Hello Richard MacLemale and y'all, > I've been following the AI discussion > with GREAT interest.
Excellent, we seem to be generating a groundswell! :)) > I've always wanted to write some server > based software using metacard ... For years now, it's been possible to create server-side CGI programs with MetaCard (and other xCards too). But our agent idea takes this much further. Imagine P2P MC programs that communicate via the internet, with other [MC] clients that support XML, XML-RPC and blogger API. > ... that would control a simulation that teams > of 8 people on separate computers on a network > would interact with. This will indeed be do-able with the [agent] software we're using and developing. Why not! The essence of it is that we will have the ability to coordinate MC pgms via the web. All kinds of distributed architectures will become possible. > AI is not necessarily mandatory but the more complex > the program, the cooler the simulation would be. Agreed. You don't necessarily need AI to do it, albeit it might be a big plus when it comes to modelling the systemic impacts of the interactions of all the players. > Specifically, this: Years ago, when I was a 5th > grade teacher, we took our kids to the Museum of > Science and Industry in Tampa, FL (MOSI) and they > had a space ship simulator Very interesting! :)) > One station operated a robotic arm that was > "outside the spaceship" and you could see it > out the "window"... Each station did something > different. All stations had controls & monitors. Long ago, I scripted some automation stuff with the HC Serial Port Toolkit (for HyperCard). The "toolkit" was basically an XCMD to control one/both the serial ports. Does MetaCard or Rev have a similar XCMD to control the serial ports of various computer hardware (PC and Mac), while maintaining cross-platform compatibility? If not the *serial* port, then perhaps another port? (USB, for example). The point, of course, is that with this XCMD (or whatever) we could script automation applications. > It was AWESOME. Sounds like a b-l-a-s-t indeed! :)) > It was also expensive. It will still be expensive if and when it is implemented as a coordinated set of MetaCard programs, but at least the programming will be cheap, which is not negligeable in these ambitious types of projects. You still need the stations (cheaper these days), the location, the robotic stuff, as well as all the audiovisual material. Don't be discouraged by this, however. Forge ahead! > they used several Macintosh computers > to monitor the progress of the teams. It would be interesting to find out whether they were using HyperCard for their scripting. ;-) > And those 4 people had to be on their toes, > obviously, because the kids would do > unpredictable things - mistakes they had > not anticipated. This is where AI might be helpful. > It left a huge, lasting impression on me, because > it was educational and it was extremely fun! It was > learning and playing and acting and just about the > coolest thing I'd ever seen as a teacher. I am sure students of many ages might be thrilled with such an extremely fun way to learn. :) > I thought about how cool it would be to be able to > put something like that together, but obviously it > was too expensive. Using an xCard makes every project seem do-able! ;-) > Fast forward to now. For a couple of years > I've thought about how cool it would be to > write software that would do something > similar to what MOSI had. Do it! :) > On one level, it could be done > purely as entertainment ... Good way to get *funding*. ;-) > the server program would track the response time > and decision making of each person and assign a > score for that position. Another area where AI might be helful : user modeling. > The server program would throw in random elements > like suddenly appearing hostile ships and whatnot. Or just "random" in appearance, in order for the teacher to spike the game towards situations where learning will take place [optimally]. > This would be an OUTSTANDING project for some of > our seniors to put together - writing the code, > designing the stations, filming video to be > triggered by the server program when ... Are you in a position, as teacher, to locate and create such apprenticeships? Can you put such a team together? > What could be more fun? Especially for Trekkies! :)) > OR I could see writing something more like the > original MOSI simulator, and selling a "kit" > with the software installers for Mac or Windows. > That would make money but would not be as much fun. Making money is important too. You choose what is best for you. Personally, I'm inclined to release EVERYTHING that I craft as open-source (LGPL), resorting instead to contracts to earn my living as a value-added consultant. The kicker: I'm increasingly successful at persuading my clients to pay me for my work but to release the results to the open-source community; [strategic] wares and all. It is in their best interest as well as everyone else's. Everyone wins! :)) > Anyway, Alain's post got me thinking of > how the server software might operate... Glad I could be of assistance with your musings, Richard. :) > I think everything I stated above could > be done in MetaCard (or Revolution.) Surely. Otherwise, we would not have posted these posts to this list. One must always endeavour to be relevant, and avoid being off-topic. Which is precisely what were doing, so as is well. :) > Richard MacLemale > Network Administrator > J. W. Mitchell High School Hummm ... we have many things in common : my projects are for a school commission. They pay me for the work, which I then release freely to the larger community. I expect to release some new stuff in the near future, so stay tuned y'all. :)) Solidairement votre, Alain __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html _______________________________________________ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard