"Bot" Adventure
Just What is a "Bot?"
I had seen the name used time and again on my tours around the Web, but never was never quite sure what "bot" meant. However, a year back I happened upon the SearchBots website during one of my Web searches, and was pleasantly surprised at what I found there...an animated robotic web software that performs the searches you tell it to perform and which it sets out to do, only returning when it is through, to give you the desired results.
Naturally, I followed the instructions, entered the keywords of my search and sent the bot on its way. It returned a few minutes later to report that it was unable to find the particular information I had requested, and that if I preferred, it would continue it's search until such time that it found the information, or until I commanded it to it cease searching. Well...you guessed it, I sent it on its way again.
It was a few months afterwards (myself having forgotten the whole adventure by this time), that Max checked back with me. ( Oh! Did I mention that you can customize the bot to your liking--dress it up any way you like depending on your mood, or even give it a name ?)
But what exactly is it? (Who or What really is my bot--Max?)
According to the team at BotSpot.com : "A bot is a software tool for digging through data. You give a bot directions and it brings back answers." It's parent name they explain, originates from the Czech word "robota" which means "work," and therefore bots are robotic software that labors continuously in the background, I might add, to find information. There are many kinds of bots on the web and you'll find a large listing of them on the BotSpot site.
Intelligent?
Well you decide. For instance, consider other bots I've used such as the Reader's Bot . It will find the books you love to read and will even recommend other books it "thinks," or rather deduce, you might want to read.
Then there was Virtual Dog . You get to adopt your very own virtual pup which you can raise all by yourself and play with time and time again. The site displays images of the pups who need homes, and you'll even get a complete description of the breed of the pup you have choosen and how to raise it, before you decide to adopt. It is a great site, and I'm almost sure your kids or the kid in you, will adore this site. (Remember those Giga Pets?) Well, raising the pup is based on the same premise--It requires special care and your constant attention. It will begin to act poorly if it "feels" you've ignored it and may even die.
For a film buff such as myself, the Movie Critic is fun as well. It allows you to rate the movies you have seen and maintains a list of your own personal selection of movies or those it "figure" you might like.
Well of course we know that bots do not actually think, afterall it is just software, but I think the case is made that they are amazing intelligent.
Lastly, I had to mention the Microsoft Agents: Merlin, Genie, and Robby. These cuties are also fun bots, sort of like desk top toys that will hang around your desktop all day if you let them. They are also versatile in the Internet environment--reading emails or any tidbits of words you might have lurking on your clipboard that you had forgotten about.
These guys are something else. They communicate effectively and are capable of using non-verbal communication as well--rolling their eyes if they are bored, yawning, appearing disinterested if you ignore them, falling asleep and they can also respond to your voice via microphone. Of course, sometimes they can't hear you and they will tell you so in no uncertain terms. Voice-Recognition technology abounds in that respect, but most of all they really are fun and will tell jokes once in a while if you ask-- nicely.
These agents are available for free download at microsoft.com **Better yet, jump over to Shadisoft and get free down-loadable trials of the speaking characters and have fun!
