Apr 14 2008
Artificial Authoring: Just Let the Computer Do It
Ned has this theory that humans will eventually be replaced with digital creations once the animations and the real life figures can’t be told apart. Philip M. Parker is taking the digital creation of characters into the book world digitally authoring books. Mr. Parker is an “author’ only in the loosest sense. He compiles information available on the internet and with the help of 60 to 70 computers and a few programmers, puts the results into a book.
So far, most of the books are non fiction resources such as “The Official Patient’s Sourcebook on Acne" or "The 2007-2012 Outlook for Tufted Washable Scatter Rugs, Bathmats and Sets That Measure 6-Feet by 9-Feet or Smaller in India" but Parker is readying to enter the fiction world:
And he is laying the groundwork for romance novels generated by new algorithms. "I’ve already set it up," he said. "There are only so many body parts."
Parker admits that his books have little value to anyone who is internet savvy so I don’t think that the romance authors have much to fear here.
NYT.
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Apr 14, 2008 @ 09:32:57
Someone has done that on a small scale. Here’s a romantic drabble generator. Romance authors soooooo don’t have anything to worry about.
Apr 14, 2008 @ 09:43:51
“There are only so many body parts.â€
Sigh… what romance is to most people.
Apr 14, 2008 @ 10:52:43
Man, part of me just wants to sit here and gape.
Is he serious?
But the other part of me is just…sigh.
Apr 14, 2008 @ 15:05:35
What’s that contest for worse sex scene? Bet he could enter that.
Apr 14, 2008 @ 15:32:29
I see Sir Ned is the ultimate realist.
Apr 15, 2008 @ 20:21:25
Oh, well, if it’s all body parts why am I grappling with all this mental and emotional stuff? Not to mention the external plot. I’m working WAY too hard. Tab A, Slot B, that’s the ticket! *headdesk*