interactive computer generation of jokes for language skill development applied computing,...
TRANSCRIPT
Interactive computer generation of jokes for language skill development
Applied Computing, University of DundeeAnnalu WallerDave O’Mara
Informatics, University of EdinburghGraeme RitchieHelen PainRuli Manurung
also: Alistair Low, Lucia Trujillo-Dennis
Outline
Motivation STANDUP project JAPE Two extensions to JAPE
Low (2003) Trujillo-Dennis (2003)
STANDUP revisited Summary
Humour and language impaired children
Use of humour enhances children’s linguistic & conversational skills, social interaction (Waller et al 2001)
Language-impaired children (LIC) have limited opportunities for language-play & humour
Thus, LIC have significantly poorer comprehension of humour
Understanding of humour from LIC aged 13-15 working on 5-7 curriculum (O’Mara et al 2002)
This suggests that LIC have ability to use jokes – if more accessible
STANDUP Project
Build support tool that enables LIC to experience language play (through humour)
Current LIC tools are primarily functional, focusing on needs-based communication
Existing computer based tools: text prediction, improving syntax, second language learning, discussion skills
Automated humour
JAPE (Binsted & Ritchie 1994, 1997) is capable of producing punning riddles such as: What’s the difference between leaves and a car?
One you brush and rake, the other you rush and brake. What do you get when you cross a monkey and a peach?
An ape-ricot. What do you call a murderer with fibre?
A cereal killer. It searches a general purpose dictionary to find
words that fit pre-defined structures called schemas and templates.
JAPE:Example
What do you call a strange market ?
JAPE:Example
What do you call a strange market ?
A bizarre bazaar.
JAPE:Example
What do you call a strange market ?
A bizarre bazaar.
homophone
JAPE:Example
What do you call a strange market ?
A bizarre bazaar.
homophone
describes
JAPE:Example
What do you call a strange market ?
A bizarre bazaar.
homophone
describes
synonym
JAPE:Example
What do you call a strange market ?
A bizarre bazaar.
homophone
describes
synonym
synonym
JAPE:How it works
A B
C D
homophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .C D A B
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bizarrehomophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bizarre bazaarhomophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bizarre bazaar
strange
homophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bizarre bazaar
strange market
homophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bizarre bazaar
strange market
homophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .strange market bizarre bazaar
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
barehomophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bare bearhomophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bare bear
nude
homophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bare bear
nude animal
homophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE:How it works
bare bear
nude animal
homophone
synonymsynonym
What do you call a ? A .nude animal bare bear
SCHEMA:
TEMPLATE:
JAPE (cont.)
Suitable joke experts found JAPE’s better jokes comparably funny to those in children’s joke books (Binsted et al. 1997)
Limitations:Slow – tries out all the words in the dictionary!Unguidable mechanism – exhaustive search
How do we adapt this for interactive usage?
Extensions to JAPE (1)
Low (2003) developed a graphical user interface (GUI) for JAPE, with added functionality: Creating jokes Riddle-solving Joke library Topic database Lexical support
Still slow, interface fairly complex
Added functionality
Interactivity
Customizability
Extensions to JAPE (2)
Trujillo-Dennis (2003) developed UI for children with speech impairments (possibly) motor disabilities no cognitive disabilities
Explores several aspects of the user interface: Simple language and visual layout Adaptable colour schemes Speech output Single switch scanning interface
Not tested on actual target users
Accessibility (scanning interface)
STANDUP Revisited
To build a tool that aids LIC in creating jokes Interactive: speed, efficiency Customizable: extensible User-centred design for LIC-specific interface Appropriateness:
What do you get when you cross a vitellus and a saddlery?A yolk yoke.What do you call a capable seed?An able semen.
Summary
Humour enhances children’s conversation and social interaction
Support LIC with wordplay software Starting point: JAPE, various extensions Interactivity and customizability User-centred design
email: [email protected]