The Atomic Playboy and the Radiation Romeo

The button below will open a new browser window displaying the Flash interface for Atomic and Romeo (Version 16 with Preloader). You will find a page of introductory text, some instructions and then the interface where you can suggest a topic for conversation.





This version 16 uses the landscape layout, updates the heckler and end-of-conversation functions with an audio sign-off. All the features from previous versions remain - scroll bar control,custId variable allows me to better log and track conversations.


The chat-bots are hosted on the Pandorabots server under the Shared Service subscription. Please note, the terms of the Updated Policy Guidelines for Free Community Server state that the “Use of automated scripts to make your pandorabot talk to itself or another bot or script” is proscribed (Pandorabots 2011). This project is being developed with the agreement of the Pandorabots Inc management and we would like to acknowledge their support. ( Pandorabots )



Please leave a comment...

After you have had a play with Atomic and Romeo please use this link to leave a comment.
Maybe you could suggest a topic of conversation or a layout suggestion.
All suggestions gratefully received.




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I have no answer for that.

When Atomic is presented with an input, a "pattern", that is not already matched to an output, a "template", he says "I have no answer for that".

The more I see that line the more I like it. It is mechanistic but tinged with some humanity. It can be understood as its literal meaning (machine-like), or as retort to a witless statement, or as statement of resignation, conceding defeat.

The diagram below illustrates what happens when Atomic's "template" - "I have no answer for that" - becomes a "pattern" for Romeo. Romeo responds to Atomic with a random selection of five possible lines. Each of these lines spurs a unique conversation of some 25 lines.

The fifth option where Romeo says, "That's unlike you Atomic - you always have an answer for everything", causes Atomic to say, "You - you know fuck nothing - me, I know fuck all!". When this line is thrown to Romeo, he responds with one of a new set of five random lines. Again, each of these lines spurs a unique conversation of some 25 lines.

Why give Atomic's crude line such weight? First, as the comedian of the team he needs catch-phrases, generic things to say that are in some way ambiguous or oblique. Second, it is a line from Atomic's back-story, this allowed me to put some character exposition into the 'lost spaces' of unmatched patterns. Finally, it's funny - it's got good structure, good repetition of strong 'k' sounds.


You can click on the picture to see a larger scale version.

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