This paper presents a voice user interface consisting of several modules for a mobile service robot, which is used to guide people and provide information on a university campus. The recognition and processing system is based on cloud services to convert from speech to text and vice versa and a dialogue system to allow for natural interaction. An approach to combine these modules with a data management system for meal plan, public transit, and location information is presented. We evaluate the system in different environments, each with their individual reverberation times, proving the functionality under conditions typical for the intended use case. In a user study with 13 participants we show the usability of the system, by letting the participants freely interact with the robot. In 86 % of all cases the desired output can be achieved at least once per user and request. A questionnare shows that most users agree with a good usability of the system.

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Objectives Suicidality is a serious public health problem and is closely associated with the severity of depression. In this work, we examined the effects of accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on suicidal status, risk factors for suicide, and severity of depressive symptoms in subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods We present data from a quadruple‐blind (patient, care provider, investigator, rater) sham‐controlled crossover randomized clinical trial. During a 6‐week observation period, each participant underwent 2 weeks of stimulation ‐ each week with 20 sessions of active or sham iTBS. A suicide score was created using a composite of individual items from Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Depression Scale, and Beck Depression Inventory. The severity of depression was determined by MADRS total scores. In addition, we used demographic and Columbia Suicidality Rating Scale information to assess suicide risk. Results Among 81 participants, we observed a significant reduction in suicidality and this change was positively correlated with a change in depressive symptoms. A significant difference between active and sham iTBS provided evidence for antidepressant effects. Higher changes in levels of anxiety and impulsiviness also correlated with larger changes in suicidality. Conclusions As neither suicide nor other serious adverse events were evidenced, this intervention was a safe and viable procedure to reduce suicidality and severity of depressive symptoms. Moreover, we identified more pronounced anti‐suicidal effects in those with higher risk profiles. Unlike MADRS, composite suicidal scores did not provide evidence of an effect between stimulation conditions in this crossover design study. Even so, based on our promising results, parallel and larger studies could contribute to a better characterization of the anti‐suicidal placebo effect and the benefit of using iTBS against suicidal symptoms.