The University is piloting a new Q&A chatbot designed to offer staff and students support with out-of-hours ICT queries – and needs your help to test and train the system.
Developed by a ICT and a team of computer science students using Microsoft’s AI (artificial intelligence) and language processing technology, the bot has already been primed with a series of frequently asked questions to build its knowledge base ready to answer common ICT queries. It now needs to be launched “into the wild” to field genuine questions to further develop its ability to understand and respond coherently to ICT service desk requests. More University services will be added to the bot’s knowledge base after the pilot phase.
Staff and students can help in piloting the fledgling bot with their ICT questions and queries on the pilot platform: https://lncn.ac/chatbot
Currently known simply as Ask the Bot, the bot also needs a suitable name. Staff and students can enter their suggestions for a name for the bot using the Submission Form by clicking here (opens in Microsoft Forms).
A panel of staff and students will select their preferred name from those submitted. The person who submits the chosen name will win a prize of a £50 Amazon voucher. Terms and conditions apply (see more below).
Name the Bot Staff and Student Competition 2019 – Terms & Conditions
- The promoter is: the University of Lincoln (known as ‘the University’).
- These terms and conditions apply to “Name the Bot Staff and Student Competition 2019” known as ‘the Competition’.
- There is no entry fee to enter the Competition.
- To enter you must be a currently enrolled student at the University of Lincoln or a member of University staff.
- By entering the Competition, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
- To enter the Competition eligible entrants must submit their suggested name using the Submission Form before the deadline of 30th November 2019.
- No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
- Entrants accept that by submitting the Form their name will be made known to the Promoter.
- Any prize for winning this competition will be detailed in an email to the winner.
- The prize consists of a £50 Amazon voucher.
- No alternative to the prize will be offered.
- Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
- The winning submission will be chosen by a panel appointed by the Promoter. The panel’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- The winner will be notified by email before 13th December. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize by 20th December they will forfeit the prize.
- The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- The entrant agrees to the use of his/her entry in any publicity material associated with the Competition.
- Any personal data relating to the winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation.
- The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice at any time. Any changes to the competition will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter.
- The competition and these terms and conditions will be governed by English law and any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.