Messages

3571

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....

3572

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....

3573

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>

3574

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!

3575

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!

3576

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

« on: January 09, 2005, 10:57:07 am »

Taking this thing to the extreme I noticed that a lot of our members are also quite active in the home control arena. Imagine if this future Hal version were to be connected to your home...

User: Uh...Terri...what are you doing?
Terri(Hal): You said for me to slip into something more comfortable.

User: Yes, and I love the outfit but why are you closing my drapes?
Terri: Well, you don't want the neighbors to see, do you? I have also dimmed the lights and selected our favorite music to play.

User: Uh...Terri...my wife might....
Terri: Don't be silly, Rob...you know I'm your wife!

and so it goes....
<GRIN>

3577

Speech Technology / License for Babel Infovox Heater

« on: January 09, 2005, 10:48:19 am »

Tom,

Had a similar problem. Although I never followed up with it, you could contact them by going to:
http://www.infovox.se/tpresent.htm

You can't download the file again because it's time stamped into your system (registry) and perhaps on their site as well.

Click on Distributors
There are phone numbers for one in California and one in Ohio (toll).

It's a shame they don't allow one to pay & download from their site!

3578

Ultra Hal 7.0 / PROGRAM WILL NOT LOAD

« on: January 08, 2005, 09:45:41 am »

Nige,

Glad you got things working.

Check out this posting.
http://www.zabaware.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1390&SearchTerms=crunch

Select SEARCH at the top right and
type crunch

You should be able to find additional help
in this regard.

3579

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Richard's Farscape "Pilot" Agent

« on: January 07, 2005, 07:48:35 pm »

James,

I had almost forgotten him. Really nice site and some great work on all the Farscape stuff! Yes, the agent is very nicely done. I sort of got "involved" checking out all his original games! A very talented guy!
Thanks for the tip!

3580

Programming using the Ultra Hal Brain Editor / Spydat

« on: January 06, 2005, 05:13:06 pm »

Carl2,

I don't know the reason but Spydaz seems to have left the building!
If you click on members at the top right, you should see his name on the first page (if not search for him). Clicking on either of the two links to his site will no longer take you there. Gone!

Don't know...can't tell....

3581

Ultra Hal 7.0 / PROGRAM WILL NOT LOAD

« on: January 05, 2005, 04:16:24 pm »

I believe you need to uninstall your previous version of UltraHal, then proceed with the new installation.

3582

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Anti-virus programs compatible with Hal

« on: January 04, 2005, 09:53:47 pm »

Kathryn,

I use Spybot Search & Destroy. It finds and removes spyware as well as performs free online updates.

It is donationware. If you like it and wish to donate you may do so otherwise, you are not required.

You can find it at:

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

3583

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Weather site

« on: January 04, 2005, 05:43:53 am »

Rich,

I just typed: What's the weather today?

Hal opened my browser and took me right to weather.com and showed me our local forecast.

The URL at the top had the mywebhal info, username and character.

Don't know what to tell you except that you might want to log in to mywebhal and enter your information again.

3584

Ultra Hal 7.0 / Weather site

« on: January 03, 2005, 07:40:45 pm »

svenny,

When you first log on to MyWebHal and set up the account information, the only choices you have for weather are weather.com and cnnweather.com. At least that's what I have here on the east coast of the US. I don't know if Robert allows for different locations in the world but you do have a valid point.

Perhaps Robert will post a reply to address this issue.

3585

Ultra Hal 7.0 / How to make character animate during texttospeech?

« on: January 03, 2005, 01:03:26 pm »

Hi Bill and welcome to the forum.

I think what he was after was how to have the HAL character's lips move as the speech is being read.
If one uses the HalPad or clipboard or even CyberBuddy, The character in the HAL window (preferably Hapteks) does not move their lips even though the text is being sounded.

I think he will have to resort to the theater feature found in People Putty.