Lexicle Announces Cara

YORK, ENGLAND - Lexicle introdues "Cara", an animated 3D interactive financial sales person. Computer users will be able to log on and speak to the interactive, 3-D, animated, virtual agent. The character, named Cara, can understand questions and respond using Natural Language Processing technologies. Her conversation is brought to life with hand, body and facial movements and gestures - she'll also frown when talking about complex topics. Cara has been developed by Lexicle, a York University spin-out company based at the city's Science Park in York, England. Among the team at Lexicle are two experts in Computational Linguistics, Patrick Olivier and Suresh Manandhar. Lexicle has joined forces with First Direct to use Cara as an on-line agent to answer a range of questions on the UK bank's all-in-one smartmortgage. Lexicle's chief executive, Andy Ormsby said: "Lexicle's revolutionary software provides conversation, the interface of everyday life. "Our system remembers what has been covered, avoids repetition, and answers questions in the context of the current conversation." He added: "Our character will change the way we handle often complex and dull financial products. "The attraction of Cara is part lifestyle, part knowledge - being able to speak to her in the user's own time and ask questions without embarrassment. "It should entertain as well as educate."