What crucial limitation did early keyword spotting systems (c. 2001–2002) possess regarding conversational context?

Answer

They could tell what was said, but not how it was said or why the customer reacted

Systems built around keyword spotting logic—essentially 'if X then Y' rules applied to transcribed text—were effective for compliance checks or simple data flagging, but they suffered from a fundamental limitation in understanding context. They were excellent at identifying *what* specific words were uttered (e.g., 'refund policy'), but they possessed no mechanism to analyze the delivery or the surrounding emotional state. Consequently, they could not discern if the customer was highly agitated, satisfied, or merely resigned while mentioning that policy, meaning they measured adherence to script but not the quality of the customer experience.

What crucial limitation did early keyword spotting systems (c. 2001–2002) possess regarding conversational context?
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