> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaaS

a software delivery model in which software and associated data are centrally hosted on the cloud

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_service

a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network

= = =

I would like to talk a little about what I love and hate in both chatbot software as a service and chatbot web APIs.  I’m also keen to hear similar opinions from others.  I’ll try not to bash our colleagues by name, but will try to praise them!  ;^)

Basically, a chatbot SaaS is a cloud based service that functions more or less the same as it would on the desktop, in terms of GUI.  The advantages are that you don’t have to screw around with Windows, Mac or Linux versions, much less bloating hardware issues.

Instead of a “user interface”, a web API is a “programmatic interface”, for instance for machine-to-machine communication in the looming “Internet of Things”.  I’m not sure there are good examples of chatbot web APIs yet, at least not well documented or commercial ones.  Two of the best sources of information on the role of web APIs in cloud computing are the http://programmableweb.com (@programmableweb) website and the http://gluecon.com (@gluecon) conference.

In my view, a chatbot is something that exists in the cloud by definition. It should be possible that a chatbot can appear on any screen, but also on any website. If you need help on the Amazon.com website for example, it should be possible to select any chatbot to browse with you. That is only possible if the chatbot is part of a service that is being paid by the user, and when it lives in the cloud. We probably would need some standards for that.

Not sure whether this is what you were looking for, but this is what popped into my mind.

It is possible to have a browser-based bot that would have access to certain API standards and functions. The Chrome browser is one that is well poised for that type of service and the bot could be installed easily as a plugin service.

I have thought about developing such a plugin but have waited for the Chrome OS to settle bit first.
It would be an interesting project.

I think so, too. Too bad I have so many irons in the fire (and have foolishly added a half dozen more!)

Yes me too, especially considering the Slide Agent release is coming soon.
I always have another projects waiting in the wings.