Developed For: Robots and Us, Traveling Exhibit for Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative (SMEC)

Learning Objective: See how conversation with a computer program can begin to approximate human interaction, but just as easily break down if the assumptions and rules we take for granted (i.e. context, spelling) aren't followed.

LTC Staff Involved: Joshua Seaver in collaboration with developers at Carnegie Mellon University modified an existing 3D chatbot named grace into a single screen system with rules for interaction specifically about the Robots and Us exhibit..

Key Features: Lena takes text input from the keyboard and checks it agains rules (i.e. keyword combinations) and then responds with facial expressions, speech synthesis and on screen text.

R & D Challenges: Setup and test a Linux based research program for evaluation. Foster long-distance working relationship with CMU graduate student to create custom version of their application that fits traveling exhibit requirements. Learn Artificial Intelligence Programming Language (AIML).