Simulating Chat room/Instant messaging (case 493)

[ecl05002]

Hi,
For the most part I only found users asking how to create simulated chats, but the conversation didn't seem to get much further from there. I know there is one sample task out there (http://www.empirisoft.com/Support/showthread.php?t=789) but I was hoping for more of a conversation between the participant and a fictitious other than this task provides. If there are other links on the forum that would be great! Otherwise, I'm aiming to simulate just a short conversation between the participant and a fictitious other, preferably utilizing custom items but web apps are a possibility. Thanks again for your help.

[erinmbrown]

Hi!

I read through this thread and was excited to see that someone else was trying to figure out the same thing-- how to simulate an online chat room. I noticed though that the thread was left kind of open-ended. Was anyone ever able to figure out how to simulate an online chat room? I also read that there were instructions in German on how to do such a thing. Was there an English version?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Erin

[jarvis24]

Depends on what kind of simulation you are trying to do. If the participant is real (a good chance, no?) and you are trying simulate chat with that individual, it's certainly much trickier. i.e., much trickier than a participant simply watching simulated chat between two or more "virtual" subjects.

[erinmbrown]

hi--

I am trying to figure out how to simulate chat between a real individual and a virtual individual, so it looks like it is the trickier of the two options you mentioned. Still possible?

[jarvis24]

How would you know how to simulate the replies in advance of the conversation (e.g., the real participant asks "what do you like to eat?" kind of thing). Or were you thinking of something simpler? Like having virtual third party who says "Please tell us your names--Player 1?" Real person types "Bob" and virtual subject types "Ed". i.e., so the questions are known in advance hence the answers can be prepared also in advance. Or something like that..!

[erinmbrown]

Hi!

We were thinking that the computer would act as the third party and be the one to ask the participants the questions like you mentioned. How could that be done? is there a code/formula that can be put into MediaLab to do that?

[erinmbrown]

Hey--

Sorry to bother you with the same question again, but I was wondering if you had had the chance to read my last comment/question about how to program MediaLab so that the computer can act as the third party that asks the other two participants (real people) questions?

Thanks! I appreciate it!

Erin Brown

[Farid]

Depends on what kind of simulation you are trying to do. If the participant is real (a good chance, no?) and you are trying simulate chat with that individual, it's certainly much trickier. i.e., much trickier than a participant simply watching simulated chat between two or more "virtual" subjects.

Hi, can you please advise on how I can get participants to watch a simulated chat between two or more virtual subjects? Ideally, I'd like to run this study online, perhaps through Qualtrics. But I'm open to any means possible. Hope someone can help.