3 microcontroller circuits with LCD displays
each circuit 3 h x 2 1/2 inches
2001
Three microcomputers are programmed to randomly converse among themselves. Each has their own voice and a vocabulary of 209 words (with
some overlap in the vocabulary of each of the three to allow for a commonality in theme of their discussion.) Each circuit has its own speaker,
through which we hear the speech, and an LCD screen which displays the text spoken. The “conversation” moves from a position of absolute
nonsense to a point of apparent cohesion and intelligence, but more often hovers in a range between these parameters. Although each circuit
was given the same exact program, with the only difference being the vocabulary and their voice, each seemed to have its own very distinct
“preferences”. There is a very noticeable difference in the speech patterns of each, in the length of the sentences, the frequency of their speech,
preference to topics and words. In truly random programming, these “preferences” would be seen as “bugs” and the conditions causing these
regularities would need to be programmed out. In this case I viewed these “preferences” as defining of the personalities of each of these circuits,
and as the source of meaning in their conversation.