[Web4lib] Not Watson but AI for Library Information

[DeeAnn K Allison]

I've been working on an AI chatbot that would answer basic library related 
questions.  This is using AIML (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language) 
proposed by Richard Wallace and the ALICE foundation.  I used Programo 
http://www.program-o.com/faq.php open source files as a starter.  The 
database was built using logs from reference chat sessions, searches, the 
website, and Programo's log files.

 I see this as a research project to evaluate how library users and 
librarians would accept artificial language as a supplement to traditional 
reference (I don't see this replacing human reference anytime soon).  One 
of the complaints we have received from students is that our site isn't 
"interactive" enough, so this is a demonstration project to provide more 
interaction.  If you are interested in the project I can provide more 
information.  Here is the URL to the chatbot.  It is still very much beta. 


http://pixel.unl.edu

Dee Ann Allison
Professor & Director
COR Services
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
(402)-472-3944
http://iris.unl.edu