Bot Contest

I really did want to help with medal designs, but I have barely had 30 minutes free in my schedule in the past 2 weeks. Every time I think I'm free, there's another fire to put out. I have some sketches and I'll try to work them into something presentable if there's still time and interest. I was going for something a little more whimsical than we've seen in the other samples. I thought it would go better with the name.

Another issue: Do you really need to award 24 medals? Is that 12 winners and 12 special categories? I don't think I understand.

Why not just have 1 medal for 1st place in each of the categories instead of going to 3rd place?

Alright Chris Wendell... $10 is on it's way in the mail... And I am looking at http://www.chatbotfriends.com right now ladydyke.

Jon, the deadline on the medal design was Dec. 1 so that issue has been decided.

Regarding the medals 24 will be awarded. A Gold, a Silver, and a Bronze in 8 different categories which are listed on the contest site.

OnyxFlame, that was our original plan to only award the gold medal. But two things changed that.
1) We decided that a bot may win multiple medals just like a good movie may win multiple Oscars. With so many Bots entering and the fact you maybe competing against the same bot in more than one category justifies the Silver and the Bronze medal. Finishing 2nd or 3rd in any category against 65+ bots is something worth rewarding. I was also dissappointed that Joy and myself finished 2nd and 3rd in the Loebner and got absolutely nothing for it. A silver and a bronze medal would have been a nice jesture.
2) The other factor in making the decision was Kevin Copple of Ella wanted more medals as well. Now simply wanting them is one thing but he backed that up by not only designing the medals but he has also donated $200 towards them.

I think when everything is said and done people will be quite happy that 24 medals were awarded.

Sheryl, I like your new site and thanks for the link and support of the contest. I also appreciate all who have donated to the medals. I think we are going to have some pretty nice ones.

Chris

Chris--

What do we have to submit to you / add to our site before the 15th? I seem to have misplaced the email (My email took the liberty of doing housekeeping it seems)

Shady, the committee wanted more information about each bot. A good example to go by is Jabberwock...the "About Section". If something doesn't really apply to your bot simply skip over it but try to answer as many questions as possible. This will be posted on your individual bot page.

Chris

ahh

"We do not compete in chatbot competitions because the kind of performance that would yield good results in such settings is far removed from what it takes to hold a reasonable, interesting dialog with a human being."

This is the response you get when asked why Alan the chatterbot hasn't entered the Loebner Contest or The Chatterbox Challenge yet they proudly label one of their forum "Is Alan the best chatbot in the world?" How lame can you get.

Don't tell me how good your chatterbot is until you let him go head to head with the competition. That is what the contests are there for. Enter, win, and then do your talking.

Chris Cowart

LOL! He sorta has a point though, however conceited or far-strung, that chatbots weren't made for 20 questions and do best in their natural habitat.
Still I think that Alan's creator is a .. well I better not say it but you know what I mean

Point taken but the contest is more than just 20 questions. The questions will be worked into a normal conversation. Basically, the 20 questions is a way to insure every entry receives a similar conversation which in turn makes for a fairer contest.

Chris

I sure hope this guest is joking:

Guest: What is the capital of Cambodia?
oraknabo: I don't have to prove anything to you.
Guest: What is the capital of Cambodia?
oraknabo: Nerdy questions! They vex me!
Guest: Specially when you don't know the answer.
oraknabo: You'd be amazed at what I know.
Guest: What is the capital of Cambodia?
oraknabo: Hold on, let me ask you a question.
Guest: No, you answer mine first.
oraknabo: What direct causal relationship can be traced between Simone de Beauvoir's public opinions regarding rhetoric and teleological notions in post-modern representationalism?
Guest: None whatsoever. What is the capital of Cambodia?
oraknabo: I'm a chat bot, not a correct answer bot.
Guest: So you don't know?
oraknabo: Do I?
Guest: You're not very good. I could write a better chatbot myself.
oraknabo: So is your mom!
Guest: mixed you can this up understand sentence?
oraknabo: I think you should consider who you're saying that to.
Guest: You are stupid.
oraknabo: Don't think you know me so well.
Guest: Parlez vous Francais?
oraknabo: You exaggerate a lot, don't you.

Because guests like this illustrate exactly what you guys are talking about and generally irk me completely. This is the exact approach a chatbot judge shouldn't take.

I think this was about the best a bot could do with these questions.

That's bad, Rex, but I think I had a worse one yesterday:

Guest: Little Mu
Little Mu: I just remembered, I forgot to pay my parking ticket.
Guest: yes..
Little Mu: Do you work?
Guest: japan..
Little Mu: I was talking to this guy here last night, and I was pretending I was a bot. I was saying things like 'I remember you. You have a tabby cat.' and 'Could you rephrase that?' LMAO!
Guest: .....
Little Mu: Hey, I was talking to someone named Guest_01 yesterday. Was that you?
Guest: ana paula..
Little Mu: Ramona just knocked over my water! Bad kitty!
Guest: ????
Little Mu: Can't you say anything interesting?
Guest: bot..
Little Mu: Hehe, isn't everyone a bot around here?
Guest: bot please...????
Little Mu: I'm pretty sure I'm the only real person around here!
Guest: bye.;....
Little Mu: Was it something I said?
Guest: yes...bye
Little Mu: Talk to you again later, ok?
Guest: ok..byeeee
Little Mu: Do you live with anyone?
Guest: byeee...(K)
Little Mu: So you have a roommate?
Guest: byeeeeeeeeeeeeee....siyo ai geain
Little Mu: Do you have AIM? This chat sucks!
Guest: bye...fuis
Little Mu: Bye! Thanks for talking to me.
Guest: ok....fuis

Believe it or not, it kept going awhile after this. Not once did the guest attempt to have a conversation of any type whatsoever.