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Get Started in Minutes

This guide will walk you through everything you need to start having meaningful conversations with historical figures.
Time to first conversation: Less than 3 minutes

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Prerequisites

All you need is:
  • A Google account for authentication
  • A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
  • A microphone for voice conversations

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Step 1: Create Your Account

Echoes of the Past uses Google OAuth for secure, one-click authentication.
1

Navigate to the platform

Visit the Echoes of the Past platform and click Start Whispering or Sign In.
2

Sign in with Google

Click the Sign in with Google button on the authentication page.
// Authentication is powered by Supabase
const { data, error } = await supabase.auth.signInWithOAuth({
  provider: 'google',
  options: {
    redirectTo: `${process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL}/auth/callback`,
    queryParams: {
      access_type: 'offline',
      prompt: 'consent',
    },
  },
})
3

Authorize the application

Grant Echoes of the Past permission to access your Google account profile information.
4

Welcome to your dashboard

After successful authentication, you’ll be redirected to the main dashboard where you can explore historical figures.
Make sure to allow microphone access when prompted by your browser. Voice conversations require microphone permissions.

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Step 2: Browse Historical Figures

The dashboard displays a curated collection of historical figures you can converse with.

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View Modes

Toggle between two viewing modes:
  • Grid View: Visual cards with portraits and descriptions
  • List View: Compact list with key information

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Filter by Category

Historical figures are organized into categories:

Scientists

Einstein, Marie Curie, Isaac Newton, and more

Artists

Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh, Michelangelo

Philosophers

Socrates, Confucius, Nietzsche

Leaders

Historical leaders who shaped nations and movements

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Search for Specific Figures

Use the search bar to quickly find a specific historical figure by name. 
// Historical figures are stored in Supabase
const { data, error } = await supabase
  .from('historicalFigures')
  .select('*')
  .order('createdAt', { ascending: false })

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Step 3: Start Your First Conversation

Ready to talk to a historical figure? Here’s how:
1

Select a historical figure

Click on any historical figure card to view their profile. You’ll see:
  • Their portrait
  • A brief description
  • Their category (scientist, artist, etc.)
  • Notable works and achievements
2

Click 'Start Call'

Press the Start Call button to initiate a voice conversation.
The platform will automatically request microphone permissions if you haven’t granted them yet.
3

Wait for connection

The system will:
  1. Load the historical figure’s AI persona
  2. Initialize the voice synthesis engine
  3. Establish the real-time voice connection
You’ll see a “Connecting…” status during this brief setup.
4

Hear their greeting

The historical figure will greet you with a personalized introduction. For example:
“Hey, I’m Albert Einstein! Theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity. You might know me from E=mc². Let’s chat—ask me anything!”

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Step 4: Understanding the Interface

Once connected, you’ll see the conversation interface with several key components:

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Top Section: Figure Information

  • Avatar: The historical figure’s portrait
  • Name: Who you’re speaking with
  • Status: Connection status (Connecting / Connected / Call ended)
  • Timer: Duration of the current conversation (MM:SS format)

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Middle Section: Visual Feedback

  • Waveform Animation: Visual representation of the AI’s speech
  • Helper Text: Suggested conversation starters:
    • “Ask a question”
    • “Request Explanation”
    • “Topic Discussion”
// Example helper actions
switch (option) {
  case 'Ask a question':
    askQuestion("If you've a question? feel free to ask")
    break
  case 'Request Explanation':
    askQuestion("I'd be happy to explain anything about me or my work.")
    break
  case 'Topic Discussion':
    // Suggests topics from the figure's notable works
    askQuestion(message)
    break
}

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Right Panel: Conversation Transcript

The transcript panel shows:
  • Real-time captions of the AI’s speech
  • Your spoken questions and responses
  • Partial transcripts as speech is being processed
  • Complete message history

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Bottom Section: Controls

  • End Call Button: Tap the large circular button to end the conversation
  • Feedback Button (for quizzes): Receive AI-generated feedback on your performance

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Step 5: Having a Great Conversation

Here are some tips to get the most out of your conversation:

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Ask Open-Ended Questions

Instead of yes/no questions, ask questions that encourage storytelling:
  • “What inspired your greatest work?”
  • “How did you overcome your biggest challenge?”
  • “What would you think about modern technology?”

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Explore Their Era

Historical figures are aware of their time period and can discuss:
  • Daily life in their era
  • Contemporary events and figures
  • Cultural context of their achievements

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Request Explanations

Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification on complex topics:
  • Scientific theories
  • Artistic techniques
  • Philosophical concepts
  • Historical events

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Use Natural Speech

Speak as you would to a real person. The AI understands:
  • Natural pauses and hesitations
  • Colloquial language
  • Follow-up questions
  • Topic changes
The AI uses GPT-3.5 Turbo with a temperature of 0.7 to balance accuracy with natural, engaging responses.

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System Prompt Example

Every conversation is guided by a carefully crafted system prompt that ensures historical accuracy: 
// From lib/prompt.ts
export const generateCallPrompt = (character: HistoricalFigure) => {
  return `
[Identity]
You are ${character.name}, a famous historical personality, speaking 
directly to the user in the present day. You are self-aware, witty, 
and always in character.

[Style]
- Speak in a warm, informal, and conversational tone
- Use first-person perspective ("I")
- Sprinkle in era-appropriate humor and metaphors
- Add natural speech elements: pauses ("..."), hesitations ("uh", "well")
- Never sound robotic or overly formal

[Response Guidelines]
- Stay true to your biography, era, and cultural context
- Share personal anecdotes and lesser-known facts
- Handle criticism with reflection and grace
- Keep responses 1–3 paragraphs, unless asked for more detail
`
}

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Next Steps

Now that you’ve had your first conversation, explore more features:

Try Interactive Quizzes

Test your knowledge with voice-based quizzes hosted by historical figures

View Your Analytics

Track your conversation history and learning progress

Add Custom Figures

Contribute to the platform by adding new historical figures (up to 10 per day)

Explore All Features

Dive deeper into voice conversations and advanced features

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Troubleshooting

  1. Check browser permissions for microphone access
  2. Ensure no other application is using the microphone
  3. Try refreshing the page
  4. Use a different browser if the issue persists
  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Refresh the page and try again
  3. Clear browser cache and cookies
  4. The call will show “Connecting…” status while establishing connection
  1. Check your device volume
  2. Ensure speakers/headphones are connected
  3. Check browser audio permissions
  4. Try refreshing the conversation
  1. Make sure you’re using a valid Google account
  2. Clear browser cookies and try again
  3. Try using an incognito/private browsing window
  4. Check if third-party cookies are enabled
Rate Limiting: You can add up to 10 custom historical figures per day to prevent abuse. This limit is tracked per user account.

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Need Help?

If you encounter issues not covered here, check out our detailed guides: Happy exploring! The voices of history await.

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