USpeak Inc
Public speaking is terrifying. We designed an AI interface that turns high-stakes anxiety into a safe, guided conversation.
Most people would rather face a swarm of bees than give a presentation. USpeak had the technology to help—advanced AI that could analyze pacing, tone, and filler words—but the experience felt robotic. It was intimidating. Users were logging in, seeing a dashboard that looked like a cockpit, and freezing up. The challenge wasn't just technical; it was emotional. We had to take a complex assessment tool and make it feel like a supportive rehearsal partner, not a harsh critic.
We stripped away the dense analytics from the live view. Instead of bombarding the user with charts while they spoke, we implemented subtle, ambient visual cues. If a user spoke too fast, the UI didn't flash a red warning; it gently pulsed a calming color to suggest a pause. We broke the learning path down into bite-sized, customized goals based on confidence, not just competence. Why this worked: Reduced Cognitive Load: Users could focus on their speech, not deciphering a dashboard. Positive Reinforcement: The ambient cues felt helpful rather than punitive, keeping anxiety levels manageable. Personalization: Custom paths made users feel seen, turning a generic tool into a personal mentor.
