Advanced Chatbot Could Help With Social Awkwardness

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Advanced Chatbot Could Help With Social Awkwardness

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday September 1, 2013 @06:02PM from the but-he-cannot-speak-it-good-like-we-do dept.

mikejuk writes "Researchers at MIT Media Lab are working on an automated personal-computer-based system designed to help people improve interpersonal and conversational skills. The software is called MACH, short for My Automated Conversation coacH (pdf). It makes use of a computer-generated onscreen face to simulate interactive conversations. It performs facial, speech, and behavior analysis and synthesis to emulate human-to-human responses. At the end of the session it provides the user with feedback on their performance. Using a webcam the program can analyze facial expressions, including smiling and head gestures while its voice recognition system analyzes not only what you say but also how you say it and notes non-verbal vocalizations. As feedback you watch the video side-by-side with the analysis of your behavior — see the video of it in action. It has already been shown to improve job interview techniques and other potential uses are coaching in public speaking and dating."

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Somehow this reminds me... by PhrostyMcByte · 2013-09-01 18:13 · Score: 4, Interesting

I guess some social skill is better than none, especially for those with serious disorders. This could have benefits.
Yet, somehow this reminds me of Comcast's CableCard activation line. Every time I've called it, I get someone sounding exactly the same... an guy with a truly bizarre, unplaceable and somewhat feminine accent and an equally WTF speech pattern.
Some outsourced call center is training every one of their employees to sound exactly the same, to the point that I've called from multiple time zones, at all hours of the day, and from different numbers/accounts and am still not entirely sure if they have more than a single sleepless extraterrestrial behind the phone. Creepy as hell. And this type of app sounds like just the thing to do that.
1. Re:Somehow this reminds me... by GrumpySteen · 2013-09-02 01:46 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Some outsourced call center is training every one of their employees to sound exactly the same, to the point that I've called from multiple time zones, at all hours of the day, and from different numbers/accounts and am still not entirely sure if they have more than a single sleepless extraterrestrial behind the phone.
  Close, but they aren't intentionally training them to speak that way.
  Let me introduce you to IELTS, the International English Language Testing System.
  American companies like Comcast and the company I work for have call centers in other countries. Because of the language barrier, language testing is a big part of the hiring process. For my company, employees are also retested yearly and approximately 30% of their pay rate is a "language bonus" which they lose if they don't pass that test. This is not uncommon.
  Training in written and spoken English is up to the employee. The company may provide some reimbursement for the expense, but they generally won't provide the courses.
  English courses come in two types; one where you actually learn English and the other where you learn to pass the test. The latter is cheaper, so lots of people will go for it. Those are the people with the bizarre, unplaceable and someone feminine accent and equally WTF speech patterns.
Talking to chatbots is socially awkward by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-01 18:19 · Score: 3, Funny

Just saying....
1. Re:Talking to chatbots is socially awkward by lxs · 2013-09-01 18:51 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  What about talking to chatbots is socially awkward makes you feel that way?
Re:Vocabulary by hairyfeet · 2013-09-01 18:51 · Score: 4, Interesting

Never had to deal with someone with autism i take it? This sounds like it would be perfect for those with milder forms of autism to work on their ability to interact with strangers.

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ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
Re:Vocabulary by multiben · 2013-09-01 19:01 · Score: 3, Insightful

A dictionary?! You use a dictionary for improving your interpersonal communication? Perhaps chatbot is exactly what you need.
The only downside is by OhANameWhatName · 2013-09-01 19:39 · Score: 5, Funny

... that geeks will start breeding.
Blind leading the blind by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-01 19:55 · Score: 5, Funny

Socially awkward nerds build machine for socially awkward nerds to learn to be less awkward.
Re:Get off the internet and talk to girls by Anonymous Coward · 2013-09-01 20:29 · Score: 3, Insightful

Talking to girls is only possible if the girls also want to talk to you. Which is only the case if you already have sufficient interpersonal and conversational skills.
It's like with learning a language. If you are sufficiently fluent in a foreign language, it helps a lot to talk to native speakers of that language to improve your language skills. However if you don't understand the language at all, talking to a native speaker is simply not possible.
Re:Chatbot? by biohack · 2013-09-01 21:56 · Score: 3, Interesting

Do you mean one of these? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moydodyr