The joking computer : an interactive language playground
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Aberdeen
Department Name: Computing Science
Abstract
A recent research project created a computer program (STANDUP) which young children could interact with in order to create their own novel jokes (riddles with puns in the answer). The aim of this was to provide an engaging environment for children to develop their linguistic knowledge. That software demonstrates the extent to which we can currently build computer models of the humour-making process, and also allows children to explore language (the sounds and meanings of words) in a playful and motivating way. The aim of the current proposal is to use this work as the basis of a public exhibit, suitable for science centres aimed at children (the Glasgow Science Centre is a partner in this). In this way, children will be able to explore language and humour in an engaging fashion, while also finding out about the mechanisms used in building computational models like this. As well as enhancing the software for this purpose, we will also use the program and the ideas involved in the research as the basis for interactive workshops (at science festivals and elsewhere) where children can find out more about the underlying science and engineering. Feedback will be collected at the workshops and in the science centres, allowing both evaluation of the exhibit and collection of data about the public perception of humour.
Publications
Ritchie G
(2009)
Can Computers Create Humor?
in AI Magazine
Ritchie, G.
(2011)
The STANDUP 2 Interactive Riddle Builder
in Second International Conference on Computational Creativity
| Description | This was not a research but a public engagement project. We developed interactive Joking Computer software which was used in three modes: on tablets by children attending language play workshops; on kiosks in science centres; interactively on the project's public engagement website. The software (based on an earlier EPSRC-funded project) constructs simple punning riddles using a large dictionary and a built-in set of rules. The Joking Computer enthuses the general public, and children in particular, for computing science, explains the computational humour research on which it is based, and involves the public in the on-going research (by rating jokes and indicating where they disagree with the Joking Computer's reasoning). |
| Exploitation Route | The teaching materials developed on the project and used in workshops with primary school children could be used by teachers; these resources are available for download from the project's public engagement website. The software is available for download from the web, including the source code, which has an open licence. Hence anyone is free to enhance the program. |
| Sectors | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/departments/computing-science/joking-computer-309.php |
| Description | The Joking Computer was a public engagement project. The project's Joking Computer software was installed in kiosks in Glasgow Science Centre (Dec 2009 - August 2010), Satrosphere Aberdeen (Mar 2010 - present), and in Dundee Science Centre (May 2012 onwards). These exhibits have been used by over ten thousand members of the general public. Workshops with groups of schoolchildren were run at the Word Festival (May 2010), Techfest (Sept 2010), and Satrosphere (Oct 2010). The online Joking Computer has received 200,000 hits, and allows users to contribute data to the research by rating its jokes. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Public exhibit, Dundee Science Centre |
| Organisation | Dundee Science Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The software developed on this project was installed on a public kiosk (funded from this project) and exhibited in public in the Dundee Science Centre from June 2012 onwards. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dundee Science Centre provided a venue for the exhibit. |
| Impact | Wider dissemination of public engagement. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Public exhibit, Glasgow Science Centre |
| Organisation | Glasgow Science Centre |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The software developed on this project was installed on a public kiosk (funded from this project) and exhibited in public in the Glasgow Science Centre from December 2009 to spring 2010. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Glasgow Science Centre provided a venue for the public exhibit. |
| Impact | Coverage in news media. |
| Start Year | 2009 |
| Description | Public exhibit, Satrosphere |
| Organisation | Satrosphere |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The software developed on this project was installed on a public kiosk (funded from this project) and exhibited in public in the Satrosphere (a science centre in Aberdeen) from March 2010 onwards. The project team conducted an educational workshop, organised and hosted by Satrosphere. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Satrosphere provided a venue for the kiosk exhibit, and hosted a public workshop centred round the exhibit. |
| Impact | Wider dissemination of public engagement. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Title | The Joking Computer |
| Description | The software is a Java program which can run on Windows, GNU/Linux or Mac systems. It is a version of the software developed on this project, and used in all the public installations and workshops organised by the project. It offers a simple, user-friendly interface by which users can control the construction of simple punning riddles, and can find out how the program carries out this task. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | About 1000 downloads, up to 2013. |
| URL | http://www.abdn.ac.uk/jokingcomputer/download.shtml |
| Title | The Joking Computer - web version |
| Description | This software is the web-based version of the software developed on this project, and used in all the public installations and workshops organised by the project. Implemented in PHP, it offers a simple, user-friendly interface by which users can control the construction of simple punning riddles, and can find out how the program carries out this task. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2010 |
| Impact | Around 200,000 visits from web users. |
| URL | http://www.abdn.ac.uk/jokingcomputer/joker.shtml |
| Description | BBC Radio 5 Live |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Joking Computer on BBC5 Radio; radio interview. Increased awareness of the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | BBC Radio Scotland 2009 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Joking Computer on BBC Radio Scotland. Increased awareness of the research underpinning this project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | BBC Radio Scotland 2010 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Joking Computer on BBC Radio Scotland (2) , Part of Good Morning Scotland. Increased public awareness of the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | BBC local radio |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Joking Computer on BBC Radio Aberdeen BBC North East News. Public awareness of this line of research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
| Description | Cafe Scientifique |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | About 120 adults were present for a talk followed by pencil-and-paper exercises, and then a question/discussion session. Increased awareness of the research underpinning this project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| URL | http://www.cafescientifique.org/aberdeen.htm |
| Description | Interview, STV |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Joking Computer on STV. Increased awareness of the research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | North Sound 2 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Joking Computer on NorthSound2 Radio. Increased awareness of the research underpinning this project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Robot: the fantasy and the reality (exhibition, Dundee) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Exhibition sparked interest in artificial intelligence. Many children used our joke sheets to produce their own jokes, encouraging algorithmic thinking. After the exhibition finished, Dundee Science Centre asked for the exhibit to remain in the science centre, given the interest it had generated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| URL | http://dundeechannel.com/blog/robot-the-fantasy-and-the-reality/ |
| Description | Science in the City |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Seminar/Workshop. Meet the Joking Computer at Science in the City , Interactive workshop at Satrosphere, in which children were introduced to the Joking Computer, made up their own jokes using the computer's recipees, and used the Joking Computer. About ten children and their parents participated. Audience were given insight into the research underpinning this project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | TechFest |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Meet the Joking Computer at TechFest Science Festival Date: Over a hundred people, adults and children, came to explore the Joking Computer software and make their own jokes on paper. Increase understanding of the ideas involved in the research underpinning this project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Word Festival workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Seminar/Workshop. Meet the Joking Computer at the Word Festival Two interactive workshops were held, in which the Joking Computer was introduced, children made their own jokes using the computer's recipees, and experienced using the Joking Computer. The workshops were attended by 55 children from P5 and six adults, from two Aberdeen primary schools. Material produced for the workshops was made freely available via the project website and Glow. Teachers were introduced to the educational materials, and given access to them for future use. The teachers were very positive about the effects and potential of the workshop and its resources. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |