| Stanley Kubrik's HAL 9000 may have been smart | | | | mannerisms, and interactive style will be matched to |
| enough to run the spaceship Discovery, but HAL | | | | your preferences to encourage learning. In short, |
| lacked one thing today's computers may soon have-a | | | | you'll have that "favorite teacher" who got you |
| face. Computers, long plagued by the impersonality | | | | through math or chemistry. |
| of a box with speakers and programmer's graphics, | | | | She'll do everything but send you to detention |
| will soon have a face and attitude compatible with | | | | Helen will evaluate your understanding throughout |
| their users. | | | | your "e-class," just like a human teacher, and she'll |
| A one-on-one teacher just for you | | | | adapt the lesson plan accordingly. She won't move on |
| For simplicity's sake, we'll assign a name to our | | | | to more sophisticated concepts until it's clear you've |
| computer's new face and call her Helen (of course, | | | | grasped the basics. If you don't, she'll continue with |
| you'll be able to name him/her anything you like). | | | | the basics until you "get it." And if that means |
| Helen will smile at you, move around, even make you | | | | prompting you to ask questions, she'll do that too, |
| laugh. She'll have an angelic voice, calming hand | | | | offering encouragement, memorable examples, even |
| gestures and more expressions than Marcel Marceu. | | | | a clever joke or two to keep you interested. You'll |
| But most importantly, she'll encourage you to | | | | get to know Helen much like you would a really |
| learn-everything and anything-from French to | | | | interesting teacher. She'll have a colorful personality, |
| forensics. | | | | reveal her life history and specific areas of |
| Helen will have "soul" | | | | knowledge and skills-in short, she'll be really cool. Best |
| Researchers in the areas of instructional technology, | | | | of all, she'll always be up to date on the subject at |
| human-computer interaction and psychology have | | | | hand, tirelessly absorbing the latest research or |
| determined that computers can be more persuasive | | | | historic tomes on the subject being taught. |
| if they have a visual identity and "soul." Thus, they | | | | Helen won't make you stand in the corner |
| have designed what they call an effective | | | | Helen will let you learn at your own pace in a |
| "pedagogical agent," an animated, three- dimensional | | | | low-pressure learning environment. She'll project |
| character that serves as the "face" (and "interface") | | | | enthusiasm and support when you get the right |
| of the computer, one that can mimic human | | | | answer; yet, unlike a real classroom filled with peers, |
| emotional expressions, nonverbal communication and | | | | you won't be embarrassed if you fail to grasp a |
| interactions. | | | | concept or answer incorrectly. Finally, teachers like |
| You'll want to bring her an apple | | | | Helen can be set up to act as coaches or disciplined |
| Helen will be the perfect teacher. She'll interact with | | | | instructors-teaching everything from the history of |
| you, adapt to your strengths and weaknesses, even | | | | art to advanced calculus. |
| provide emotional and cognitive feedback. Far better | | | | So prepare yourself for the brave new world of |
| than Microsoft Word's annoying and intrusive | | | | computer learning. Your favorite teacher will make |
| paperclip 'Clippy,' Helen will engage you and help you | | | | sure you get an A in class and an E for effort. And |
| focus on the task at hand. And unlike a human | | | | yes, you can chew gum in class, as long as you give |
| mentor, Helen's age, ethnicity, personality, | | | | Helen your due attention. |