131 wordsIntelligent Cognitive Assistants (ICAs) support people who need help performing everyday tasks by detecting when problems occur and providing tailored, context-sensitive assistance. Spoken dialogue interfaces allow users to interact with ICAs while focusing on the task at hand. In order to establish requirements for voice interfaces to ICAs, we conducted three focus groups with people with dementia, carers, and older people without a diagnosis of dementia. Analysis of the focus group data showed that voice and interaction style should be chosen based on the preferences of the user, not those of the carer. For people with dementia, the ICA should act like a patient, encouraging guide, while for older people without dementia, assistance should be to the point and not patronising. The ICA should be able to adapt to cognitive decline.Current word count including quotes 3,985