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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Life / Tech I'm in Love with a Robot

Posted by David Schmader on Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 3:53 PM

And it is whatever Googley thing is now turning my voice mails into text messages.

(I understand this is caveman stuff, technologically, but in my normal life, it is a gift.)

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The same robot and I can't have a really successful long term relationship because it constantly misunderstands every voicemail my mom leaves me.

Posted by ssmary on August 28, 2012 at 4:02 PM

@1, but it misunderstands everything so entertainingly! In the year (or more?) I've had this I always look forward to comparing the transcription to the actual voicemail. Verbatim from the other day, random caps and all: "Fight On, on, its. 5. After not mine. Hey, about 7:15 and I intend not thing No, Hey. It's fine. Isn't hey. Not terribly long or The interesting. Really or So. That's it. I'll be up for a little while if you want to call."

Posted by gloomy gus on August 28, 2012 at 4:11 PM

News Weather Flash...all heck is breaking loose in NOLA.

Live Bourbon Street Cam:

http://www.earthcam.com/usa/louisiana/ne…

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on August 28, 2012 at 4:34 PM

In all fairness, the voice messages I get translated into text aren't themselves much better in terms of being able to decipher them. People need to speak slower and - ENUNCIATE.

Posted by COMTE

on August 28, 2012 at 4:35 PM

3, Wow, it sure is! When I just checked that, there was a large man standing in the middle of the street, wearing Crocs, a lifejacket, a straw hat and a red cape. Then the police drove up with flashy lights.

This is my new favorite teevee station! Thanks!

Posted by treacle on August 28, 2012 at 4:40 PM

I finally gave in to my worst impulses about six months ago and changed my voice mail message to, "Thanks for calling. Please be aware that this voice mail box never, ever gets checked. (Love the use of the passive voice there!) You can always try a text message if you want, but no guarantees via that method, either."

I absolutely hate the assumption that we must be reach-able by anyone at anytime. *grumble* Send me a damn carrier pigeon if it's that important.

Posted by TVDinner

on August 28, 2012 at 4:41 PM

#5

Now there's a guy waving his red poncho like a bull fighters cape....

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on August 28, 2012 at 4:43 PM

oh...now it is a fat man and a frat guy in capes acting like assholes minus the cops. That sure is something

Posted by yumyum74 on August 28, 2012 at 4:44 PM

Technologically speaking, no, this is still pretty dang cool. Parsing language out of speech is one of the more complicated things that humans do, and every step this technology takes is impressive.

Posted by Ruke on August 28, 2012 at 5:07 PM

@2,

That's awesome. Next time you know they'll not be able to take the call you should call that person back and leave them that very message.

Posted by mikethehammer on August 28, 2012 at 6:56 PM

Ok, I'll ask. What googley thing translates your voice messages into text? I'd like that.

Posted by Matt the Engineer on August 28, 2012 at 10:33 PM

Royksopp reference? Great track btw.

Posted by biju on August 29, 2012 at 12:01 AM

@12 - I came here to say this too.

Posted by Pridge Wessea on August 29, 2012 at 7:44 AM

@1 - I love the robot specifically for that reason!! Every phone call message has turned into hilarity and I often read the funniest ones back to the people who left them! I love this feature... (I can usually guess what the message is about from seeing certain key words and if I am still stumped - I log in to gmail and actually listen to the message).

Posted by subwlf on August 29, 2012 at 10:14 AM