Video: Sunny the weather bot defies explanation
By Nilay Patel 
posted Jan 9th 2008 3:35PM
posted Jan 9th 2008 3:35PM
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I have seen this thing at several trade shows... it is so funny! I love it. It however, decided that it would not marry me, or any human for that matter.
This so reminds me of the Wizzard of OZ:
"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/quotes
Yup...This is definitely a tradeshow bot available for rental to different companies. I saw another version of it at the Maxell booth at NAB about 5 years ago.
Not sure who actually makes the bot...
http://www.computerwise.net/News/Chuck%20Mr%20Sprocket.jpg
Found more info on the bot...
It is actually named "Sprockit" though many organizations rename it for promotional purposes.
The company who manufactures it is called "Conceptual Visions"
http://conceptualvisions.net/main.html
It can be programmed with (fairly decent) AI for simple conversations or driven by a human operator.
There doesn't appear to be a lot of tech info on the bot although a version was used back in 2001 to pimp SGI products...
http://www.linux.com/feature/7947
Vaguely sexist comment.
Indignant response.
Seconding the indignation.
Shallow defense of sexist comment along the lines of 'c'mon, its harmless, we do it to those LG monitor babes all the time...'
Why aren't we talking about the gadget? type post.
Polite request that you stop conversing with yourself and get back to work.
Taxpayer-funded?
I laughed so hard when she put the microphone in his crotch.
that chick is on every news item. is engadget looking for more publicity? did they just learn that sex sells?
i like that just by being female, its a sex sells scenario.
Simply being female is sexist. Or looking at or referring to females. Or talking about any female. Or males, since that's almost "female". You sexists.
Damn, she's so hot she's making me sexist...
Mr. Ryan Block,
Veronica is a cutie, but enough already of her in engadget!
I think this blog is loosing it. From now on it should be called "enveronica"?
i agree. i am tired of seeing her.
Don't you get it? They are making the poor girl do all the legwork so they can concentrate on writing up the blog posts for CES.
in b4 veron-
oh.
Veronica never smiles, hence, she has no teeth.
I love you too veronica...whoo! hooo!
I wish they had even more of her. She's good with the interviews... And a little video goes a long, long way.
I'm not really feeling most of the these "hands on" engadget posts with a picture gallery...
I mean... what the hell am I supposed to be looking at in those gallerys.. don't know what half the stuff is or how it works or when it's out or how much it will be.... that's not really coverage.
They'd inform a lot more with 20 sec of video and a few quick questions to the reps.
- mike
yeah, picture galley make me mad.
here here!
These videos with Veronica are great, keep 'em coming guys!
You need a girlfriend.
Sorry man, I'm already married, some of us like videos that are well done, and these are a hundred time better than the poorly produced crap you find on other sites
she shouldn't have left cnet
Hilarious bit! And now we know that Sunny is bisexual.
I felt bad for V having to point the microphone at his crotch to get his answer. Appropriate, I guess, since many of the comments here are underwear based (both sides). :-)
HAHA. I knew it. More Belmont.
I, for one, welcome out new cuter Engadget people. Seriously, just fire all the ugly people and see how that goes... It just might work.
They should get her in a bikini.
Anyone got a full body shot?
This was such a shamless Belmont post it isn't even funny. It's freakin' CES and they post about Johnny Five. C'mon, at least give us Belmont AND some sweet Tech.
That's next.
Alright Ryan, we get it *waves hands back and forth* your girlfriend is hot ;^)...
more pics of the hottie.
kthnxbye
huh...so sunny is bi-sexual?
and Veronica- i enjoy your posts and videos. as the above commenter pointed out, your videos have been informative and i appreciate your work. and while i do find you attractive, my apologies for the tactless buffoons that continuously made rude comments!
give it up dude.. she's taken..
engadget, do we really need to her mugshot plastered on every goddamn CES post?
as am i.
I love these "robots" that speak via a human with a wireless mic. Dumb.
So, ther is that OTHER convention going on in town. How about sending Veronica to cover that one!?
Veronica is hot! 'nuff said.
Unfortunately that will not be 'nuff said.
"...and he talks out of his crotch."
And this is different from most guys, how?
oh, YEAH!!
First time I hear of this bot so maybe this was covered but is its speech computer generated or is there just a guy sitting somewhere talking through a voice scrambler?
'Cause I gotta say I was really impressed by the voice - it got a lot of the intonations right. Other than the robotic voice it almost didn't sound like a machine.
Fembots, beware! Veronica is getting chummy with your men!
aka VB.net
I would crawl through a mile of salt-covered broken glass to be with you Veronica!!
I LOVE YOU!
So is Veronica working for her boyfriend now ? or it is just a one time thing for CES ?
man veronica should be in more pics... lol. at first I was like "ahhh who is this chick" now she should be in everyone. Damn you Ryan!
Oh and the robot is pretty cool too.
oh wait... one more thing how the hell does that robot work??! someone had a microphone in a booth didn't they. Like in Wizard of OZ
What a funny robot, I almost thought someone was speaking into a microphone from somwhere else.
Wow, so you actually think that this robot actaually understand every questions you ask him? It's so obvious that someone is listening and speaking for the bot from another location.
Sunny says hes operating from a relational database. Which most likely means pre programmed and also non pre programmed strings. You can tell by the pauses and responses.
I think I have Belmont fatigue. Guess I'll have to find a life without Engadget for a few more days...
Cannot believe that there are some of you that want to see less of Veronica. Are you mentally deficient or something? I think she does a great job. Do you think that Engadget has some sort of infinite budget and can afford an army of correspondents? Do you think that people with Veronica's skills grow on trees? Seriously, WTF?
Not so vague sexist comment.
I'm sure they spent millions of dollars developing this, and they couldn't put the microphone any place besides the robot's crotch? And did anybody else get totally creeped out when the robot said "I love you too Veronica," or pimped Engadget? I hope there was a real person talking into a robot voice changer. Otherwise, let me just say that I welcome our new robot overlords.
Personally I like the videos. I'm too lazy to read the actual posts.
Personally I like the videos. I'm too lazy to read the actual posts.
Oh man this is the best robot ever! Hahaha!
Uh, next time can you keep the robot out of the picture?
If that's AI, then two thumbs up.
I envy said robot.
I think Veronica is married to or dating someone from Engadget so that might be how her site and this one got together. It really doesnt matter though as she knows what shes talking about unlike other pretty girls that do tech interviews. I used to listen to her on BOL and was really happy when I saw that she would be doing all the stuff for Engadget. I mean shes funny, smart, and very easy on the eyes. WTF could anyone have to complain about with her? I hope she helps out after CES as well. Mahalo Daily is nice but it doesnt last long enough.
Veronica is just irresistable.
Veronoca is just irresistable!