Voiceless children get jokes

guardian.co.uk 23rd August 2006
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David Brill

Children who speak with computer aids are discovering the joys of joke-telling, thanks to new software that enables them to create their own puns.

The Standup (System To Augment Non-speakers' Dialogue Using Puns) project was developed by researchers at the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh. Eight young people at Corseford school, near Glasgow, tested the system over a 10-week period.

The software, which combines dictionaries, grammatical information and rules about the structure of puns, allows children to create their own jokes by discovering patterns in words and phrases.

"The children clearly enjoy these jokes and being able to engage in the practice of telling them," said Ruli Manurung, of the School of Informatics at Edinburgh University.

"After the sessions, they would get to choose what their favourite joke was and put it on their particular voice aid. We heard from the teachers that some of the children just kept telling them to all their friends, family and neighbours."

Current computerised speech aids enable basic communication but hinder fluency and spontaneity. They provide little scope for experimenting with words, in humorous or other ways.

"Many people who use communication aids tend to be passive communicators, responding to questions with one or two word answers," said Annalu Waller, at the University of Dundee school of computing.

"This research shows the importance of providing individuals with novel language. It has been wonderful to see young people with complex communication needs taking ownership of puns and using them to control their communication."

Creating Standup led its researchers to ponder why we find certain things funny. "We know very little about the science of humour and jokes. We've identified this small class of jokes, which are actually very simple [in structure], but then some of the ones Standup comes up with are quite puzzling," Mr Manurung said.

"What is the difference between a constant doughnut and a quick harm? One is a steady ring, the other is a ready sting," is one pun the programme generates, suggesting the technology may be in need of a little refinement.

Jimmy Carr has even been in touch with the researchers. "He was thinking of working our jokes into a show by having a man v machine competition," Mr Manurung said. What that says about the comedian remains a moot point.

· Standup will be demonstrated at a workshop at the University of Dundee school of computing on the weekend of August 25 and 26