10 December 2009

Joke generating computer brings festive gags to Glasgow Science Centre

Heard the one about the computer that tells jokes?

A collaborative project featuring researchers from the University of Dundee has lead to a new exhibit going on display at the Glasgow Science Centre.

The Joking Computer has the capacity to build millions of different jokes using a large dictionary of language and simple language rules, and will give children from across Scotland the chance to create their very own Christmas cracker gags this festive season.

The software used was initially developed by the universities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh to help children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy build on their language skills.

STANDUP (System To Augment Non-speakers' Dialogue Using Puns) allowed children to play with words and phrases, to develop their language skills, and ran from October 2003 until March 2007.

This technology was further enhanced by computing scientists from the University of Aberdeen in partnership with Glasgow Science Centre, and has resulted in the JokingComputer, which aims to teach young people about what computing technology can achieve.

Dr Annalu Waller, senior lecturer at the University said, 'I am delighted that STANDUP is now on display at the Science Centre. STANDUP is one of several ongoing collaborations between Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh which aims to harness natural language technology to benefit nonspeaking individuals.'

'I hope that the exhibit will inspire a new generation of budding computer scientists to develop systems to help disabled people achieve their potential.'

Dr Judith Masthoff from the University of Aberdeen’s Department of Computing Science said, 'The aim was to provide software which children with cerebral palsy, or similar impairments, could use to explore language.'

'By playing with words and phrases, and teaming up with the computer to make jokes, the disabled children who originally trialed the software would get practice with language, and would also have jokes of their own to tell their friends.'

'The development of this exhibit for the Glasgow Science Centre grew from that original project.'

'Apart from being a fun way to experiment with language, the aim of the Joking Computer is to showcase to the general public - and specifically to young audiences - what computing technology can achieve and how it can be used to have a hugely positive impact on our lives.'

'We hope the exhibit will also encourage young people to engage with the topic of computing with a view to considering potential academic or occupational careers in the subject in the future.'

Kirk Ramsay, Chief Executive of Glasgow Science Centre said: 'Science and technology infiltrate all aspects of our daily lives and the Joking Computer is a perfect example of this. It typifies the sophistication of the science and technology nowadays, and shows how computing power is used in many kinds of activities.'

'The premise behind the exhibit echoes the Centre’s mission, topromote science and technology through thought-provoking, fun and exciting experiences. I know that our visitors will certainly have loads of fun interacting with the technology behind this exhibit and there will be a few chuckles heard from its direction!'

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277