tim@LINC.CIS.UPENN.EDU.UUCP (05/05/87)
CIS Colloquium
Computer and Information Science
University of Pennsylvania
A COMPUTATIONAL MODEL OF CREATIVE WRITING
Masoud Yazdani
Dept. of Computer Science
University of Exeter, UK
The overal aim of the project is to examine a computational model
model of creativity based on the process of meta-level inspection and
control of loosely controlled simulations. The test bed for this
study is the act of creative writing. Various proposals for
computational story writing are considered and one of them, TALE-SPIN,
is critically evaluated. A more comprehensive model for storywriting
is then presented to account for the shortcomings pointed out. The
model presented consists of five distinct processes of plot-making,
world-making, simulation, narration and text generation. These
processes are further expanded within a computational framework. A
computer program, ROALD, is described which attempts to produce
stories within this general framework. ROALD, although basically the
simulation part of the model, acts as a test bed for the more general
idea of controlled simulation. we also look at other areas (picture
making and machine learning) where related work is being carried out.
Our argument can be stated at three levels of generality:
1. That the core of the act of creative writing is simulation of life
2. That this simulation needs to be part of a model which provides
situations within which the simulations occur as well as providing
sources of constraints so that the results are consistant and
interesting.
3. That not only creative writing but other creative acts can be
be viewed as the process of a loosely controlled simulation with
metal-level validation and revision of the results.
Wednesday, May 13, 1987
Room 216
3:00 to 4:30
Refreshments Available
2:30 to 3:00
The Faculty Lounge