PUBLIC MARKS from parmentierf with tags chatterbot & "interface homme-machine"

The notion of Companions is intended as both a research program and an immediately useful and striking technology: that of a computational but persistent personal presence. It is not a robot and the nature of its embodiment is not crucial: it could be a talking head on a TV screen, a persistent voice in one's mobile phone that knew its user's needs and habits, or a furry handbag that sat beside an old person on a sofa and chatted to them about what TV they watch and reminded them to take their pills.