Above is all one needs to recast their thesis.
Ok.
So.
I’m out of the webcam business. For a variety of reasons I have given up on that as a thesis topic. Primarily I don’t see the research as having much application. The text and video interface isn’t going to be with us for much longer. Once voice becomes widely available, its going to profoundly change the interaction rituals on camera. That means that my research would have a pretty limited shelf life. While it might say something about this little snapshot in time of webcam interaction, it won’t have a lot of application going forward.
And my family breaths a collective sigh of relief as I’m no longer working on hot sexy webcams.
Instead I’ll be looking into bots: AI programs that are programmed to act human. My interest in bots is an outgrowth of my webcam research. During that time I encountered a number of them while spending time in YahooChat rooms. So right now I’m pulling a new thesis proposal and refocusing my research. Which leads me to that other blog I mentioned a few days ago.
If you’re interested in following my research, I’ll be posting my public fieldnotes on that second blog: headnotes.
In other news, make sure you check out the new Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Internet Trailer. It’s far far better than the one currently running in theatres.
Why do you say your interest in bots is an outgrowth of your webcam research during that time you encountered a number of them while spending time in yahoochat rooms so right now you’re pulling a new thesis proposal and refocusing your research which leads you to that other blog you mentioned a few days ago?
:)
Ahhh MRZ see the next posting in “Headnotes”… Matt
Matt –
check this site out wrt your thesis topic. Not only is there some compelling content, but there’s a pretty decent bot there too.
http://www.kurzweilai.net
timw
Thanks Tim. Actually I had already hit this site quite a bit. But it’s great to hear someone else share the same links as it helps confirm I’m on the right track.
I dig the implementation of flash on that site.
– Matt
Please go on.
Check out headnotes. For my own sanity I’m doing my best to keep the blogs separate as I don’t want the research work getting overly cluttered.
Why do you say for your own sanity you’re doing your best to keep the blogs separate as you dont want the research work getting overly cluttered?
[Hoping Matt will notice now]
In case you don’t notice. I’ve just provided you with some material for your thesis. :) I have been feeding your posts to “Eliza” and posting “her” responses back to you.
You have been “botted”. :)
Crap… I should have caught that. I wasn’t thinking in the right register.
Though it does make me feel a little better as I was kinda concerned that you had suffered a bot to the head or something.
Thanks for giving me more fieldnotes… ratsin’ fratsin’
btw. what did you think of the HHGttG trailer?
– Matt
The studies on “Eliza” should probably be your starting point. It was basically the first (or amongst the first) program that people unwittingly chatted with thinking that it was a person.
As far as HHGttG goes, the trailer shows some promise. There’s always the problem of what to do with Zaphod. Looks like it’s under his neck or something. Not too bad. It definitely saved them some money! :) Like most movies today, I think I have to reserve judgement until I see it as many movies look good/bad in the trailers but end up being horrible/excellent when shown in their full glory.
Eliza’s definitely a jumping off point. And I’ll be interacting with Turing as well.
As far as the second head, I thought it was a really novel concept. And a great fix that prevents us from experinencing another BBC not so special effect (though I still have a place in my heart for that paper mache head).