No worries, my friend. That’s why I get paid the “big bucks”!

According to the world’s most trusted Oxford Dictionary

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/chatterbot/

Chatterbot is a computer program designed to interact
with people by simulating conversation.

Origin:  1990s: blend of chatter and robot

So instead of chatbot or chatterbot, which are still relatively
new terms from the late 20th century…

Isn’t “Chatter robot” more appropriate to use than “Chatbot” ?
In other words isn’t it more correct to say, “Chatter robot” ?

Not as far as I’m concerned, no. The term “robot”, according to the same Oxford Dictionary:

a machine capable of carrying out a complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer.

To my way of thinking, a chatterbot is a small, specific program that resides on a computer; not the computer itself. And what Oxford fails to mention is that the commonly accepted consensus is that a robot is a mechanical device, capable of some form of controlled movement, and not an electronic device, which is incapable of movement on it’s own. I’ll even go one step further, and assert that the term “chatterbot”, under that same set of definitions, is inaccurate, as well. A chat agent, virtual conversational assistant, or any of a dozen other descriptive terms that don’t use “bot” or “robot” are far more correct.

Of course, this is just my opinion, and as such is easily ignored.

However, “Chatter” is an old term from signals intelligence, which is what Alan Turing worked on for the UK Government Communications Headquarters. Not to mention, Alan Turing also provided a robot design method in 1950.  So “Chatter”, “robot” are terms that have been around decades before “chatbot” or “chatterbot”.  So is it not it more genuine to say it the original way, “ChatterRobot”?

I prefer Chatter Robot

in Python

http://www.ChatterRobot.com

Just For Fun  3D Animated ➪ 8pla.net TV commercial ➪ Take 1

This is a draft animation of about five megabytes using PHP and Flash.

Once this 100% computerized 3D chatbot finishes loading, it will begin speaking.

Just For Fun. Animation in PHP!

I’m designing an animated robotic face in pure PHP.

http://www.8pla.net/php.flash.take1/

The lip-sync is running a loop under control of PHP.

Feel like dragging an eyeball around with your mouse?

http://www.8pla.net/php.flash.take1/eyeball.php

Animation in PHP is definitely a lot of fun,

even if it is classified as experimental.

_________________________________________
NOTE: I wrote these today.  Please help.
They have only been tested in Firefox on Linux.
Please let me know if they work in Windows IE.

A couple of things:

1.) In both FF5 and IE8 in Windows XP, the bot’s face constantly move, and using the form opens a new window/tab

2.) The eyeball thing is interesting, but the same thing can be done in jQuery with about 6 lines of code or less. Maybe 18 altogether, if you include the HTML markup.

http://www.geekcavecreations.com/Misc/draggingEye.html

Actually, I’m not putting you down, 8pla. Heck, I haven’t the foggiest notions about writing Flash… Either in PHP or by hand. I just made the page for fun.

1 - Not sure where the lip sync part fits in here. It’s just an animation with two frames swapping constantly.
2 - Not really sure what you are showing us here. It’s just a draggable circle.

Unless it’s me, I don’t see what this has to do with chatbots (especially the 2nd link)?

Dave Morton - Jul 3, 2011:

The eyeball thing is interesting, but the same thing can be done in jQuery with about 6 lines of code or less. Maybe 18 altogether, if you include the HTML markup.

I managed it in 1 line, 5 if you include the markup
http://www.square-bear.co.uk/temp/eye.html

That’s it! I absolutely HAVE to learn Flash!

Animating things with PHP is interesting but I have to agree with Steve - it’s not lipsync, it’s just a mouth opening and closing.

Here is take 2 ... A new tab won’t open now
when you click the PROCESS button
to start the animation:

http://www.8pla.net/php.flash.take2/

The robot lips are still being programmed, so only a few more
lip movements have been added, which are selected randomly
when you press the PROCESS button. However, the speed
of the lip movement is now fast enough to possibly
sync the lips to speech in pure PHP.

According to the official PHP website, these animation
functions are experimental and undocumented, making
it more difficult and more fun at the same time!

Happy 4th of July !

Nope, still just the same two frames of animation being swapped. What are we supposed to be looking at? Is it supposed to have some kind of audio output?

Steve Worswick - Jul 4, 2011:

What are we supposed to be looking at?

I could tell you, but then I’d have to hypnotize you ...

http://8pla.net/php.flash.take2/hypnosis.php