Creating interaction channels

Learn how to create interaction channels for your project using the Portal

You can create interaction channels to define how different kinds of data flows between the solution and (real or virtual) end users during interactions.

You can also use interaction channels (through external signals) to share information about specific events with your solution.

Interaction channels can be of the following types:

Type	Description
Input interaction channels	A trigger that defines how an interaction starts
Output interaction channels	The specific entity or object that delivers the action defined for the interaction.

For example, in a solution, consider a defined logic that plays a personalized audio greeting on a speaker when a user arrives at a specific location. For this interaction (between the solution and user), the interaction channels can be defined as follows:

• The input interaction channel would be the device that detects the user's presence. Depending on the requirements of the solution, this could be a camera that uses facial recognition, a microphone through which the user speaks to a digital agent powered by the solution, a specific button in a mobile app that the user can tap, and more.

• The output interaction channel would be the speaker that plays the audio greeting.

To learn more about how interaction channels work, see Interaction channels.

Creating input interaction channels

1. Log in to the Portal.

Logging in to the Portal

1. In the top navigation bar, select the Project for which you want to create interaction channels.

2. In the left sidebar, navigate to Interaction Channels > Interaction Channels

3. In the upper-right corner, click + Create.

Creating an interaction channel

1. Enter the following details:

Creating an input channel

Field	Description	Step
Channel Type	Determines whether you are creating an input or output interaction channel	(Mandatory) Select Input.
Input Type	Determines the interaction input (for example, a camera)	(Mandatory) Select an option.
Category	Determines the interaction input category, which enable easy organization and management of input interaction channels.	(Optional) Select an option.
Value	A value (for example, if the interaction input is a camera, it could be the camera's IP address)	(Mandatory) Enter a value.
Identifier	A unique identifier for the input channel within Affective Computing (powered by Virtue).	(Mandatory) Enter a value.
Is active	Determines whether the input interaction channel can be used in the project.	To activate the input interaction channel, select the checkbox.

1. Click Save.

Creating interaction outputs

1. Log in to the Portal.

Logging in to the Portal

1. In the top navigation bar, select the Project for which you want to create interaction channels.

2. In the left sidebar, navigate to Interaction Channels > Interaction Channels

3. In the upper-right corner, click + Create.

Creating an interaction channel

1. Enter the following details:

Creating an output channel

Field	Description	Step
Channel Type	Determines whether you are creating an input or output interaction channel	(Mandatory) Select Output.
Identifier	A unique identifier for the output channel within EDAA™.	(Mandatory) Enter a value.
Entity Type	Determines whether the subject of the output interaction is the environment or a VH.	(Mandatory) Select an option.
Entity	The specific entity that becomes the subject of the output. Note: The entity must be defined beforehand.	(Mandatory) Select an option
Triggered Action Attribute	A unique identifier of the triggered action attribute that contains the action that must be triggered. Note: The triggered action must be defined beforehand.	(Mandatory) Select an option.
Is active	Determines whether the interaction output channel can be used in the project.	To activate the interaction output channel, select the checkbox.

1. Click Save.

Creating a new interaction input category

Interaction input categories help you classify and organize your interaction input channels for easy management. If your solution requires a custom category that doesn't already exist on the platform, you can create it.

1. Log in to the Portal.

Logging in to the Portal

1. In the top navigation bar, select the Project for which you want to create interaction input categories.

2. In the left sidebar, navigate to Interaction Channels > Interaction Inputs Category

3. In the upper-right corner, click + Create.

Creating an interaction input category

1. Enter the following details:

Creating an interaction input category

Field	Description	Step
Name	Name of the interaction input category	(Mandatory) Enter a name.
Is active	Determines whether the interaction input category can be used in the project.	To activate the interaction input category, select the checkbox.

1. Click Save.