Natural Language Processing (NLP) – Connect with Citizens Naturally

By now we’re accustomed to meeting natural language processing, or NLP, in our daily routine. Personal assistants like Siri® or Alexa® and voice response systems greeting us when we call a company’s customer service line are just some of the many ways NLP is used in an attempt to remove friction from communication. What is NLP, and how can it benefit local governments and communities?

According to SaS, “Natural language processing (NLP) helps computers communicate with humans in their own language and scales other language-related tasks. For example, NLP makes it possible for computers to read text, hear speech, interpret it, measure sentiment and determine which parts are important.”

word cloud of natural language processing NLP
man looking at machine learning text

NLP can transform civic engagement, too. With the CityFront Experience mobile app, citizens can engage with local government the same way they do with their device personal assistants: just ask. What time does the library open? Who is the council president? When is the next council meeting? Simply ask the app on your mobile device, CityFront knows the answer.

The NLP engine built into the app can also be used to automate city service delivery, such as smart 311 reporting.

The CityFront Experience mobile app integrates with legacy city systems to provide a simplified citizen user experience – one app that delivers easy access to important local information and allows seamless citizen interaction – connecting your community.

At CityFront, we believe that a smart city listens. Smart technology is about bringing people together to create better outcomes. Now that’s smart – and that’s CityFront.

Contact us to bring the CityFront Experience mobile app to your community.