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DARPA's 'Social Puppet'
Roland Piquepaille writes "Videogame creators are heavily using software to animate objects or characters without reprogramming them between two scenes. Now, game designers from the University of Southern California (USC) have developed 'Social Puppet,' a computer engine to 'help soldiers learn unfamiliar languages by interacting with animated characters.' For this project, financed by DARPA, the researchers have used their expertise in previous videogames used by the armed forces, such as 'Tactical Iraqi.' But previous games were focused on teaching language and customs while Social Puppet is giving on-screen characters human non-verbal communication behaviors."
Finally a training tool to understand people who are piss drunk.
Finally, a real use for clippy!
"I noticed that you're having some problems with Farsi."
500GB of disk, 5TB of transfer, $5.95/mo
The screen shots have pictures of soldiers being greeted by men in villas and asking for food in local stores. Are the scenarios where the iraqis tell the soldiers to get bent? It sounds like software that would better be suited to showing kids how to handle an exhange trip to Europe.
As cool as it sounds, I doubt it has more use than a phrase book, other than it's a bit easier for people who can't be bothered to learn. At least they can take the book to a warzone (or do all soldiers have a laptop?). Nice tech. demo though.
"You know you don't act like a scientist, you're more like a game show host." Dana Barret
> while Social Puppet is giving on-screen characters human non-verbal communication behaviors
/. crowd? You know, something that teaches us how to act in social situations like bars and parties?
Can they release an expansion pack for the
And no, Leisure Suit Larry doesn't count.
-David
If you think that is bad, I heard DARPA created a special computer network for the military too. I think it was designed to survive a nuclear attack. After reading this article and the one about the computer network, I've really come to dislike DARPA. If you ask me, DARPA should not waste their time working on such projects for the military. They should stick to peaceful things like autonomous vehicles capable of traveling over the desert alone.
The war with islam is a war on the beast
The war on terror is a war for peace
Good lord.
Two muppets walk into a bar. . .
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est - Sir Francis Bacon
The software will help to avoid scenarios like this one:
"Hey, Jones... do you know what 'foq yeew ameh reekans' means in iraqi?"
They made an interactive version of Team America World Police? and they plan on using poorly made, yet hilarious, movie puppets to teach our soldiers to respond to Durkah durkah bak ka la ka dah mohammed jihad?
or even better, spending a few days in a country where such a culture persists.
"OK guys, things have gotten really bad in Cameroon. The Muslim minority has risen up and violently siezed control of the country. They are terrorizing the Christian natives and executing anyone who looks even remotly European or American. An ally is in trouble and the President wants this stopped."
"Sir, are we leaving immediately?"
"No, the operation starts in a few weeks. Since we'll be in deep into the country, we'll need to go though training on the local cultures. We need to know who our enemies are."
"This is a big operation sir, how will we train?"
"The Secretary of Defense has decided that the best way to prepare is for us to send our initial 100,000 troops on a two week vacation to Cameroon first. Oh, and since the country is on the coast, he said to make sure to bring your bathing suit."
Help me take back Slashdot. When did 'News for Nerds' become 'FUD and Conspiracy Theories for Extremist Nutjobs'?
Someone's never played Counter-strike, obviously. Perfect combat sim - going with a bunch of people who can't shoot against a bunch of other people who can't shoot, half of whom are twelve. Honestly, if you took a flashbang in real combat, wouldn't you just let loose and hope to take them out before they can snipe you? The only difference is that you can't accuse your killer of hacking.
How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
These have been around in Japan for ages, I believe many are (being) translated into Eng(l|r)ish. Just search for 'dating sim' on Google. Add 'hentai' to your search according to preference.
The Hacker's Guide To The Kernel: Don't panic()!
For instance, a 2000-pound Mk 84 bomb is just the way Donald Rumsfeld says, "I feel awkward." Offer him a tasty dolmeh.
Mind the Gap