IVR Deconstructed

There are various myths and legends surrounding Halloween.  Some say it is one of the oldest holidays, originally celebrated to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.  Others say that it is the time when the physical and metaphysical realms are closest together.  Others find it a day to dress up and go trick-or-treating, which typically results in lots of sweets.

Halloween is indeed celebrated (albeit in different variations) around the world.  Most scholars agree that Halloween’s origins date back over 2,000 years ago to the Celts who used the day to mark the end of summer and the beginning of winter.  They recognized the holiday as a commemoration of the New Year.  In order to ward off the ghosts roaming the Earth for this one night, they would light bonfires and wear costumes.

In the 700s, Pope Gregory declared the first day of November All Saints Day, which became a day to honor all saints and martyrs within Christianity.  Halloween continues to be celebrated in different ways around the world.  In Scotland and Ireland, where the tradition began thousands of years ago, children often dress up in costumes, attend parties, and even have fireworks displays.  Due to migration and immigration to America, many of these traditions were carried over to the “new world”.

North America has perhaps had the biggest influence on the holiday, promulgating traditions like dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating throughout neighborhoods, and visiting haunted attractions.  Many countries have drawn on the North American influence to shape their own Halloween celebrations that are often times very similar to the ones observed in the United States and Canada.

For people living thousands of years ago, Halloween represented a time of extreme uncertainty due to the long winter months that typically follow.  Instead of planting, growing, and harvesting crops, ancient people had to remain fairly sedentary during the winter months in order to conserve energy and stay warm.  Many animals also hibernate throughout the winter, making hunting prospects slim if at all.  Fear and uncertainty surrounding the winter months is quite understandable for people who maintain a limited food supply and live off the land.

As societies modernized, the fear of starvation, malnutrition, and freezing temperatures became less and less, which some people think facilitated the transition of a harvest-focused holiday to one more in tune with popular culture.  All of Halloween’s scary offerings probably have their root in fears over winter, which then evolved when various modernizations became available.

So can technology, most relevantly interactive voice response technology, aid Halloween celebrators in formulating plans, finding out about parties, buying candy, and having a safe and fun-filled holiday?  Users could merely call in to an IVR that has been set up to take their zip code, ask several simple questions about their needs, and then automatically point customers in the right direction.

Instead of standing around looking for something to do, people can call or text and receive event information immediately.  IVRs could be equipped with both driving and walking directions, general recommendations based primarily on location, report potentially dangerous situations and even check weather reports.

Preparation is, for many, the key to a having a good holiday and Halloween is no exception!  To everyone handing out candy, going to a costume party or trick-or-treating, have a happy and safe Halloween!