ISS Gets HAL-Like Computer

[zavvy]

<b>ISS Gets HAL-Like Computer</b><br /><br />LINK<br /><br />A voice-operated computer assistant is set to be used in space for the first time on Monday – its operators hope it proves more reliable than "HAL", the treacherous speaking computer in the movie 2001. <br /><br />Called Clarissa, the program will initially talk astronauts on the International Space Station through tests of onboard water supplies. But its developers hope it will eventually be used for all computer-related work on the station.<br /><br />Clarissa was designed with input from astronauts. They said it was difficult to perform the 12,000 procedures necessary to maintain the ISS and conduct scientific experiments while simultaneously reading through lengthy instruction manuals.<br /><br />"Just try to analyse a water sample while scrolling through pages of a procedure manual displayed on a computer monitor while you and the computer both float in microgravity," says US astronaut Michael Fincke, who spent six months on the station in 2004.<br /><br />Clarissa queries astronauts about the details of what they need to accomplish in a particular procedure, then reads through step-by-step instructions. Astronauts control the program using simple commands like "next" or more complicated phrases, such as "set challenge verify mode on steps three through fourteen".<br /><br />"The idea was to have a system that would read steps to them under their control, so they could keep their hands and eyes on whatever task they were doing," says Beth Ann Hockey, a computer scientist who leads the project at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California, US. <br /><br />That capability "will be like having another crew member aboard", says Fincke. (You can see Clarissa in action in a mp4 video hosted on this NASA page.)<br /><br />“No, I meant … “<br />Clarissa's software runs on a laptop and astronauts interact with it using a headset, whic

 

[spacefire]

can you think of harmless commands that sound close to 'open airlock', or 'shut-off air supply' or 'fire all forward thrusters', or 'disengage Soyuz' ? <br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

I really hope that the computer wouldn't have control over those sorts of things. As much trouble as i've had with my computer today, I'd certainly be leery of placing my life in it's hands <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" />

 

[holmec]

LOL, its an assistant, not a commander. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

I wonder if I could get that software, it could read this forum to me. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

windows XP has a speech thing that reads windows for lazy or blind people. What blind people are doing with computers is beyond me, but hey.

 

[nacnud]

Blind people use computers all the time, it is not as much a disadvantage as you would think. Think how much text there is online compared to how many brail books there are.

 

[lunatio_gordin]

seems like watching TV. kinda pointless... but i'm not claiming to know anything about the subject at all. just thought i'd point out the existence of said program.