April 30, 2012

Chatbots pass Turing Test!

While most of the world was watching TV and surfing the web, scientists achieved the unthinkable: a pair of chatbots that can pass the Turing Test.  A recorded conversation was posted to YouTube just a few days ago.  Forgiving the digital voices, the content of the conversation is remarkably human-like.  This feat is both exciting and scary.  What will come next?  When and how will this technology start changing the world?  These are truly exciting times we live in!

(OK, yes, it’s an older viral video I just now came across.  But it was way too funny not to post.)

By S P Hannifin, ago

The Graveyard Book to be animated?

graveyardb

I still haven’t read Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book. It’s been on my “to read” list for a while.  I did read Gaiman’s initial short story the book is based on, which appeared in some magical-themed anthology, and thought it was fantastic.  It featured a wonderful premise that felt both spooky and heartfelt at the same time: an orphan child of a murdered family is raised in a graveyard by ghosts.  There are so many exciting possibilities with such a premise.  Anyway, not long after the book came out and won the Newbery Medal and the Hugo Award, the film rights were optioned.  But it never seemed to move forward.

But according to this recent article:

Disney just made a high six-figure deal for The Graveyard Book, the bestselling children’s title by Neil Gaiman.

OK.  Progress.  Good.  But here’s the news that really excites me (if it’s true):

I’ve learned that Henry Selick, who helmed Gaiman’s Coraline, is now attached to direct The Graveyard Book at Disney.

So will The Graveyard Book become a 3D stop-motion animated feature, like Coraline?  Wouldn’t that be awesome?  We’ll wait and see.  I’m looking forward to it!

By S P Hannifin, ago