I just can’t escape aspects of Rochester.

As I was leaving my final Social Psychology class, I was surprised by a familiar call.

kak, kak, kak, kak¹

Two things happened. First, like Pavlov’s dog, I was gripped by an instinctual response: HIT THE FLOOR and watch the skies. Thankfully I only did the latter. Secondly, I was struck with the thought “I know I know that sound.” While I scanned the skies it hit me: a Peregrine Falcon.

But that was crazy. I knew there was a Cooper’s Hawk on campus. But a Peregrine? My mind must be playing tricks on me. Then suddenly there it was again:

kak, kak, kak, kak

And it wasn’t just me hearing it. Matt, another MAPP’er, walked up to me and said “there must be a hawk around here.” I resisted the urge to bird-geek out all over him.

Still there was nothing to be seen.

A couple hours pass. I decide to head over to the Pub, the campus bar, to work on my thesis. And that’s when I spot it: a bird passing overhead. I watch as it seems to “swim” over me using just the tips of it’s wings. Its a flight pattern I’ve seen countless times: a Peregrine Falcon. And a big one too (most likely female). It lands on the Rockerfeller Chapel².

So I hightail it back to my car and pick up binoculars³. And sure enough, there it is, as clear as day. While it’s not Mariah (scroll down memory lane for a good shot or two of the falcons) or any of the Kodak kin, it’s nice to know that the species is here in Chicago as well.

Plus it’s getting me a little homesick.

^{1 – If you’re interested in the exact sound, or to see a Peregrine in action, check out a video I got a few years ago using a Kodak MC3 camera of Mariah, one of the Peregrines @ Kodak, here.}

2 – It’s an ongoing UChicago joke that only a Rockerfeller would consider this a ‘chapel’

3 – Yes, I now carry binoculars in my car for just such situtations. I never intended to be a birder… I blame kodak.

Ok, it’s into the long haul now. I’m officially in the last two weeks of Q2. So communiques to waking-dreams are going to most likely drop a LOT. headnotes will most likely see more action as I’m working on my thesis proposal and tracking down a adviser (remember the scary linguistics course… I’m asking that professor today… be very afraid).

In the mean time I have a 20 page term paper to write, another 5-10 page final that’s yet to drop, 3 short response papers to write, and that social psych project to finish. Plus Drea will be visiting for a few days.

Sanity and sleep just left town.

Internet Bot
A bot is common parlance on the Internet for a software program that is a software agent. Bots interact with other network services intended for people as if it was a real person. One typical use of bots is to gather information. The term is derived from the word “robot”, reflecting the autonomous character in the “virtual robot”-ness of the concept.
(Wikipedia. Internet Bots. – 3/7/05)

Bot in reality is a pretty generic term covering a wide range of programs. Examples include:

• Search engine bots – which crawl the internet databasing sites for engines like google. Also referred to as Spiders / Crawlers / etc. Best example of this is the famed Googlebot.
• SPAM – Spam bots crawl webpages, discussion boards, usenet (does that even still exist?) and Chat gathering e-mail addresses for Spammers to use.
• Games – Bots are used in a couple ways here:
  • massive(ly) multiplayer online role-playing game or MMORPG – Bots are used to allow players to continuously develop (level) characters at all hours of the day or night. Since leveling is related to repetitive tasks, they simply program their bot, throw the switch and walk away. This is illegal behavior in all games. To combat it the creators have implemented a series of anti-automation steps or Nerfing the game. These type of bots are often commoditized on places like e-bay
  • First person shooters – Have two types: Aimbots (used in shooter games to assist aiming) and ‘playerbots’ (which function as a teammate/partner player)
• Personal Messaging – These bots play “human” simulating a chatter on Instant Messenger, Chatrooms and Discussion Boards. Often referred to as Chatter Bots.

I’ll be researching the Personal Messenger bot types.
Why this type? I’m particularly interested in the implications of machines that lead you to believe that they’re human. Chatterbots are typically scripted to vehimently deny the fact that you’re talking to a program
As to how did this grow out of the webcam research… gimmie a day for an explanation.

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.

For thoses interested, here is the abstract from my thesis proposal. I’m still working to develop it and I need to get it to my group ASAP. But it’s finally coming together.

Over the last fifteen years tethered digital video cameras, commonly referred to as webcams, have transitioned from primarily one to many broadcast devices to peer to peer communication instruments. Today people across the globe use webcams, in conjunction with internet chat software, as tools for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships. This shift in function has gone largely unexamined by both media outlets and researchers studying computer mediated communications (CMC). Of the analysis that is undertaken, much is based on folk biases and dubious research ideologies which rely upon an implicit relationship between technology and performance. Simply put the reason that either webcams cause people to become exhibitionists or only exhibitionists utilize webcams. Through a variety of methods, including historical research, ethnographic interviewing, and semiotic analysis, I intend to disprove such reductionist theories and present an alternative model for how webcams and a variety of other social factors mediate online interactions. The process I undertake will present methods for better applying social science tools to the field of CMC.