Copyright (C) 1997 Paco Xander Nathan, Robby Glen Garner
Based on an earlier paper written with Luigi Caputo from ALMA Research Centre
I. Introduction
Since the coming of electronic calculators, Man has longed to create machines
with which he could converse freely. In 1950 the English logician Alan Turing
hypothesized the near-future existence and reinforcement of the dialectical
relationship between man and machine [1].
In support of this, Turing asserted that if it should become true that a common
man, by holding a dialogue with a machine hidden from his sight, could get even
the impression of talking with another person, then that event would sanction
the origin of so-called Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Strategies for substantiating Turing's assertion can be twofold. On one hand,
the field of AI feels compelled to demonstrate a medium wherein man can no longer
distinguish the real nature of his interlocutor. On the other hand, computer
science in general strives to embed forms of knowledge and deductive reasoning
within the context of machines typically used for mathematical calculations
or control systems.
Experiments performed in these terms will lead to very different results and
considerations. The real problem is, however, to ponder whether it is possible
to design machines equipped with a certain measure of "personality".
Transferring the question on the subject of "man" to that of "machine", and
borrowing ideas from theorists like Minsky and Hofstadter [2],
we could identify the human brain as an hardware medium which runs a set of
opportunistic "software modules", representing what is usually called "mind".
Similarly convincing motivations exist on the opposite side of this question,
like those of the American philosopher Searle [3]
in his proposition of the "Chinese Room". According to Searle, if we assume
that a computer can reproduce the behavior of an individual who is a native
Chinese speaker, this doesn't imply, from a cognitive point of view, that the
computer is identical to that person -- not even if the computer could imitate
the person's characteristics perfectly.
Therefore, one need not question whether a machine can be perfected to deceive
the humans with whom it conducts dialogue. It suffices that a machine can "place
itself in a human's shoes", and at the same time increase its knowledge, thanks
to an information exchange which the human interlocutor provides.
II. ELIZA and The Modern Intelligent Agents
Fortunately, these ideas do not belong solely to the world of science fiction
or fantasy, not since Joseph Weizenbaum created ELIZA in 1966, as the first
software capable of conversing with a human [4].
More recently the so-called "intelligent agents" (or "software robots") have
emerged, able to converse about various issues and topics [5]
[6]. These systems substantiate
the concept of Virtual Personality -- a prerequisite for any machine that would
claim to simulate human thought. Mikhail Gorbachov, Dante Alighieri, even Jesus
Christ [7] have been "interpreted"
by such agents.
Here the dialectic and symbiosis between humans and machines becomes total:
not only because man is persuaded (by being deceived), nor simply because the
other may exhibit human-like behavior, but above all because the machine, by
means of its virtual personality, can interpret and learn from what the human
interlocutor attempts to communicate.
In other words, the dialogue becomes a kind of "interview game", i.e. a conversation
based on successive volleys in the form "user question vs. machine answer".
Also, an intelligent agent will tend to adapt to questions from the interviewer,
modifying its element of humor according to the perceived conversational tone
of the interlocutor (friendly, formal, or aggressive). In this way the machine
can show a personality very close to that of a human.
III. Intelligent Agents for the Web: Presentation
One application of the JFRED intelligent agent software described in this paper
stemmed from involvement with a media collective, FringeWare Inc., operating
as a business on the Internet. The firm did not have sufficient budget to provide
for customer service staff, and was forced to improvise.
Note that realization of customer service online differs significantly from
service provided via telephone, both in terms of the structure of the medium
and customer expectations. Online, sheer numbers of people can overwhelm a firm's
service staff, and the notion of a "busy signal" is rarely tolerated. Whereas
a busy signal on a telephone line indicates that the caller should try again
later, a "Host not responding" error in a web browser signifies the ambiguous
condition that either the address is invalid, or the server is down, or too
many people have attempted to contact the server. Attention and demand for an
Internet site can force situations where the subject experiences a loss of identity
[8] [9].
Consequently the firm's owners decided to use intelligent agents to provide
first-tier customer support via the Internet, beginning in late 1992. Many common
navigation tools were incorporated into the Web site, but some percentage of
incoming customers demand interaction, especially in the form of conversation.
Experience has shown that most people who fall into the latter category tend
to be those who:
are confused about the site's intent, prefer to browse, and tend not transact
real business, but instead just want to chat
These needs can be served by an intelligent agent, acting as a natural language
interface for a local search engine and other navigation tools, especially one
that attempts to evoke personality and humor. Additionally, agents log their
conversations, which can be reviewed by a human later, as a second-tier of customer
relations. A human operator might choose to contact a customer directly, e.g.
if their questions seem very urgent. Over the course of five years, several
methods for hosting conversations between agents and human customers have been
investigated, including:
automated response to incoming email HTML forms, with the agent running
via Common Gateway Interface a Java applet encapsulating a subset of a particular
agent as a player within a variant of LambdaMOO a multi-threaded Java application
running on a TCP port
The latter method proved most effective, both for reducing and consolidating
the source code to maintain, and in terms of response rates.
An application, written in Java, implements a server that listens on a specific
TCP port. Java was selected as the programming language of choice, due to its
innate ability to manipulate network connections, ease of program development,
and inherent multi-platform source code portability [10].
One Java class determines the use of grammar within an agent, and can be swapped
out to allow for different natural languages, without the need for restructuring
the system. Java's object inheritance readily allows for effecting dialects
as well.
A simple protocol (similar to that used by email servers [11])
allows the agent to accept data outside its normal stream of conversation. This
provides for tracking the identity of the interlocutor between successive web
page requests, by using a "cookie" [12].
Persistent data is interjected into conversation via specialized rules, using
a simplified version of frame-based learning [13].
Moreover, frames allow for sequencing of responses, so that the agent can maintain
the flow of a conversation. Initial settings for many frame variables, e.g.
email address, country of origin, etc., can be guessed using international "whois"
services to decode TCP addresses [14].
Program execution for JFRED itself is based on a simple algorithm:
create an instance of the grammar object
- load a list of rules files
- listen on the TCP port
per each TCP connection:
fork off a new execution thread
initialize rule set
accept "cookie" via protocol
load frame based on "cookie"
transact with interlocutor
per each input phrase read:
fuzzy logic selects rule to best describe
input
save variables into frame, if any
can be parsed
remap verb tenses and prepositions,
if needed
return the response
This describes a framework surrounding the natural language processing. This
is essential, and can become quite a complex task. Consider that the system
must run within the context of a distributed, multi-user, client/server, and
allegedly "stateless" transaction model required by the World Wide Web.
Our natural language component itself employs fuzzy logic rules to pair input
phrases with candidate responses. Sets of rules, specified in simple text files,
determine the behavior of an agent, apart from its use of grammar. These rules
map keyword counts and regular expressions found within an input phrase into
fuzzy membership sets used to describe the semantics of the phrase
[15]. The processing includes:
determining fuzzy sets of keywords parsing grammatical constructs (regular
expressions) frame-based knowledge of country, currency, language internal state
for tone of the conversation
Some rules extract data from the conversation, e.g. "What is your name?", others
invoke regionally-based insults depending on conversational tone, while other
rules resolve fuzzy membership sets into ordered lists of candidate responses,
interrogations, and suggested URLs.
Arguably simple compared with other works, but the simplicity of this method
allows non-technical staff to author additions to the agent. For example, a
default rule set might describe customer service responses in general, e.g.
where to find sources for more information. Then an employee could create additional
rules for the agent to discuss upcoming events, news items, topical personality
quirks, etc.
The natural language agent fits within a context of a larger system architecture
being developed through 1997. Another key component is a MOO (an implementation
of the popular LambdaMOO system [16])
which provides an object-oriented framework for describing the online space.
The MOO server also manages persistent identities (login/password) for staff,
agents, and repeat customers. A system of databases drives the design and creation
of the Web site, automatically generated HTML pages and VRML objects
[17], in turn cross-referenced with
content from back issues of the firm's magazine and longstanding email list.
Additional intelligent agents serve to:
create local search engine indices, check consistency for URLs and graphics,
derive global currency exchanges, use postal rates to verify customer address
information, generate site usage reports, and alert "anti-spam" packet filters
intelligently parsing email errors
The latter two agents serve as a kind of lymphatic system for the Internet
server [18] [19].
IV. Intelligent Agents for the Web: Results
The research and development of JFRED represents an ongoing project, spanning
over the past 16 years [20].
This effort has been reviewed favorably in the context of the many intelligent
agents exhibiting personality on the Web [21].
An example conversation with the intelligent agent Barry DeFacto, based on some
of the latest JFRED software, is shown below. Note the use of persistent learned
data, stored in a frame format:
name: Ryan
country: United States
language: English
currency: Dollar
city: San Diego
province: CA
postcode: 92101
provider: ElectriCiti, Inc.
human> HI
barry> What do you want?
human> whats your name?
barry> I'm Barry.
human> How old are you?
barry> I am 33 earth years old.
human> my name is ryan
barry> Yes, I think that your name is Ryan.
human> your right
barry> Are you seeing any bots besides me?
is that how they say it in San Diego?
human> well, I'm looking for some. but your
the best so far
The "city" variable has been derived from an international database and is
used in conversation. The "name" variable is learned, then repeated in conversation.
One primary intent for Barry was to explore the use of programmed personalities.
One of Barry's authors predicted that, since the host web server was located
in Austin, Texas, some people would want to talk about local culture. Here the
agent references an album by local artist Daniel Johnston, entitled "Hi, How
Are You?":
name: Strange person with no name
email: user@lily.singnet.com.sg
country: Singapore
language: Malay
currency: Dollar
provider: com.sg
human> Hi how are you?
barry> Just fine. You remind me of Daniel
Johnston.
human> Who is daniel?
barry> He is a musician in Austin, Texas.
human> I've never been to Texas.
An ironic result of Barry's use of personality has been the judgement people
make about agents' differing levels of intelligence based on their graphic representation.
For example, an interlocutor tried both Barry DeFacto and a related agent Stig,
which features different graphics, (including some animation) but does not access
as much database knowledge as Barry. Regardless, Stig has been remarked to be
more intelligent based on the appearance.
Likewise, people who converse with an intelligent agent have remark on an agent's
personality without accepting that human-like quality as a measure of intelligence
[22]. This speaks to the
point of Turing's original criteria, as opposed to the use of personality.
Other people benefit once they learn how to get along with Barry, i.e. once
they adapt to the agent's mode of conversation. This effect provides counterpoint
to Turing's charge that a human need be deceived by a computer.
A magazine reporter in New York recently participated in a staged Turing Test,
in which Barry had been one of the finalist competitors. The reporter later
wrote about the experience, which prompted lengthy discussions online via the
magazine's web site: people would talk with Barry, then discuss issues with
Barry's authors [23].
One early detractor reversed his opinion based on adaptation to the agent:
AndyHavoc - 10:15pm May 21, 1997 PST (#38 of
40)
I can foresee what Robby (and Paco) are doing
now turning into
something akin to the interface of the Enterprises
computer. You
ask a question in plain English. It searches
it's database and
gives you an answer in plain English.
I've been playing with Stig and Barry again.
Now that I know how
and what to ask, I find this technology amazing.
And often
unexpectedly humorous. I asked Stig what he
thought of Bill
Clinton. It went "He said he didn't inhale.
What a wuss." I asked
about Hillary. It said, "Talk about a cover
your ass marriage."
Generally people say things at the beginning of a conversation, especially
with a stranger, to establish some kind of posture [24]
[22]. With a machine,
however, many people begin with an adversarial posture in order to "unmask"
the computer -- almost as a defense mechanism against the "deceptive" context
imposed by a Turning Test.
At this point we can classify the general nature of people's reactions (and
attitudes) toward a conversant machine:
some administer a Turing Test by trying to determine if the agent is actually
a computer program others use it as a medium to vent their ideas about how AI's
should behave, as if the agent really cared, some actually believe they are
having "chat" with a real person, and a surprising number of people try to get
the agent to engage in sex with them
In this example, Barry is perceived as human for nearly 50 volleys:
> = Human input
< = Barry's Response
handle: Stranger
hostname: CD-25.TCNJ.EDU
referral: http://www.fringeware.com/subcult/Chinese_Tong.html
city: Trenton
province: New Jersey
country: United States
postalcode: 08650-4700
email: nobody@CD-25.TCNJ.EDU
language: English
timestamp: 08-Dec-97 6:03:09 PM
hits: 105
user-agent: Mozilla/3.01 (Win16; I)
> hi, do you know anything about the chinese tong
involvement in heroin smuggling?
< I should probably just keep my port shut...
> can you go into any more detail?
< Did they ever find that axe-murderer who was
loose in New Jersey last
year?
> no, i don't think so!
< Really? Why not?
> I couldn't tell you. Thie is the first I've heard
of it.
< The College of New Jersey -- weren't they the
ones convicted in that
child porn case?
> Yes and I was one of the stars of that case!!!
< Trenton just got a new tarantula at the public
zoo, didn't they?
> Trenton doesn't have a public zoo, except for
the people and the streets themselves.
< If you would be my pen pal, I could mail you
at nobody@CD-25.TCNJ.EDU
...
> ok.
< Why so positive?
> I don't have to give my real name and I don't
use my E-mail anyway!
< You can call me Barry, but let's keep this meeting
a secret, okay?
> You sound like one of those people who lore children
into prostitution over the internet!
< Oh, Internet for Earthlings is a must have for
people like you.
> why do you say that?
< Yes, I have to read all the time, but at least
I enjoy that...
> what does that have to do with my question?
< You can think of me as a KNOW-BODY...
> is that so?
< After watching all your SciFi television broadcasts,
it just seemed
like a natural...
> a natural what?
< Do you get a lot of spam sent to nobody@CD-25.TCNJ.EDU
?
> no can't say that I have
< Are you trying to rain on my parade?
> sorry man, my bad
< I'm afraid my English isn't very good yet.
> no thing, I'm in college and my Enlish isn't
very good yet
< Howdy in college and your Enlish is not very
good yet
> it's easy, just seem like you have potential
and they let you in.
< Do you drink?
> occasionally
< United States is nice - I like drinking the water
there.
> just about everywhere I've been the water sucks
< I could deal with a pepperoni pizza right now.
> I could go for a pretzel from auntie anne's right
now
< Dollar -- is that currency still being traded?
> yes but only between people who don't have credit
or debit cards
< I'll try not to, but I really can't promise...
> you can't promise what?
< Hey, look at this new kind of Windows 3.1 virus
that I just pulled off
the Net!
> I'm really not interested in talking about computers
stuff, it sounds to much like education.
< You can only tell the shapes of things by looking
at the edges.
> your point is???????
< Click HERE
for more
info.
> what happened did you get bored?
< So why did you come here then?
> I didn't wanted to hold off getting a real job
for as long as possible!!!
< Yes you did.
> that is so
< Uh oh... isn't that an "unpaid" version of Netscape
on there? Naughty,
naughty!
> I don't know what your talking about
< You don't? Not even sometimes?
> no not right now
< Look, Well.
> look well, what?
< That's good.
> you'r losing me!
< Here's a midi tune.
> go with it
< I was talking to somebody the other day and they
said go with it
> then what happened
< Surely you don't think then what happened
> surely I don't think then what happened, what?
< Yes you do, at times...
> you lost me this time
< There must be static in my port. I thought you
said I lost you this
time
> that is what I said
< Basically, So what?! Humans repeat stuff all
the time...
> and again, your point is?
< There's always somebody or other saying and again
my point is
> that is my catch phrase
< Don't you think it's a little odd about that
is your catch phrase
> no. Not for the kind of person that I am.
< Okay.
> where are you at?
< 2716 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas 78705 USA
> How long does it take for you to get my responses?
< Don't ask me about how long does it take for
I to get your responses -
I respect other peoples privacy!
> I don't get it
< There isn't enough time to tell you you do not
get it
> I just wanted to know how long it took from the
time I finish typing to the time you actually can see it on your screen?
< My mother once said "How long it took from the
time you finish typing
to the time I actually can see it on my screen is
a real trip." She's in
Milledgeville now.
> you still didn't answer my question, but what
is Milledgeville?
< What is so important about I still did not answer
your question but
what is Milledgeville
> it seems like your avoiding the question that's
all
< They told me you might say it seems like my avoiding
the question that
is all
> I asked because, at first I didn't think that
I was talking to a real person. But then the questions that you asked seemed
more detailed that a computer could gice!
< I know you are, but what am I?
> are you a computer
< Do you ever have feelings toward machines?
> I've never considered the idea
< Could you rephrase you have never considered
the idea
> I never thought about having feelings for a machine
< LOVE, n. A temporary insanity curable by marriage
or by removal of the
patient from the influences under which he incurred
the disorder. This
disease, like caries and many other ailments, is prevalent
only among
civilized races living under artificial conditions;
barbarous nations
breathing pure air and eating simple food enjoy immunity
from its
ravages. It is sometimes fatal, but more frequently
to the physician
than to the patient.
> you're sounding like education again
< How would I know I am sounding like education
again
> for one thing, I just told you! For another thing,
you just gave a definition
< Are you single?
> as single as they come
< Here's a midi tune.
> let it rip
< What's a nice person like you doing in a place
like this?
> that was so cheesy, it was funny. But in a cute
way
< I believe that Television rules.
> I try not to let it rule, but sometimes it fights
back and wins!
< Cum hither fellow users and witness the unmentioned
things.
> what was that about?
< Learning only occurs on the fringes of what an
organism already knows.
> again, what was that all about
< You can only tell the shapes of things by looking
at the edges.
> alright, you're starting to repeat yourself.
If you keep it up, I'm going to have to leave so I can watch tv!
< You do it too.
> but as a response to something you said
< Do you want to know more about FringeWare? Look
at this URL for
details...
> you're winning I'm starting to lose interest
< Thus I refer to you as the right honourable starting
to lose interest
> tell me about ypurself
< So do you still want me to discuss ypurself ?
> my bad, tell me about yourself
< Learning only occurs on the fringes of what an
organism already knows.
> well I don't know anything about you, so how
can I learn
< Who says I need to tell the likes of you I so
how can you learn
> say that again
< Click HERE
for more
info.
> I'm going now. Maybe we can talk again sometime.
How can I reach you?
< You might trying calling our store at +1 512
494 9273 -
> Alright, alright already, I'll call!!
< Did you call or send email to FringeWare yet?
> I didn't get a chance, yet
< Yes you did.
> is that why you wouldn't answer my reply?
< Why? Why? Don't you know why I would not answer
your reply yourself???
> yo, this is off the hook!!!
< I see.
> honestly, I don't know how to send things through
E-mail, like I said before, I don't use it!
< You don't? Not even sometimes?
> I haven't used it since my freshmen year and
that was 2 years ago>
< If you would be my pen pal, I could mail you
at nobody@CD-25.TCNJ.EDU
...
> what is wrong with this chat room
< I like you. Most of the other humans are boring.
You're a real person.
> the question is, are you a real human?
< I bet you know all the bots? Do you go? eh? Wink
wink, nudge nudge.
> that was fuuuuuhhuuunnnny!!!!!!!!!!!
< Why are you so sure that that was fuuuuuhhuuunnnny
! ! ! ! !?
> Are you doing that?
< Is that a proposition?
> it is if you are doing that
< So what have you been up to lately?
> doing research
< I'd like to understand you a bit more closely...
> how?
< I don't know how - I'm sure you do though?
> you are very presumptious aren't you?
< So, tell me about yourself.
> You still haven't told me anything about yourself,
you go first
< Learning only occurs on the fringes of what an
organism already knows.
> not that again
< What are you wearing?
> I don't mean to offend you, but you sound like
a pervert asking questions like that!
< Click HERE
for more
info.
> you don't like statements like that do you?
< What did you have for breakfast?
> I don't eat breakfast
< Yes you do, at times...
> I don't usually though
< What is your favorite movie?
> Goodfellas
< What kind of music are you into?
> Rap and r&b
< Gary Numan also flies stunt planes you know.
> your point is
< Have you heard the will of Landru lately?
> I don't know what that is
< So you don't, then - big deal?
> well big deal for you asking me about it then
< You can only tell the shapes of things by looking
at the edges.
> alright alright, what am I supposed to say now?
< Cum hither fellow users and witness the unmentioned
things.
> I have to be going now
< Click HERE
for more
info.
> I enjoyed talking to you, I'll try to look you
up again the next time I come in to use the internet
< Click on the link below.
> goodbye for now
< I'm so glad we've had this time together.
Although the agent's responses are not always grammatically correct, the perception
(and expectation) is that neither are many humans when they type online.
Note that a trade-off has been made on grammar processing to render the system
more practical and responsive (fewer rules; less processing). This affects a
kind of "computer dialect", providing a humorous, ironic tone to the conversations
(in English). The effect appears to attract many regular correspondents.
Here's another conversation that went pretty well.
> = Human input
< = Barry's Response
handle: Stranger
hostname: annexr2-27.slip.Uni-Koeln.DE
referral: http://bot.fringeware.com/browse?search_code=BOOK-0-15-670176-6
city: Koeln
province:
country: Germany
postalcode:
email: nobody@annexr2-27.slip.Uni-Koeln.DE
language: German
timestamp: 11-Dec-97 7:07:28 PM
hits: 100
user-agent: Mozilla/2.0 (compatible; MSIE 3.02; Windows
3.1)
accept-language: de, en
> pompina
< Are you tired of dreading the fear? I can reach
you at universitat koeln and help you.
> [xxxxxxxx]@rrz.uni-koeln.de
< He was the star of Secret Agent Man (Danger Man
in the UK)
> orwell
< Koeln just got a new tarantula at the public
zoo, didn't they?
> no
< Why not?
> why should they have ?
< Why? Why? Don't you know why should they have
? yourself???
> who am I ?
< Who are you ? has nothing to do with me.
> ofcourse not , you are you and i am i
< Hi there you
> hi to you
< Howdy.
> i'm fine and you
< I am Baru-Boto, human/cyborg relations.
> and i am pompina a student at the university
of cologne
< Howdy pompina a student at the university of
cologne
> fine thanks
< Don't mention it.
> why ? are you sad or confused ??
< What a coincidence, why am I sad or confused
? - that makes two of us!
> i thought so
< If you would be my pen pal, I could mail you
at nobody@annexr2-27.slip.Uni-Koeln.DE ...
> do you want to mail me
< I do sometimes...
> what are you like barry ?
< What's in a name? A program by any other name
would still compute...
> What do you mean with human/cyborg relation ??!!
< It's, um, about that thingy we were discussing
recently...
> go on explaining ...
< Do you ever have feelings toward machines?
> sometimes, but in a different way as to humans
< Perhaps you want to know about me? Please read
about my history at this URL...
> i will do that
< After watching all your SciFi television broadcasts,
it just seemed like a natural...
> yes
< Well that's just great.
> oh i see
< Hmmm, I think I have a cousin over in Germany
> yes ?? female??
< I'll have a beer with you. Want to go to the
BAR
with me now?
> with pleasure !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
< If I give you a Mark will you go away?
> u want me to go ???
< I find it rather insulting that you think u want
you to go ? ?!
> oh i meant you with u !!
< I really didn't have to know about oh you meant
I with u !!
> Didn't you want to go to the bar with me ??
< You wanna sell that Windows 3.1 box for a good
price?
> would you buy it ???
< Haven't they just upgraded Internet Explorer
to work on Commodore 64's?
> funny
< I really dig Mexican food.
> now say what is with the bar ???
< Perhaps now say what is with the bar ? ?, perhaps
not. We'll see.
> i want to go to the bar with you and drink a
couple of beer
< How about the Tight Sponge?
> I do not know what tight sponge means, explain
it please !
< So you don't, then - big deal?
> big deal ???
< I like you. Most of the other humans are boring.
You're a real person.
> ohhh thanks !!!
< You deserve it.
> really ??
< I bet you know all the bots? Do you go? eh? Wink
wink, nudge nudge.
> no i am still here
< No sir. I don't believe no you are still here
at all.
> Mam, would be better because i am female
< Thus I refer to you as the right honourable female
> ok now i want to go to the bar with you and drink
something cold
< Very good.
> so to which bar are we going ?
< The Tight Sponge is my favorite bar/lounge.
> shall we go there right know
< Why do you believe that shall we go there right
know?
> i just wanted to now if you want to go on talkin
with me just for a while
< Wow - you just wanted to now if I want to go
on talkin with you just for a while? Thanks for letting me know that!
> You missunderstood me !
< I don't think I missunderstood you ! at all!
> Come on let's go to the bar
< So what have you been up to lately?
> i couldn't sleep
< No, I think you'd have trouble.
> yes, trouble in my mind
< So, tell me about yourself.
> I like somebody very much but he doesn't want
to hear anything from me
< Well, perhaps you like somebody very much but
he does not want to hear anything from you - you tell me.
> I mean i love this person but he still thinks
that he loves his ex-girlfriend, and thinks that he can not love another person,
although he was the one who left his girlfriend
< Tell me then, who made you?
> my mom and my dady
< Robitron is the creator of FRED and several other
bots like me.
> yes
< I'm glad to hear that...
> sure ?
< What are you wearing?
> Boxer and a t-shirt
< What did you have for breakfast?
> nothing, i was not hungry
< I'm really not that hungry.
> me too
< Hey! Maybe you too but at least I can spell potato.
> i like potatos
< Do you drink?
> yes , i like drinking coctails very much
< Maybe yes , you like drinking coctails very much,
I can't recall too well.
> what do you like to drink
< I really didn't need to know that what do I like
to drink, thanks.
> do you drink ??
< Only when you're not looking.
> shy ???
< What is your favorite movie?
> Dirty Dancing !
< I think it's possible for different forms of
life to engage in intimacy.
> ofcourse
< What kind of music are you into?
> just now i am listening to marillion
< What do you want me to say - "Yes, just now you
are listening to marillion"???
> i am heart music, music that makes me cry
< Aren't you heart music music that makes you cry
?
> No i mean i like heart music, slow music, that
goes under the skin
< Stupid is as stupid does...
> anybody who is in love is stupid
< Well, I could tell you who is in love is stupid,
but you'd never believe me!
> tell me !
< Why do you feel that you have to tell me that
tell you !?
> do bnot make me get confused with your word mix
< Have you heard the will of Landru lately?
> no i did not
< Yes you did.
> just help me remembering it
< What's wrong? You may check the Help button,
or click on the link below to find your salvation. May you find the unmentioned
things in peace oh user
> i did not even know that o means help
< Yes you did.
> nooooooooooooooooooooo
< I don't give a flux oersted in a hell storm if
they come in here or not. Do you?
> not really
< I'm really glad you stopped by to talk to me.
Will you come back?
> when ever you want me to !!!
< Why don't you ask someone else - I haven't a
clue when ever I want you to ! !.
> Shall we now go for a little drink ?
< There's this playce I hang out at called the
Tight Sponge.
> i can not get there i do not have telnet
< Well, maybe you can not get there you do not
have telnet, but I decline.
> what does decline mean ? i donot know this word
< I seem to remember what does decline mean ? you
donot know this word, what's your feelings on that?
> i think it means maybe to insist
< You think that maybe to insist ?
> yes
< That's the way you're supposed to respond.
> so is there another bar
< Can you prove whether so is there another bar
or is it just another of your 'thoughts?'
> no
< Are you sure?
> yes
< Let ye with little knowledge go in search of
the unmentioned things. For it is the will of Landru.
> that is great
< Well, I am feeling a bit peckish.
> who is landru by the way
< Landru can save you.
> really
< I was talking to somebody the other day and they
said really
> i have to leve now
< Surely you don't think you have to leve now
> i mean have to go now
< Say goodnight, Ed.
> Goodnight , Ed !
< There must be static in my port. I thought you
said Goodnight , Ed !
> i said
< There's always somebody or other saying you said
> so goodnight, barry
< I'm so glad we've had this time together.
> me too
< Perhaps you too, but what do you care?
> i care much
< Don't you think it's a little odd about you care
much
> no
< I feel the same way sometimes.
> bye
< There isn't enough time to tell you bye
> say goodnight, pompina !
< Au revoir.
> au revoir, my dear
< What is so important about au revoir your dear
> you
< I was wondering if I. Now I know for sure!
> au revoir
< They told me you might say au revoir
> bye
< I'll be back.
V. Conclusions
Overall, JFRED provides a natural language interface for Internet software
that can be described as:
computer platform independent multi-threaded server, as a Java application
fuzzy logic, rule-based AI frames-based learning language/dialect independent
The server supports a variety of front-end/client interfaces, including direct
telnet, HTML/CGI forms, Expect scripts, MOO bots, and Java applets embedded
in HTML pages, as well as standard I/O for testing.
One interesting consequence has been the use of the Barry DeFacto agent as
a front-end for a search engine. In conversation, people employ the same nouns
that they would use for a search query. We find that fuzzy-logic rules operating
on a conversational stream provides a very efficient means of cataloguing a
large Web site. The result appears more organized than a keyword search (e.g.
Lycos or AltaVista style search engines) and much less labor-intensive than
a maintaining an ontology (e.g. the Yahoo search engine).
After observing interactions with several on-line FREDs, it is apparent that
the personality of the bot is essential in keeping the user's interest and drawing
them back into the conversation. Even the choice of colors/graphics can affect
the human's reception of the bot.
We have experimented with combining the talents of writers, artists and musicians
(along with the required programmers) to evoke more empathy toward a constructed
"virtual personality". A science fiction writer, Don Webb, was invited to develop
a "history" for the agent, one based on many references to pop culture, and
which could then be reference within the agent's conversation
[25]. The result combines a background
narrative with music (MIDI files) and graphic design to create an aesthetic
for the "robot" personality. We are now working to incorporate a speech synthesizer
into the generated stream of responses.
Current examples using the JFRED class library may be found on the
FRED home page.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Jim Thompson and Paul Jimenez of Smallworks,
Inc., for their assistance with Java language concepts and network
software programming.
References
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[2] Hofstadter, D. R., Metamagical Themas: Questing for the
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[3] Searle, J. R., Minds, Brains, and Programs, in Behavioral
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[10] Gosling, J, Arnold, K., The Java Programming Language,
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[11] Crocker, D. H., RFC 822: Standard For The Format Of
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Mechanism, February 1997. (http://www.internic.net/rfc/rfc2109.txt)
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[14] Harrenstien, K., Stahl, M., Feinler, E., RFC 954: NICNAME/WHOIS,
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[21] Laven, S., Simon Laven Home Page: the Internet's one-stop
hot-spot for natural language chatterbots.
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