continue exploring the map.

Area: Information and Data Sources

1. Selecting Closest Places

· Q: How are the closest places selected?

· A: Selection is based on the shortest distance from your current location, considering the filters you've set.


2. Reasons for Outdated or Missing Places

· Q: Why might some places not appear or be outdated?

· A: Data comes from various sources like Wikipedia, Google Maps, and others. Missing or outdated info can be due to these sources' limitations. We plan to include user-contributed data in the future.


3. Direction-Based Information

· Q: Why does information differ based on travel direction?

· A: The app calculates a forward-facing area based on your speed and direction, updating with each location message. Variations may occur due to road layout changes or location update delays.


4. Avoiding Repeated Location Information

· Q: How can I avoid repeated location information?

· A: We're working on a feature to avoid send the same place over again.

Area: Conversation Features

1. Topics for Discussion

· Q: What topics can I discuss with the app?

· A: You can discuss a range of topics, including but not limited to nearby places, historical insights, dining options, your current location, and your travel speed. Additionally, the app can provide detailed information on specific locations and repeat messages if needed.


2. Conversation Scope

· Q: Can you expand on the type of conversations you can handle?

· A: Absolutely! The app covers a diverse array of topics, continually updated and displayed in the chat page's middle field. From local attractions to cultural facts, the possibilities for conversation topics are always growing.

Area: Support and Troubleshooting

1. Contacting Customer Support

· Q: How can I contact customer support?

· A: Reach out to our support team by emailing support@voxcompanion.com. We strive to respond within 24 hours.


2. Basic Troubleshooting Steps

· Q: What are the steps for basic troubleshooting?

· A: Start by ensuring your app is up-to-date. Restart both the app and your device, check for stable internet connectivity, and clear the app’s cache. If issues persist, please email us at support@voxcompanion.com with a detailed description of your problem.

Area: Possible Conversations

1. Inquiring About Interesting Places

· Q: What is "interesting places nearby"?

· A: The 'interesting places' feature provides information about locations matching your filter criteria that are ahead of you. I'll tell you their names and key details. These locations are also marked on the map for further exploration.


2. Finding Food Options

· Q: What if I say "I am hungry"?

· A: When you express hunger, I'll guide you to the nearest food-serving place ahead of you, along with additional nearby options displayed on the map for your selection.


3. Locating Nearby Food Places

· Q: What happens if I ask “Are there food places nearby”?

· A: Asking this will prompt the app to provide information on food places located in front of you, based on your current location. These will be visible on the map, where you can select them for more details.


4. Finding Specific Types of Places

· Q: How does “Find a museum nearby” work?

· A: This command searches for museums in the vicinity of your current location, including those potentially behind you. The results will be displayed both verbally and on the map.


5. Requesting Specific Cuisine

· Q: What if I say “I want pizza”?

· A: Indicating a specific food preference like pizza will prompt the app to locate restaurants serving that cuisine near your current location. These options will be shown on the map for further information.


6. Learning About Specific Locations

· Q: What happens when I ask “Tell me about Stockholm”?

· A: Asking about a place like Stockholm will trigger the app to provide concise, two-sentence information snippets about it. After each snippet, you'll be asked if you want more information, to which you can respond with 'Yes', 'No', or similar.


7. Checking Current Filters

· Q: What does “Current filter” do?

· A: This command allows you to verbally inquire about the filters you have currently set, enabling you to stay updated without needing to check your mobile device.


8. Modifying Filters Through Voice

· Q: How does “Change the filter fuel” function?

· A: This voice command allows you to toggle a specific filter type in the app. Saying “Change the filter fuel” will either activate or deactivate this filter, depending on its current state.


9. Reporting Incorrect Data

· Q: What should I do if I find incorrect data?

· A: If you encounter any inaccuracies, simply say something like “There was something wrong in that data.” This will alert our support team to review and correct the information.


10. Creating a Tourist Walk

· Q: What is “Create a tourist walk in Berlin”?

· A: This command initiates the creation of a personalized tourist walk in Berlin, suggesting places of interest and the optimal sequence to visit them. These locations will be visible on the map for more information and navigation.


11. Integrating with Navigation Systems

· Q: Can I move the walk to my navigation system in my mobile device?

· A: Yes, transferring the planned walk to your mobile device's navigation system is as simple as clicking the “xxx” button. I'll continue to provide background information as you navigate.


12. Returning to Main Menu

· Q: How do I return to “Guide My Trip”?

· A: To return to the main menu of “Guide My Trip,” simply press the “yyy” button.


13. Creating Round Trips

· Q: Can I create round trips by car or bicycle?

· A: Yes, to create a customized round trip by car or bicycle in a specific city, use commands like “Create tourist round trip by car in London” or “Create tourist roundtrip by cycle in Copenhagen.”


14. Customizing Type of Walk or Round Trip

· Q: How can I change the type of walk or round trip?

· A: To customize your experience, change your request to specify the type of walk or trip, such as “Create an art walk in Berlin” or “Create a historic walk in Rome.”


15. Repeating Last Spoken Information

· Q: What if I didn’t catch what was said?

· A: If you need something repeated, simply ask “What did you say?” and I will repeat the last thing I mentioned.


16. Assistance

· Q: How can I get help?

· A: For assistance with anything just include the word help in your communication or How do I ... An example would be to get help for language settings, ask “Help with setting the language setting” or “How do I set the language?”.

· I'm here to help, though I might occasionally misunderstand your intent. If that happens, please try asking again.


17. Locating Yourself

· Q: What if I want to know my current location?

· A: To find out your current location, just ask “Where am I?” and I'll provide you with the information.

About

Your voice is your tool.


Voxcompanion was started by Mats Gejnevall in March 2023 to be the vessel for a number of voice based mobile solutions.

Co-funded by the EU

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