Eliza, the computer program

[Guru]

Anyone know what it is?

 

[phrodeau]

Eliza was a computer program modelled on Doctor, the creation of Joseph Weizenbaum. It was designed to simulate a psychiatrist using non-directive therapy.

I first met Eliza in a mall Radio Shack on a Tandy computer. She was entirely text-based and usually responded to questions with more questions. After a while, she would steer the conversation toward personal feelings and family life.

 

[Guru]

It was supposed to be a simulation of non-directed therapy. It's done with simple pattern-matching.

What did you think of it as entertainment? Did it keep your interest for more than 10 seconds?

 

[phrodeau]

Yes, it held my interest for a short series of shopping visits. The clerks knew me and didn't mind. At the time I was interested in the advances toward artificial intelligence and the debate over the Turing test.

 

[linuxgeek]

Also, if memory serves, was considered one of the first artificial intellegence programs put out because the average person if not knowing beforehand could not tell if they were talking to a computer or another person at a different computer.

The wonders of LISP.

 

[linuxgeek]

AAAAAAAAAH.

for($i=0;$i < $maxboardholds; $i++) {
print "must remember to check date stamp";
}