minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow) (08/30/84)
Readers of net.ai might enjoy this extract from "Computing Across America," Chapter 11: A High-tech Oasis in the Texas Sun, written by Stephen K. Roberts, published originally in (and Copyright 1984 by) Online Today, September 1984 (a CompuServ Publication). The Phantom SysOp (Austin SYSOP speaking) "Personally, I get a little tired of answering CHAT requests. That's why I brought up Eliza." "You mean..." He twinkled with wry humor. "You got it. It's the perfect Turing test. I have a second computer hooked up to my board system. When someone issues a CHAT request, it says 'Hello? Can I help you?' I changed all the messages so it emulates a sysop instead of a psychiatrist. Some people never do catch on." I groaned. "That's cruel!" (Transcribed by my collegue, John Wasser.) Martin Minow decvax!minow