Abstract: A method of operating a computing device in support of improved accessibility includes displaying a user interface to an application on a display screen of the computing device, wherein the computing device includes an accessibility assistant that reads an audible description of an element of the user interface; initiating, on the computing device, a virtual assistant that conducts an audible conversation between a user and the virtual assistant through at least a microphone and a speaker associated with the computing device, wherein the virtual assistant is not integrated with an operating system of the computing device; inhibiting an ability of the accessibility assistant to read the audible description of the element of the user interface; and upon transition of the virtual assistant from an active state, enabling the ability of the accessibility assistant.

Abstract: A method of operating a computing device in support of improved accessibility includes displaying a user interface to an application on a display screen of the computing device, wherein the computing device includes an accessibility assistant that reads an audible description of an element of the user interface; initiating, on the computing device, a virtual assistant that conducts an audible conversation between a user and the virtual assistant through at least a microphone and a speaker associated with the computing device, wherein the virtual assistant is not integrated with an operating system of the computing device; inhibiting an ability of the accessibility assistant to read the audible description of the element of the user interface; and upon transition of the virtual assistant from an active state, enabling the ability of the accessibility assistant.

Abstract: A primary virtual assistant and local virtual assistant herein can provide secondary information, including, without limitation, user-specific information, without having direct access to such information. For example, a user may invoke a secondary virtual assistant, through the local virtual assistant connected to a primary virtual assistant system. This invocation may be sent through the primary virtual assistant to the third party provider, i.e., the secondary virtual assistant. The secondary virtual assistant has access to the secondary information, for example, email, calendars, other types of information specifically associated with the user or learned from past user actions while this information is not directly available to the primary virtual assistant. This secondary information is then provided to the local virtual assistant in response to the invocation to be provided to the user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for a smart communications assistant with an audio interface. One method includes an operation for getting messages addressed to a user. The messages are from one or more message sources and each message comprising message data that includes text. The method further includes operations for analyzing the message data to determine a meaning of each message, for generating a score for each message based on the respective message data and the meaning of the message, and for generating a textual summary for the messages based on the message scores and the meaning of the messages. A speech summary is created based on the textual summary and the speech summary is then sent to a speaker associated with the user. The audio interface further allows the user to verbally request actions for the messages.

Abstract: A primary virtual assistant and local virtual assistant herein can provide secondary information, including, without limitation, user-specific information, without having direct access to such information. For example, a user may invoke a secondary virtual assistant, through the local virtual assistant connected to a primary virtual assistant system. This invocation may be sent through the primary virtual assistant to the third party provider, i.e., the secondary virtual assistant. The secondary virtual assistant has access to the secondary information, for example, email, calendars, other types of information specifically associated with the user or learned from past user actions while this information is not directly available to the primary virtual assistant. This secondary information is then provided to the local virtual assistant in response to the invocation to be provided to the user.

Abstract: Input access may be provided. A user interface may be displayed on a user device. Upon receiving a selection of at least one element of the user interface, a plurality of input receiving modes of the user device may be activated.

Abstract: A dynamically created and automatically updated personalized cloud of mobile tasks may be displayed on an interactive visual display via a personalized cloud generator application. The personalized cloud generator application may receive and/or capture information representing a mobile task performed by a mobile computing device user. The personalized cloud generator application may then store the information and determine a relevance of a given performed mobile task. If the relevance of the performed mobile task meets a prescribed threshold, the personal cloud generator application may display a selectable visual representation (e.g., selectable icon) of the performed mobile task. Given a user's activity, the visual representation may be automatically updated (displayed, removed, moved, resized, etc.) based on the information received and/or captured. Subsequent selection of the displayed visual representation allows quick and easy access or performance of the associated mobile task.

Abstract: An augmented conversational understanding architecture may be provided. Upon receiving a natural language phrase from a user, the phrase may be translated into a search phrase and a search action may be performed on the search phrase.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for a smart communications assistant with an audio interface. One method includes an operation for getting messages addressed to a user. The messages are from one or more message sources and each message comprising message data that includes text. The method further includes operations for analyzing the message data to determine a meaning of each message, for generating a score for each message based on the respective message data and the meaning of the message, and for generating a textual summary for the messages based on the message scores and the meaning of the messages. A speech summary is created based on the textual summary and the speech summary is then sent to a speaker associated with the user. The audio interface further allows the user to verbally request actions for the messages.

Abstract: Identification of user intents may be provided. A plurality of network applications may be identified, and an ontology associated with each of the plurality of applications may be defined. If a phrase received from a user is associated with at least one of the defined ontologies, an action associated with the network application may be executed.

Abstract: Individuals may utilize devices to engage in conversations about topics respectively associated with a location (e.g., restaurants where the individuals may meet for dinner). Often, the individual momentarily withdraws from the conversation in order to issue commands to the device to retrieve and present such information, and may miss parts of the conversation while interacting with the device. Additionally, the individual often explores such topics individually on a device and conveys such information to the other individuals through messages, which is inefficient and error-prone. Presented herein are techniques enabling devices to facilitate conversations by monitoring the conversation for references, by one individual to another (rather than as a command to the device), to a topic associated with a location. In the absence of a command from an individual, the device may automatically present a map alongside a conversation interface showing the location(s) of the topic(s) referenced in the conversation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for a smart communications assistant with an audio interface. One method includes an operation for getting messages addressed to a user. The messages are from one or more message sources and each message comprising message data that includes text. The method further includes operations for analyzing the message data to determine a meaning of each message, for generating a score for each message based on the respective message data and the meaning of the message, and for generating a textual summary for the messages based on the message scores and the meaning of the messages. A speech summary is created based on the textual summary and the speech summary is then sent to a speaker associated with the user. The audio interface further allows the user to verbally request actions for the messages.

Abstract: A computing device is provided, which may include an input device configured to receive natural user input, and an application program executed by a processor of the computing device, the application program configured to: retrieve an electronic calendar including calendar data for one or more meeting events, each meeting event including a meeting time and meeting data, receive a generic meeting invocation request via a natural user input detected by the input device, based on at least receiving the generic meeting invocation request at a point in time, search the electronic calendar for a meeting event having a meeting time that is within a threshold time period of the point in time that the natural user input was received, and start the meeting event including processing the meeting data for the meeting event.

Abstract: Individuals may utilize devices to engage in conversations about topics respectively associated with a location (e.g., restaurants where the individuals may meet for dinner). Often, the individual momentarily withdraws from the conversation in order to issue commands to the device to retrieve and present such information, and may miss parts of the conversation while interacting with the device. Additionally, the individual often explores such topics individually on a device and conveys such information to the other individuals through messages, which is inefficient and error-prone. Presented herein are techniques enabling devices to facilitate conversations by monitoring the conversation for references, by one individual to another (rather than as a command to the device), to a topic associated with a location. In the absence of a command from an individual, the device may automatically present a map alongside a conversation interface showing the location(s) of the topic(s) referenced in the conversation.

Abstract: Input access may be provided. A user interface may be displayed on a user device. Upon receiving a selection of at least one element of the user interface, a plurality of input receiving modes of the user device may be activated.

Abstract: An augmented conversational understanding agent may be provided. Upon receiving, by an agent, at least one natural language phrase from a user, a context associated with the at least one natural language phrase may be identified. The natural language phrase may be associated, for example, with a conversation between the user and a second user. An agent action associated with the identified context may be performed according to the at least one natural language phrase and 201 a result associated with performing the action may be displayed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for a smart communications assistant with an audio interface. One method includes an operation for getting messages addressed to a user. The messages are from one or more message sources and each message comprising message data that includes text. The method further includes operations for analyzing the message data to determine a meaning of each message, for generating a score for each message based on the respective message data and the meaning of the message, and for generating a textual summary for the messages based on the message scores and the meaning of the messages. A speech summary is created based on the textual summary and the speech summary is then sent to a speaker associated with the user. The audio interface further allows the user to verbally request actions for the messages.

Abstract: Input access may be provided. A user interface may be displayed on a user device. Upon receiving a selection of at least one element of the user interface, a plurality of input receiving modes of the user device may be activated.

Abstract: Location-based conversational understanding may be provided. Upon receiving a query from a user, an environmental context associated with the query may be generated. The query may be interpreted according to the environmental context. The interpreted query may be executed and at least one result associated with the query may be provided to the user.

Abstract: An augmented conversational understanding agent may be provided. Upon receiving, by an agent, at least one natural language phrase from a user, a context associated with the at least one natural language phrase may be identified. The natural language phrase may be associated, for example, with a conversation between the user and a second user. An agent action associated with the identified context may be performed according to the at least one natural language phrase and 201 a result associated with performing the action may be displayed.