Bot News
KarlBot: Next Generation of Virtual Agent

By Brian Proffitt

In the world of virtual agents and commerce bots, one of the most prolific forms of bot is the Lingubot. Five chat bots listed on BotSpot alone are based on Lingubot technology, and there are more out there on the Internet every day.

Now Kiwilogic has partnered with LifeFX to create a stunning new type of bot that represents the next generation of chat bot technology.

This new bot is derived from LifeFX's Stand-In virtual people technology, coupled with Kiwilogic's Lingubot back-end and is a virtual representation of Kiwilogic’s CEO Karl L. von Wendt. The result of this partnership is the KarlBot, a 3D extremely lifelike chat bot that mans the Kiwilogic home page.

Having met von Wendt in person, I can assuredly tell you that based on looks alone, the KarlBot is a near-perfect representation of von Wendt. According to Kiwilogic, the bot was visually put together using nothing more than a few still photographs of the German CEO.

To view the KarlBot, you will need to have Internet Explorer 5.0 and the LifeFX plug-in, which is easily downloaded from Kiwilogic when you first start the 3D bot.

Installation was smooth, and the file sizes were not so large that it would be a huge pain for a dial-up connection. Once installed, you are asked to register for another service called Facemail, which allows you to send and receive LifeFX agents with your e-mail. You don't have to do this to use the plug-in, but while you are there, I encourage you to examine the example of the LifeFX Stand-in that directs you at the Facemail site.

Once up and running, the KarlBot is loaded with just a small download and had outstanding performance. The expressions and movements of this bot are extremely smooth, though the mouth animation is just slightly unrealistic when the KarlBot is talking.

The voice technology is fairly good as well, in that it is smooth and not halting. The voice is still a synthesized bot voice, however.

Like the 2D representation of von Wendt, the KarlBot's Lingubot technology makes for efficient and well-phrased answers to your questions. Interestingly enough, the KarlBot is only available in English and not on the company's German site.

Lifef/x, Inc. is working to create the face of the Internet by developing photo-realistic, digital human faces called Stand-Ins that can interact in real time. Stand-Ins can be used by Web businesses as lifelike customer-service and sales representatives, guides, teachers and entertainers, while consumer applications will include e-mail, instant messaging, and chat rooms, according to the company.

The LifeFX technology was originally developed for professional medical applications by the University of Auckland.

If this is the future of bot technology, you definitely need to take a look into this very interesting crystal ball.