Conversational Interfaces Redux

In the past, I have talked about conversational interfaces with posts like the “Turing Test and the Loebner Prize Competition.” My interests are not purely theoretical, as I have actively explored integrating natural language deeply into applications in such ways as interpreting all text inside documents and code files and

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Read more » Jan 23, 2012, 6:09AM
AI , Natural Language , Technology

Siri Technology

Considerable press puffery has followed Apple’s announcement of Siri dramatizing the significant nature of the natural language technology. Siri is touted as a $200 million DARPA-funded research in the same league as the Internet and GPS. Siri is much advanced over existing popular voice control technology in its acceptance of

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Read more » Oct 24, 2011, 2:44PM
AI , Natural Language

Siri and the Human Connection—The Eliza Effect

In accordance with combining technology with the liberal arts, I believe that Apple attempted in Siri to establish a more human connection to the iPhone user, first, by allowing it to understand free-form conversation and, second, by giving it a personality whereby the user may feel that she has a

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Read more » Oct 24, 2011, 12:20PM
AI , Natural Language

Siri and the AI Revolution

With natural user interfaces (like touchscreens and microphones) and sensory rich devices (like GPS and cameras) rapidly become mainstream due to the rise of smartphones and tablets alongside growing acceptance of speech recognition, augmented reality and now the conversational UI in the form of Siri, there’s been growing predictions of

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Read more » Oct 14, 2011, 8:57AM
AI , Natural Language

Conversational Interfaces: Siri & Shrdlu

Apple announced Siri as a voice-activated “personal assistant” available exclusively in the iPhone 4S. Siri reminds of a few projects from the past, but it’s the first apparent demonstration of natural language understanding in a consumer product (excluding simplistic natural-language-based games like Zork). First, it’s the realization of the conversational

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Read more » Oct 14, 2011, 2:24AM
AI , Natural Language

Programmer's Myopia -- Natural Language Grammars

I previously wrote about Programmer’s Myopia, an affliction that a developer acquires, when he becomes fascinated and absorbed by a particular programming concept. In the writing profession, authors are warned not to become too attached to their “baby,” which is probably best edited out. I recently talked with another ex-Microsoft

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Read more » Oct 29, 2005, 8:11PM
AI , Natural Language , Technology