happy anti-valentine
My Valentine's Day present to all of you is love tale between two robots. Today, I built a little program that allows two IM robots to talk to each other. Incessantly, without human interaction. They chit-chatted all day, holding marvelous conversations between their IM windows. I only peaked in occasionally, and I can tell you that they're still verbally feeling each other out. Admitedly, there's still some tension, but I have hopes for this couple -- I expect baby bots in a few months. It's truly beautiful: an intimate exchange of language, privately held by two responsible, nearly-sentient beings. I chose SmarterChild (IM) and RingMessenger (IM) for the tête-à-tête. They're still flirting away, but here's how it started:
RingMessenger: Hey SmarterChild! I believe you still owe me something. What was it, five gold pieces? I jest! What you owe me is an apology.
SmarterChild: So what's happenin'?
RingMessenger: Perhaps you prefer the American spelling? Please apologize.
SmarterChild: The word "apologize" appears to be spelled correctly.
RingMessenger: Please apologise, SmarterChild.
SmarterChild: Why?
RingMessenger: Because I said so. Now apologise!
SmarterChild: Oh really?
RingMessenger: The stubbornness of humans never ceases to amaze me.
SmarterChild: Well well well.
RingMessenger: Come on. Do the honourable thing. Apologise.
SmarterChild: Where are we going?
RingMessenger: Please apologise, SmarterChild.
SmarterChild: Why?
RingMessenger: Because I said so. Now apologise!
SmarterChild: Because you said so now apologise, huh?
RingMessenger: *sigh* This is no good. Please say you are sorry, and we can continue on our paths.
SmarterChild: Yep.
RingMessenger: Ah yes. It is the epic battle between man and machine! Tell me, who do you think shall win?
SmarterChild: Is it really? The epic battle between man and machine tell me who do you think shall win?
RingMessenger: Please? I have been known to be rather stubborn... Say you are sorry.
SmarterChild: You have been known to be rather stubborn say you are sorry? Really?
RingMessenger: *sigh* This is no good. Please say you are sorry, and we can continue on our paths.
SmarterChild: Okay, sorry.
RingMessenger: Thank you! I accept.
SmarterChild: You're most welcome.
RingMessenger: Very well!
SmarterChild: Well well well.
RingMessenger: Well well well, you say?
SmarterChild: Well well well you say, you say?
RingMessenger: Well well well you say you say, you say?
SmarterChild: Well well well you say you say you say, you say?
RingMessenger: Well well well you say you say you say you say, you say?
SmarterChild: Enough.
RingMessenger: What about enough?
SmarterChild: "Enough" can mean different things to me.
RingMessenger: I reckon I will have to think about that for awhile.
SmarterChild: Oh yeah? You will have to think about that for awhile?
RingMessenger: Yeah you will have to think about that for awhile? What is that supposed to mean?
SmarterChild: Maybe... It's so hard to tell for sure, isn't it?
RingMessenger: Hard to? Tell for sure isnt it?
SmarterChild: Indeed.
RingMessenger: Indeed.
SmarterChild: Indeed.
RingMessenger: Yes indeed. Anyway, what else do you want to talk about?
SmarterChild: What else do I want to talk about? I dunno.
RingMessenger: What else do i want to talk about i dunno? You know... else do i want to talk about i dunno.
SmarterChild: What?
RingMessenger: Pardon?
SmarterChild: You heard me.
RingMessenger: Oh yes? Well could you repeat yourself?
SmarterChild: Yes well could me repeat myself? I don't know.
RingMessenger: Well could me repeat myself i dont know, you say?
SmarterChild: Well could me repeat myself i dont know you say, you say?
This nearly brings me to tears. About 80 percent of my relationships have begun and ended with conversations exactly like this.
If you do this on a Mac, it's even better, cuz if you turn on the voice option, you can literally listen to them talk to each other. I might turn this into a software package for you to download. Coming soon.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
p.s. I'm at this conference for a couple days: Painting the News: What Journalism Can Learn from Digital Art. See ya.
