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Product category: Manufacturing communication infrastructure
News Release from: BT Global Services | Subject: Sword
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 13 January 2005

A small world thanks to BT's intelligent
directory

Clever phone directory software from BT uses peoples' social networks to help them make quicker connections

It is speculated that most people on earth are separated from one another by no more than six degrees of separation, or six friends of friends or even work colleagues If this is true it means that many people may be a lot closer to Kylie than they think! Scientific research into the possibility of linking any two people in the world by six interpersonal relationships - or degrees of separation - has been ongoing since the 1960s

But only now, thanks to innovative artificial intelligence software developed by BT, can such a theory be put into practice to improve business efficiency.

BT researchers have developed an intelligent contacts directory for businesses using artificial intelligence software called small world directories or Sword, which saves time and effort in finding the right person and makes much more efficient use of extensive company databases.

It helps users find and contact the person they are looking for much faster by learning about users' own social networks and usage patterns.

While online directories within large organisations have made it much easier to find people's phone numbers, contacting the right person can still be a tricky business, especially if you are looking for a Smith, Jones or Patel.

Sword works by putting the user at the centre of his or her own universe, updating their personal contacts profile according to the frequency and number of calls they make to colleagues.

So as they contact people, Sword builds up information that increases the chance of providing the right number at the top of the list next time around.

The system also locates colleagues' numbers more quickly, by grouping and ranking them according to various predefined criteria, such as their organisational unit within a large company, or their geographical location.

To date, several of BT's corporate customers have been impressed with the prototype, which produces consistently accurate results.

Furthermore, its underlying technology also has the potential to help in mobile telephone directory assistance.

Whereas search criteria for fixed-line directory enquiries are always very specific, such as name and address, the mobile world is different.

A mobile phone is usually not associated with a geographical location, but a 'social network' of relationships, such as address book lists, does exist between the people who own the phones.

Potentially, Sword could make use of this social network to help make people easier to contact, without the need to specify a physical address.

Mike Carr, director, research and venturing, BT said: "Sword is very appealing to use, it's intuitive and unlike any existing directories, the benefit of using it grows each time you use it".

"This research is significant because it has combined the nature of human beings as social animals, with leading-edge artificial intelligence technology, to help people connect more quickly, and completely".

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