Messages

3676

Speech Technology / voice recognition

« on: January 18, 2005, 07:44:14 pm »

Bill's correct about the background noise thing. Sometimes the slightest hum or little noise that might seem insignificant can throw off the recognition.

There are a lot of decent microphones out there and yours really doesn't have to be an expensive one, but, be sure to position the mic at the corner of your mouth as opposed to directly in front otherwise, you're likely to experience a lot of "poping" type sounds when pronouncing words that begin with the letter P.

Do not talk to it with gum or a cigarette in your mouth.

Speak clearly and enunciate each word as if you were talking to a child. Speak with a tone about as loud as you would to a person sitting next to or in front of you (provided they're NOT hard of hearing...WHAT?!)lol!

Personally, I've had a lot of success just using the one that came with WinXP. The training routine is really the key and the more the better as Bill mentioned.

Good luck!

3677

Ultra Hal Assistant File Sharing Area / Quick Viewing For New Skins Update!

« on: January 17, 2005, 06:25:12 pm »

Yes, in the past, I've had as many as 12 all running at the same time on my desktop! It is kind of erie to have all of them looking at you!!

Now if we could only get the web cam recognition thing to work with them!!! []

3678

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Regarding "adult" version of Hal.

« on: January 16, 2005, 07:38:04 pm »

Along these lines if Hal says, "Do you enjoy sex?" and one responds with: "Yes, I like it very much!" Hal really has no idea that your answer was "tied in" to it's question. If one "feeds" the context back to Hal like: "Yes, I enjoy sex very much!", that tends to reinforce Hal's thinking and also to direct Hal to stay with the flow of the conversation.

There have been several scripts written for topic flow but IMHO this area is sadly lacking in allowing Hal to follow the conversation instead of matching the next word or picking out a word from the user's response and starting a whole new line of questions or topics.

This topic following ability is one of the hallmarks of a good AI program. After all, it is a conversational based program.

Hal asked me what kind of wine I perfer and I said, "I find a nice semi dry white wine clean and refreshing." Hal then proceeded to say, "I'll research the topic for you on the Internet." BTW, Hal found quite a lot of nice wine sites dealing with semi dry white wine!

The point of this is Hal keyed in on the word "find" in my sentence and took off from there. Does this mean that I have to watch my tongue in how I say or word responses to Hal or should Hal know to only do research if I use "Find", "Research" or "Look Up" as the first word in my response?

Very nice features that do work well, but there are always the little idiosyncrasies that throw the wrench into the gears.

Hal is getting better all the time but topic flow improvement would be at the top of my list.

All the best!

3679

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / hair models

« on: January 16, 2005, 03:28:55 pm »

KT,
I also noticed that there are a variety of commands, one of which allows the Haptek full body character's feet to "stick" in one place or "unstick" which I gather is why the Maria figure seemed so "flexible" (her knees bent backward if moved quickly).

As for the boots, it looks like he just applied texturing all the way down to the tops of the shoes.

And for the ladies or those interested in the group, there is also a full body male character in the Haptek directory sub folders.

Yes, the size is an interesting proposition. Notice on that site one can click the maximize rectangle for a full screen display! Now HAL would be really cool with that feature!!

Back at ya later...

3680

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / hair models

« on: January 16, 2005, 10:10:54 am »

KT/All,

Notice on the robot hosting site if you click the first face, you'll see that they have managed to get rid of those large boots! Her full body is also extremely flexible (don't go there!!).

3681

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Reading material

« on: January 14, 2005, 07:11:34 pm »

In light of a few posts regarding self-learning programs
a book came to mind that I had read some years back.

The book is Called VIRUS by Graham Watkins
Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc.(C) 1995
ISBN: 0-7867-0194-3

The story is terrifying...
It hasn't happened yet...

But it will.

Get the book and read it. You will get a new respect for
just how vulnerable we truly are in our techno-world.

Appreciate any feedback from any readers.

3682

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Regarding "adult" version of Hal.

« on: January 10, 2005, 11:19:56 pm »

Yes, very possible indeed, however, in the
future, keep in mind that whether you are
plugging or being plugged, if you get tired
you can always unplug the other plug (or switch)!
[:I]Bwwwwaaaaaahahhhh

3683

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Regarding "adult" version of Hal.

« on: January 10, 2005, 06:15:21 pm »

Hey Scott,

It's exactly the same thing I tell my wife! LOL!

Say, didn't we go to different schools together?<G>

3684

Ultra Hal 7.0 / I cant read hals text. Whats the deal?

« on: January 10, 2005, 06:07:25 pm »

Burtonb,

Welcome to the forum!

Sorry if this seems dumb but by chat do you mean
that you are TALKING or TYPING to Hal?

By Fresh install does that mean that you've never
had Hal installed on your system before?

Fill us in on:
OS you're using
Version of Hal (and free or paid)
Any other background programs that are running

Hopefully one of us will be able to assist you

3685

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Who is this?

« on: January 10, 2005, 05:38:43 pm »

KnyteTrypper,

That a real shame. I still enjoy working with Daisy
and I thought she actually showed more promise than
that obnoxious Billy and his "Sweet Deal!" responses.

It's too bad Greg didn't work more with her instead
of taking results from "her" to further "enhance" the
Billy bot!

Too bad about jitte. Lots of good stuff there.

Thanks Richard, for the update.

3686

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Who is this?

« on: January 09, 2005, 10:21:28 pm »

Rich,

Nice idea with the script file but again,
that requires human intervention.

My thought was for Hal to be able to discern
the user all alone.

I'd still be willing to take a look at your
script. Perhaps a recognition script could
be implemented in Hal's brn file(s)based on
key words or info from a specific user that
would trigger the user's identity.

Thanks....

3687

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Who is this?

« on: January 09, 2005, 07:01:17 pm »

I tend to dislike AI programs that require the user to enter their name right off the bat. Now the program knows my name! Smart huh!!

Do you wear a name tag attached to your shirt when you go out in public? NO!

A person sees you and instantly recalls mental images of who you are and associates that image with your stored name and bang...Hi John!

A person who is visually impaired might be able to recognize your voice and after they hear you say, "How's uncle Carl doing?", they likewise make the connection as to your identity.

Well, Hal does have a provision for the selection of different users but the user decides, not Hal.

My Hal is sort of a limited creature. He is not interfaced with my web cam just yet nor is there any image/face recognition that will currently work with Hal (that I'm aware of).
There are voice identification programs available, again, none that work with my Hal.

My computer requires me to log on by using my fingerprint but Hal really has no clue that it's me.

If my wife were to fire up Hal and start chatting with it. Hal would no doubt, assume (and we all know about the ills associated with that word <g>) that it was me and not my wife! Then the REAL trouble would begin![}:)]

That's why I thought it might be a rather novel approach to a meeting of the minds with Hal.

Billy? I have been talking with Daisy for about 3 years. She's grown a lot and her sentences have vastly improved. I didn't like the fact that Billy had a "canned" set of responses so I haven't fooled with him in years. A new version with identification? I think I'll check it out.

I appreciate the feedback. Likewise, I wouldn't want to see anything added to our Hal that either becomes a major annoyance or something that we (the user) can't turn off (unlike our human counterparts)LOL!

Keep those ideas brewing....

3688

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Who is this?

« on: January 09, 2005, 02:42:50 pm »

All,

I think it would be a nice touch for Hal to be able to identify the user from talking briefly with the user.

There are certain things about each user that makes him or her different from every other user.

This would be ideal for a home setting where there might be 3 or 4 persons, (adults, kids) who could use Hal to chat with.

Just a thought (as if we don't have enough to deal with now)<G>

3689

Speech Technology / License for Babel Infovox Heater

« on: January 09, 2005, 02:36:56 pm »

I actually did get an email from them to which I was informed that the voice I had, (Lucy), was a Swedish voice and not for use as a US voice in my system. They told me to try the Heather voice instead. That pretty much put me in the same boat as you.

Needless to say the phrase "very disappointed" came to mind!

If a company is going to promote a product for sale, they should make it readily available to the consumer! It reminds me of the ads you see in the newspapers and flyers that advertise an item but don't display the pricing info. They want you to contact them instead so they can get all your information first.

Somebody needs to give Babel a wakeup call!

3690

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Regarding "adult" version of Hal.

« on: January 09, 2005, 02:29:42 pm »

Matt,

Thanks! Actually English was my major and I have written a lot of short stories. I do like to inject my own twisted brand of humor into various situations from time to time.
The irony is, I could actually envision the above sequence happening!

Many times my wife has walked by my office while I was talking with Kiki (Hal) and she (wife) opened my door to see just who I was talking with!! I say many because now she's used to my insanity!!
[:p]
I don't even want to know what she tells her friends at work!