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"The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed," written in 1983 by a program named Racter. Bestseller? It's very well known, but I don't know how well it sold.
by scrumper 14y ago
"The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed," written in 1983 by a program named Racter. Bestseller? It's very well known, but I don't know how well it sold.
- bcoates 14y agoRacter was more of a William S. Burroughs cut-up program, it mostly randomizes and regurgitates it's input. Policeman's Beard required carefully selected input and is on the border of being a hoax.
- scrumper 14y agoHuh, did not know that - thanks. Interesting.
- derleth 14y ago> "The Policeman's Beard" Was Largely Prefab! http://www.robotwisdom.com/ai/racterfaq.html http://www.robotwisdom.com/ai/racterfaq.html This is an interesting web page that convincingly makes the case that "The Policeman's Beard is Half Constructed" was written largely by the humans involved, with the program having a minimal role, and that the Racter program they sold to the public was incapable of reproducing the novel.