Hal and the computer generate an audio output for the computer speakers, and phoneme information to drive the Haptek, DesktopMates, and MS-Agent lip-synchronized character mouth movements.
In the commercial marketplace, numerous low-cost toys have been sold with lip-synchronized sound. These include three generations of Teddy Ruxpin talking teddy bears (millions have been sold), many versions of singing fish such as "Billy Bass," and even some little robot songbirds that can sing "Santa Baby" beak-synchronized to Madonna's voice! The talking/singing characters all use an audio track and a second control-tone track to create the lip-synchronized action.
Somebody needs to invent a "black box" interface (probably hooked to the computer with a USB interface cable, and another wire out the other end that goes into the toy) that will translate the computer-available information into a format that could drive some of these talking toys.
The result would be a "body" for Hal! Once the concept was demonstrated in one toy, it could be adapted to others.
Is anybody out there an electronics hobbyist as well as a software writer and chatterbot enthusiast? If so, you are the one I'm directing this idea to!
I predict that when and if you invent the "interface box," you are going to find an eager chatterbot community of people who want to buy them from you!
I've searched the Internet high and low. There's all sorts of information on audio-animatronics of all kinds, but no consumer interface box to connect the computer audio/phoneme stream to an outside device!
I think that we can all visualize how this would work in concept... what we need is someone with the skill-set to make it a physical reality at the detail level... somebody to produce a hookup box as a reasonably-priced "turn-key" product so that anybody can buy it and use it!
Thanks, best wishes for enjoying Hal, and good inventing!
Sincerely,
Don
