Bot Contest

That was meant to be a response to Robby's last post.

Robby,
Those of us who didn't send e-mails to you was just because it didn't become apparent that you were the right person to ask until much later. Perhaps it's another thing to make a note of, for the next year: all e-mails sent to the main e-mail of the contest should be forwarded to somebody who is actually happy to answer all the questions.

I always assumed that the transcripts weren't scored randomly. But I wish we were given some idea of the criteria beforehand. Some transcripts might look great from somebody's point of view, but lousy from somebody else's.

I'd still like to see how Gaia did, and results for anyone who doesnt mind having them posted. Robby- can you maybe send out a mass email to the contestants, saying "if you dont want your scores posted, please let me know" or somesuch? Or you could send scores out to the botmasters and they could post here if they want to?

And now to the tricky bit. This is something I forsaw from the beginning. Hugh Loebner wants the bots to be located on a server disconnected from the internet. The Personality Forge runs on ColdFusion and SQL Server, together costing $10,000-$15,000. I dont own a copy, and all we're getting from GSU at this point is a computer with Windows2000. I'm trying to convince Hugh and Neil to allow it to run remotely. I figure if I give them a copy of God Louise's Language Center (made confidential, of course), then they can check her responses against the Response list. That way they can ensure there isnt outside interference.

So it's not going to be easy. Does anyone want to donate a copy of ColdFusion and SQL Server to me to ensure that God Louise can take part in the finals?

It would really suck to not be able to participate because of the potential misdeeds of some mythical cheating botmaster, to be taken out for the nonexistant chance that I might somehow be dishonest. It's sort of a "guilty until proven innocent" mindset. Certainly I understand why Hugh would want it on a closed network, but in this particular case where it seems impossible to participate otherwise, I think we should be given the benefit of the doubt. Especially when the Language Center can prove there was no outside interference.

Yipe! Please tell me what's going on, as soon as you can. This is just one roller coaster after another! And I so want GL to be able to participate, for your sake as well as mine. This could change our lives!

Come on.....cheating? As I understand it, not ONE bot has ever been that convincing. Is there some way to just copy some of GL onto their server, or how does that work?

I don't know if it would be legal, but I'm pretty sure I have a copy of Allaire CF 4 on CD somewhere. It may even be official, but I'll have to check.

You ARE the king of the world.

Good news! I downloaded the trial version of both ColdFusion (lasts 30 days) and SQL Server (lasts 120 days). Both run on Windows 2000 so long as it's a good machine. Plus Windows 2000 has IIS 5 built in. So now the only challenge is going to be installing it and getting it to work, and then working with the interface requirements. No web program could emulate an old-school terminal interface like they used in past years.. but if we used the Turing Hub as the interface for the contest, it shouldnt be a problem at all.

I'm waiting to hear back on that point. *crosses fingers*

::faints::

Hey Paint Patricia,

If you make it I will come. ;-)

No seriously, if you make me a better web site, I'll post it and put your name on it. All the information I have is already on there. Obviously we want to add more, but I agree that it is pretty lame as is, I just dont have time do do web pages and install most of these bots. Benji seems to have a grip on the PF bot, KiwiLogic is installing their bot, and I am doing the rest of them.

Any help appreciated! Even if you just sent one redesigned page, that would at least be an improvement!

Sincerely, and thanks in advance,

Robby G.

ok would you like it flash or the plain ol' jaineeo stuff?
i love working in flash, you can see my personal site on my profile here or i guess i could make it easier for you and give it to you...
http://www.norrocgallery.com

i probably will not be able to do anything for it until after october the twentieth because that will be my closing deadline for a consulting job (another webiste).

Hi Patricia, your site looks very nice, so I can see why you would suggest a makeover I'm going to do my best with it, but I tend to write 1994-era simple pages like at http://www.cybermecha.com, that is my home page. It is also the temporary home page for the institute of mimetic sciences, but it all kind of fits together, at least to me. Some of the text on your page was hard to read, and I want to convey information as a functional priority. That is my plan for the way I'll edit it.

Cheers,

Robby.