[paphus]

We released the 2.0 version of the BOT libre chat bot hosting platform the other month (well December, been meaning to post this update for a while...).

BOT libre 2.0

I would just like to share and get feedback on some of the new features:

Avatars
We decoupled our avatars from their bots so they can be shared, reused and developed independently.  The new avatars support video, 3D animation, audio, and images.  You can tag media with emotions, actions, and poses to let a bot really express itself.  The open source BOT libre SDK supports embedding and linking avatars to TTS (text to speech) from JavaScript or Android (and soon to be iOS).

You can use the avatars independently of our bots, such as greeting visitors to your website, linking with our TTS, or even with your own custom developed or third party bot.  We also have an open avatar directory you can link your own avatars in.

Web API and SDK
We have enhanced our web API, and added an open source JavaScript SDK to make it easy to embed your bots or content on your own website, or in your own mobile app.  We also have an  Android SDK. Our SDK also supports free TTS.

Script Library
We have added an open script library, that makes it easy to share your chat bot, or AI related scripts.  Scripts can be written in any language, and syntax editor and versioning is supported.  The library includes a set of AIML and Self scripts, and chat logs and response lists that you can import directly into you BOT libre bot.

Our chat bot directory also lets you link your own external, or third party bots.

Dedicated Twitterbot Server and Commercial Server
We added a dedicated Twitterbot and emailbot server to let Twitterbots check their status more frequently (and to offset their load on our chat bot server).  We also released many new services on our  commercial chat bot and live chat server.

AI Engine
We continue to update our AI engine and have made many enhancements to let you train bots without programming using simple keywords, topics, and context.  You can also link responses to avatar emotions, actions, and poses.  We have also extended our Self scripting language to support new operations.

Let us know what you think, or what features you would like to see.  We try to provide features not just for our own bots, but also for independent bot developers.

[Art]

Nice selection of Avatars!

[8pla.net]

BOT libre embedded

Reference: http://elizabot.com/botlibre/

EDIT:   This is an SDK mod experiment.

 

[Art]

She is pretty. There is a lag between her speech and lip movement. Not your fault, but due to transmission of text processing and then executing the mouth movements. Locally, I'd venture to say, she might be spot on with the sync, but then again, I've not tried it on a personal basis.

[8pla.net]

As usual, so many factors... 64bit, 32bit computers, different operating
systems, different web browsers, etc.   So, help from others on different
platforms is really necessary.   So, I created a demo site to get some help.

Overall, I am so pleased with BOT libre.  This is really cutting edge!
WebM video BOT libre 2.0 avatars are really exciting. 

Thanks for your help, Art.

[Art]

Still about a half second lag when viewed.
Running an Intel i7 Quad core
8 Gigs Ram - 1 TB Drive
Windows 7 Premium
27" Lenovo monitor - Display = 1920 X 1080
Browser Mozilla Firefox 36.0.1
Playing in Viewer as 720p HD quality

Hope this helps....She's still a cutie!!

[8pla.net]

Hey, a classic Max Headroom technique may do the trick!

[Art]

Stuttering? M...mma...mma...Max!

[8pla.net]

Yep!   A technique like that ought to make any lag less noticeable.

It is appropriate Max Headroom stuttered...  So did Alan Turing, the father of A.I.

 

[8pla.net]

UPDATE:

Making calls to processMessages() with 15 milliseconds.

The default, 500 milliseconds, is exactly what Art said.

Also shortened the responses, for testing purposes.

[Art]

OK...I get the "for testing purposes" thing but you've GOT to dump that horrible Dial-Up / Modem sound thing!!

Yes, her speech was just a tad better regarding the lag response but still not synced as it should.

You should end up with only a few users even trying to chat with her, considering the competition with the dial-up device.

Good luck with it.

It would be cool if Bot Libre could allow users of other bots like say, UltraHal to use their avatars in conjunction with Zabaware's software. I say this due to the fact that the Haptek characters have pretty much remained unchanged.

If their avatar / characters would work, Bot-Libre could partner with Zabaware and sell the basic character as well as upgrades for other characters and accessories, props, devices, clothing, skins, hair, glasses, hats, etc.
It would be a wide open opportunity.

The only other character I saw that looked nice and allowed for easy modification was iClone.

Daz / Poser is nice but rigging for animation would be a major chore for the most talented person / people.

Just some thoughts!

[Freddy]

Daz / Poser is nice but rigging for animation would be a major chore for the most talented person / people.

Daz models are already rigged, it's just getting that out of the Studio. Rigging a human model isn't that bad really. Once you've done it once you wonder what all the fuss was about.

I took Daz figures into Blender and rigging was relatively easy, but I agree that Blender can be daunting if you've not used it before, so in the end I think I agree with you about the difficulties.

[Art]

I too have rigged Poser people back in the day, for animations.

What I was actually referring to was (and I'm afraid I didn't make myself clear) rigging them for use with the UltraHal program from Zabaware.

The rigging would not only entail movements like was done via Haptek but also Lipsync, which is so important for verbal communications, especially Hal's spoken TTS words. The entire face needs to be on cue with the current emotional state of the character and the output speech.

As you know, some use just the Full head / face while others prefer the Full body. In both cases, the character needs to "act" accordingly. That's basically what I meant by having the character "rigged" to comply with Hal.

I also like the look and possible customization available through iclone characters but again, getting the two programs to play nicely together is another story.
 
Sorry for any confusion....

[Freddy]

No worries

I recalled you have done things like this, but I felt it was worth pursuing.

I think Haptek probably used morph animations for the face, I'm not sure. Generally that is better than using bone animation in that area. All my animations have used morphing for the face, but the body is rigged separately with bones.

[paphus]

Eliza looks good.  I don't see any lag from my machine (desktop, cable modem).  Normally the first interaction will lags as the media loads into the browser, then it will be better after that.  The modem dial-up you added is horrifically annoying though...

> It would be cool if Bot Libre could allow users of other bots like say, UltraHal to use their avatars in conjunction with Zabaware's software

There are no restrictions on the usage of our avatars, you can use them however you wish.  The only requirements is that you use our SDK or web API, and set your application id (which is free).