1. A computer-based virtual assistant comprising: a virtual assistant application running on a computer capable of receiving human voice communications from a remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization to the remote user interface; the virtual assistant application selecting a responsive action to a verbal query or instruction received from the remote user interface and transmitting a vocalization characterizing the selected responsive action to the remote user interface; and the virtual assistant waiting a predetermined period of time, and if no canceling indication is received from the remote user interface, proceeding to perform the selected responsive action; and if a canceling indication is received from the remote user interface halting the selected responsive action and transmitting a new vocalization to the remote user interface.