Joking Computer: Scientists develop joke generating software to help children's language skills
Last updated 7/22/2010 3:14:46 PM
Joking Computer - Scientists develop joke generating software to help childrens language skills
A computer programme that generates jokes has been created by Scottish scientists to help children develop their language skills.
The software was originally developed by scientists from the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh to provide children with cerebral palsy, or similar impairments, with a device to help them advance their language abilities.
The Joking Computer, as it's better known, has the capacity to build millions of different jokes using a large dictionary of language and simple language rules. It allows them to investigate the different language rules involved in the development of humour. Now it's being developed for people of all ages and abilities.
Dr Judith Masthoff, Head of the University of Aberdeen's Department of Computing Science, said: "The aim of The Joking Computer is to help children and adults alike to explore language in a unique and fun way. All the jokes are question-answer puns, like those you get in Christmas crackers. The software allows you to see how the joke-making process works or you can choose roughly what sort of joke you want, and have the computer build a new one.
"These projects include the development of a device which enables children with limited or no speech to communicate the story of what they did at school that day, and artificial intelligence technology which can provide road maintenance teams with up-to-date and accurate information on which roads need to be gritted and when."
The launch of an online version will allow people from across the globe to try their hand at building their very own gags. Check it out at www.abdn.ac.uk/jokingcomputer/joker