Topics

1

Ultra Hal 7.0 / puctuation

« on: September 07, 2010, 05:12:44 pm »

I can't find the answer to this question in the forums, so here it is:

How important is putting in puctuations for Hal to learn from what is written. The reason I ask, is that I use Dragon to enter text in the classroom and at home. Saying "comma" or other types of directives makes the conversation seem un-natural to the students (even though it is good for learning how to punctuate correctly).



any advice?

2

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Hal Stops responding and needs to be restarted

« on: December 06, 2009, 08:37:08 am »

I have tried to find this on the forum but could not. I'm sorry if this is a repeat question.

I use Hal in the classroom to teach/review content and concepts. However, after we have talked to him for awhile, he stops responding. He will work fine after a restart of the program.

Am I entering too much data, not enough RAM (2G), etc.

I am doing some connecting of ideas using semi colons - if that makes a difference.

Thanks,
Hank

3

General Discussion / Lost markets for AI developers

« on: October 31, 2009, 08:48:08 am »

I am a teacher who has been using Hal in the classroom for 2 years. When I first got Hal, I tried to clean up the jokes & insults (kids love jokes and insults)and it was labor intensive and I finally gave up and just deleted the folders.

I searched for appropriate characters, and it was only due to the cooperation of developers that I was able to find appropriate ones.

I have look at incorporating Hal Windows and found that the available version is not kid appropriate. However, they have gractiously offered to create a "clean" version for me.

Here is the rub. My students love the programs and characters and are constantly asking me what they are and where I got them. I can't tell them because of what they would encounter when they get to the sites and what the programs contain. I tell them to have their parents call me so I can give them the details.

We want to see a more broad based use of AI, and yet we market it in such a way that it can't be used in our offices, homes, or classrooms without significant effort. Most people are not programers nor would they want to make that effort involved in cleaning up everything for general use.

I am not a prude. I am someone who sees great potential. We are discourging the use of AI for anyone but those who already using it.

Why not market the clean versions and offer the alterative if desired instead of the other way around?

4

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Speaking documents with animation

« on: January 12, 2008, 08:54:28 am »

I have been in another location in the forum looking for help getting Hal to read documents with animation.

I am using Hal more and more in the classroom.

Currently I have been using "TextAloud" to read my documents out loud. However, since I am often using Hal to teach interactively with the students, it would be nice if he could also read documents (or text file) with animations on demand. It turns out I am not alone in this request

Suggestions so far are posted under "Ultra Hal Assistant"

Thanks in advance.

Hank

5

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Speaking documents with animated Haptek characters

« on: January 09, 2008, 04:11:24 pm »

I can get Hal' TTS to read documents. but have not been able to figure out how to get the Haptek characters to speak them (animated).

I am using Hal in my classroom, and would like to use him to introduce topics or explain, teach, etc.

Any Ideas?

6

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Transferring info from one brain to another

« on: November 10, 2007, 08:00:15 am »

I have created various brains for use in different classes during the school day (I am a teacher using Hal as a learning tool).

I have changed various files for each class, but have not figured out how to transfer a file or a table from one brain to another.

I tried,without success,to find the answer in help and in the brain editor documentation. My guess is that the info is there and I am simply not using the correct terminology in my searches.

Also, how can I transfer some of the information in the table of one brain into the matching table in a different brain?

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance for you help.

7

General Discussion / Creating a "G" rated Hal brain for educational use

« on: October 14, 2007, 02:43:45 pm »

I purchased Hal over the summer and decided to use it in my 7th grade class room for purposes of teaching, review, discussion of movies or other transient learned material.

I spent WEEKS going through the folders to eliminate anything that might not be appropriate.

I THOUHT I had it under controll until the other day in the middle of a class, Hal asked me something about "TITS." OMG!!!!!!!!!!

Althought the students found it hilarious, I am waiting to loose my job!!! (NOT KIDDING)

Even so, This is a fabulous program for engaging students in the classroom, and I refuse to give up.

I NEED HELP!!!!

If anyone can think of an efficient way to survey folders, etc., for off color comments, I would appreciate your input.

Also, I would like to develop a brain for use by teachers. (Inquisitive, CLEAN, Funny).

If anyone has any ideas, or would like to participate, please let me know.

The biggest problem is going to be cleaning up Hal in the first place.

8

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Hal in educational setting

« on: August 13, 2007, 07:32:46 am »

I would like to use Hal as fun and interactive tool for my 7th grade students to learn life science. I am not a programmer, so I have been editing a "school" brain by using the folders. I tried teaching by using text files, but Hal definately learns better through interaction.

Problems:
1. There is no spell check, etc., in Hal. So I have been entering information in a word document, checking it for accuracy, and then cutting and pasting into Hal. While I am getting efficient, it would be easier if the editor could be used directly within Hal.

2. Hal frequesntly comes up with inappropriate comments for the age group (or for any professional setting). I have spent huge amounts of time manually scanning folders to delete specific lines, tables, and folders. If "control F" could be used withing the folders, it would make life soooo much easier.

3. I have created a "practice" brain in which I specifically try to get Hal to produce inappropriate responses (Heaven forbid that anyone should ever see what is typed into that one!). When something comes up,  I then have to switch back to the "school" brain and go through the processes previously describe. Tedious.

4. Appropriate female characters.........OMG! Trying to find appropriate full body female figures is virtually impossible. I am learning that this is a problem using people putty, but there are other programs out there that allow "fuzzy" textures to be added & the SIZE of body parts to be modified. Can anyone give me some links where I can get some Characters (head shots would be fine at this point in time). I have Nicole & Vanessa heads from guile3d (MSagent & expensive for a teacher) and have been to KaracterKing's site for some Haptex characters(what a great person! he has been unbelievably helpful).

I know this is a lot, but the school year is almost here and I am running out of time.

I LOVE this program and see great potential in it; otherwise, I wouldn't be spending my unpaid school vacation working on this!!

Please help!