I, Computer
By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 4/1/2005
What child hasn't chatted with friends through a computer? But chatting with a computer? Some Danish scientists have literally put a face on their latest software program, bringing to virtual life storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, who engages users in actual conversations.
The digitized Andersen resides at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in Odense, Denmark. There he answers questions about his life and fairy tales and responds in a fairly humanlike manner, complete with facial expressions and gestures. (Tip: Andersen gets a bit testy when asked if his teeth are false.)
But Andersen's creators at NICE (www.niceproject.com), a virtual language and computer interaction initiative based at the University of Southern Denmark, are imagining a much larger playing field for their three-year-old project.
Andersen was a natural choice for their first prototype—the NICE lab is also in Odense, Andersen's hometown, which allowed the researchers to easily collect experiment data. "Plus, he is world famous so kids from all over the world might wish to talk to him," says project director Niels Ole Bernsen. "Our next character might be Sir Isaac Newton or Abraham Lincoln."
Not surprisingly, computer game makers have expressed interest in NICE's prototype. But there's a potential education application, as well. Bernsen is keenly interested in finding a library application for the program. However, it's the children who may have dreamed up the team's next foray.
Andersen speaks in English, which Danish students are able to follow as they are taught English as a second language in schools. Bernsen had one student, who was struggling a bit with his language skills, tell the team that he liked the idea of being able to bring the famous storyteller home with him. "He said, 'I could have Andersen into my study, close the door, and talk to him as long as I want to,'" recalled Bernsen. " 'And nobody would be laughing at me because of the language errors I make.'"
