Ruth Aylett Libros

Helen and Malcolm stumble upon interlocking pieces of a multi-faceted conspiracy. It's soon clear that strange powers are at play. Helen and Malcolm have twelve days to learn to cooperate, to piece the mystery together, save many worlds.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2013, held in Edinburgh, UK, in August 2013. There was a total of 94 submissions. The 18 full and 18 short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in the book. In addition, the volume lists the 34 posters which were on display during the conference. The papers are organized in topical sections named: cognitive models; applications; dialogue, language, speech; non-verbal behaviour; and social, cultural models and agents.

The content explores various aspects of interactive storytelling, highlighting challenges and innovations in the field. It addresses the complexities of authoring in interactive narratives and the significance of well-motivated characters, supported by empirical evaluations. The design of social worlds in live-action role-playing games is examined, alongside decision-making processes within character-driven stories. The text discusses systems like MIST, which facilitate variable character behavior, and emphasizes the need for standardized assessment tools to measure user responses to interactive stories. The annotation also delves into narrative generation, collaborative storytelling, and the integration of dramatic narrative devices in real-time sports commentary. It covers the transition from physical to digital art, location-aware multimedia stories, and the modeling of interactive storytelling through linear logic. Additionally, it highlights the importance of player agency and decision relevance, as well as the application of interactive storytelling in educational contexts. Various workshops and tutorials aim to enhance understanding and skills in interactive digital storytelling, while case studies, such as the Haiti earthquake experience, illustrate the potential of interactive narratives in addressing real-world issues. The content ultimately seeks to establish a shared vocabulary and framework for the evolving land

The truth about robots: two experts look beyond the hype, offering a lively and accessible guide to what robots can (and can't) do. There’s a lot of hype about robots; some of it is scary and some of it utopian. In this accessible book, two robotics experts reveal the truth about what robots can and can’t do, how they work, and what we can reasonably expect their future capabilities to be. It will not only make you think differently about the capabilities of robots; it will make you think differently about the capabilities of humans. Ruth Aylett and Patricia Vargas discuss the history of our fascination with robots—from chatbots and prosthetics to autonomous cars and robot swarms. They show us the ways in which robots outperform humans and the ways they fall woefully short of our superior talents. They explain how robots see, feel, hear, think, and learn; describe how robots can cooperate; and consider robots as pets, butlers, and companions. Finally, they look at robots that raise ethical and social issues: killer robots, sexbots, and robots that might be gunning for your job. Living with Robots equips readers to look at robots concretely—as human-made artifacts rather than placeholders for our anxieties. Find out: •Why robots can swim and fly but find it difficult to walk •Which robot features are inspired by animals and insects •Why we develop feelings for robots •Which human abilities are hard for robots to emulate