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20 questions
Posted: May 23, 2005, 2:38 am
by kyoukan
I bought one of these handheld toys the other day that basically plays 20 questions with you. It's pretty freaky how often it gives you the answer. I was tooling around at the company website and saw some info about it.
The artificial intelligence behind the game is a neural-network, similar to a human brain. A brain, or neural-network, is built from neurons connected by synaptic connections. A human brain has about one hundred trillion (100,000,000,000,000) synaptic connections. The 20Q.net online version has about ten million (10,000,000), and the pocket version has about two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000). The game uses the neural-network to choose the next question as well as deciding what to guess.
I don't know how accurate that crap is but the thing is pretty fucking swank. There's an online version of it you can try here:
http://20q.secondthought.com/
There's also a faster html version of it
here.
Sometimes it goes over 20 questions trying to get the answer but if it doesn't by 30 it gives up.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 2:45 am
by Nilaman
Kinda cool.
29 guesses later and it got a chair.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 2:56 am
by Canelek
Damn, it is good. I think it is Canadian.
You were thinking of a caribou.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 3:00 am
by kyoukan
how did you know I was thinking about caribou
Posted: May 23, 2005, 3:16 am
by Dregor Thule
Freaky. Stumped it with an aluminum can, but it's been freaky good about some of the other things..
Posted: May 23, 2005, 3:18 am
by Canelek
Well dear, I know that caribou has always been a hot topic up there.

Damn, this is a fun site.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 4:32 am
by Ransure
Re: 20 questions
Posted: May 23, 2005, 11:18 am
by Xzion
kyoukan wrote:I bought one of these handheld toys the other day that basically plays 20 questions with you. It's pretty freaky how often it gives you the answer. I was tooling around at the company website and saw some info about it.
The artificial intelligence behind the game is a neural-network, similar to a human brain. A brain, or neural-network, is built from neurons connected by synaptic connections. A human brain has about one hundred trillion (100,000,000,000,000) synaptic connections. The 20Q.net online version has about ten million (10,000,000), and the pocket version has about two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000). The game uses the neural-network to choose the next question as well as deciding what to guess.
I don't know how accurate that crap is but the thing is pretty fucking swank. There's an online version of it you can try here:
http://20q.secondthought.com/
There's also a faster html version of it
here.
Sometimes it goes over 20 questions trying to get the answer but if it doesn't by 30 it gives up.
heh my friend has one of those, when i was messing around with it it guessed condom, komoto dragon, teradactyl(sp)....but i got it on gondala!
Posted: May 23, 2005, 11:41 am
by Sylvus
It even guesses crazy misspellings??
Posted: May 23, 2005, 11:48 am
by Voronwë
Q: what is 2 to the 20th power?
A: 1 048 576
Q: how many words represent nouns in the English language?
A: about 85,000
The Second Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary contains full entries for 171,476 words in current use, and 47,156 obsolete words. To this may be added around 9,500 derivative words included as subentries. Over half of these words are nouns, about a quarter adjectives, and about a seventh verbs; the rest is made up of interjections, conjunctions, prepositions, suffixes, etc. These figures take no account of entries with senses for different parts of speech (such as noun and adjective).
so mathmatically, there is a lot of "fudge factor room" here. The hard part is designing a series of questions to rapidly pair the list down. The machine does the easy part. The programmer is the one who is really smart

Posted: May 23, 2005, 11:51 am
by Sylvos
Sylvus wrote:It even guesses crazy misspellings??
damn you beat me to it
Posted: May 23, 2005, 11:56 am
by Moonwynd
It guessed mine in 19 questions...that is freaky!
20Q.net
Q19. I am guessing that it is an hourglass?
Yes , No , Close
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18. Is it straight? No.
17. Can you use it with your friends? Irrelevant.
16. Would you find it on a farm? No.
15. Does it have writing on it? No.
14. Is it dangerous? No.
13. Is it colorful? No.
12. Does it bring joy to people? No.
11. Does it get wet? No.
10. Can it help you find your way? No.
9. Is it hard? Yes.
8. Does it conduct electric current? No.
7. Do you use it at night? Irrelevant.
6. Can it be played? No.
5. Is it small? Yes.
4. Do you hold it when you use it? No.
3. Can you switch it on and off? No.
2. Does it have a hard outer shell? Maybe.
1. It is classified as Other.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 12:03 pm
by Voronwë
shit it gets 3 choices? (yes, no, close)
that changes things by 3 orders of magnitude!
3 486 784 401
Posted: May 23, 2005, 3:41 pm
by Hesten
Gave up on it after it spend 27 guesses trying to guess a labrador dog.
It did get close though, guesses on a St. Bernard, then next question "is it bigger than a country". And yes, this was a question in the Pet category.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 3:50 pm
by Lohrno
It didn't get "Your mom."
It did come close in guessing though...
A Polar bear
A beluga whale
A black bear
A Sea Lion...
Posted: May 23, 2005, 4:15 pm
by Winnow
It got mine in one guess.
Animal, Mineral or vegetable?
-vegetable
Q1. I am guessing that it is a Canadian?
Posted: May 23, 2005, 4:23 pm
by Sabek
The Terminator wrote:I have a neural net computer, a thinking computer.
q20 is the early version of Skynet and will destroy us all.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 5:30 pm
by Voronwë
Winnow wrote:It got mine in one guess.
Animal, Mineral or vegetable?
-vegetable
Q1. I am guessing that it is a Canadian?
better punchline would be Terri Schiavo

Posted: May 23, 2005, 5:44 pm
by Sirensa
haha, it guessed BUTT!!! (course it guessed large intestine first, but still, not bad)
Posted: May 23, 2005, 5:52 pm
by Sabek
You also have to attribute some of the errors to the subjectivity of the answers that the person gives.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 7:18 pm
by XunilTlatoani
the first three i tried, it got right on the money within 20 questions: key, business card, compact disc.
I tested it on a famous person, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and it guessed "soulmate", which was kind of scary...
Posted: May 23, 2005, 7:43 pm
by Lohrno
I stumped it. First person to guess what I was thinking gets 50VVs.
29. I guess that it is a criminal? Close.
28. Is it heavier than a pound of butter? Yes.
27. I guess that it is a boxer (a person who boxes)? No.
26. Is it used in a sport? Sometimes.
25. I guess that it is a drunk? Close.
24. Is it dangerous? Yes.
23. Would you pay to use it? No.
22. Does it have a tail? No.
21. Can it change size? No.
20. I guess that it is a composer? No.
19. I guess that it is a spine? No.
18. Is it hard? Sometimes.
17. I guess that it is a chef? No.
16. Do you use it in public? Yes.
15. Can it help you find your way? No.
14. Can it climb? Sometimes.
13. Does it live in cities? Yes.
12. Is it colorful? No.
11. Can it run fast? No.
10. Is it small? No.
9. Is it considered valuable? Yes.
8. Is it smaller than a loaf of bread? No.
7. Is it awake at night? Sometimes.
6. Does it move? Yes.
5. Can it save your life? No.
4. Does it lay eggs? No.
3. Is it fuzzy? No.
2. Can you find it in a house? Yes.
1. It is classified as Animal.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 7:49 pm
by Dregor Thule
A junkie!
Posted: May 23, 2005, 7:50 pm
by Lohrno
Dregor Thule wrote:A junkie!
...
Close

Posted: May 23, 2005, 8:14 pm
by Truant
it got pirate in 25 questions.
This is neat!

Posted: May 23, 2005, 8:19 pm
by Dregor Thule
Lohrno wrote:Dregor Thule wrote:A junkie!
...
Close

If you're splitting hairs over like Pothead and Junkie I'll slap you. Or maybe its a crackdealer..
Posted: May 23, 2005, 8:20 pm
by Lohrno
Dregor Thule wrote:
If you're splitting hairs over like Pothead and Junkie I'll slap you. Or maybe its a crackdealer..
Wrong on both counts.

Posted: May 23, 2005, 9:32 pm
by Voronwë
Xzion!?
Posted: May 23, 2005, 9:47 pm
by Lohrno
Voronwë wrote:Xzion!?
Nope not XZion...
Posted: May 23, 2005, 10:31 pm
by Voronwë
teenybloke?
Sylvus?
me?
Posted: May 23, 2005, 10:36 pm
by Lohrno
Voronwë wrote:teenybloke?
Sylvus?
me?
No no no it's valuable and dangerous.

Posted: May 23, 2005, 10:39 pm
by Voronwë
Marcelus Wallace's soul?
Posted: May 23, 2005, 10:44 pm
by Lohrno
Voronwë wrote:Marcelus Wallace's soul?
Lmao. As far as I know Marcelus Wallace is still alive. =D
Here's another run through the same thing.
29. I guess that it is a potbellied pig (pet)? Close.
28. I guess that it is a banshee? No.
27. Is it involved in movies? Yes.
26. I guess that it is a woman? No.
25. Is it larger than a microwave oven (or bread box)? Yes.
24. Do most people use this daily? No.
23. I guess that it is a poltergeist? No.
22. Does it move? Yes.
21. Can you touch it? No.
20. I guess that it is a millionaire? Close.
19. Would you find it in an office? Yes.
18. Can it swim? Maybe.
17. I guess that it is an author? No.
16. Can it run fast? No.
15. Is it used for entertainment? Sometimes.
14. Does it come from something larger? No.
13. Is it used for communications? Yes.
12. Is it taught in school? Yes.
11. Can it carry people? No.
10. Does it live near water? No.
9. Is it annoying? Yes.
8. Is it white? Yes.
7. Do you hold it when you use it? No.
6. Does it eat fish? Sometimes.
5. Is it small? No.
4. Is it very large? No.
3. Is it brown? No.
2. Is it multicolored? No.
1. It is classified as Animal.
30. I am guessing that it is an orc? Close.
29. I guess that it is a baboon? Close.
28. Can you play games with it? No.
27. Is it used in a sport? No.
26. Is it ferocious? Yes.
25. Is it involved in movies? Yes.
24. Is it straight? Maybe.
23. Does it perform? Yes.
22. Does it stand on two legs? Yes.
21. Does it swim? Maybe.
20. I guess that it is a cowboy? Close.
19. I guess that it is a drunk? Close.
18. Could it be found in a classroom? No.
17. Is it outside? Sometimes.
16. Does it serve a purpose? No.
15. Does it help accomplish tasks? No.
14. Does it grunt? Yes.
13. Would you find it on a farm? Sometimes.
12. Can you get information by using it? No.
11. Can you dress it up? Yes.
10. Is it a vegetarian? No.
9. Does it have a long neck? No.
8. Does it eat leaves? Sometimes.
7. Does it have a large nose? No.
6. Does it have hooves? No.
5. Does it live in grass-lands? Yes.
4. Is it a predator? No.
3. Is it small? No.
2. Is it brown? No.
1. It is classified as Animal.
Posted: May 23, 2005, 11:06 pm
by Dregor Thule
Christ Farley?!
A corporate stiff with a coke habit?!?
I dunno :/
Posted: May 23, 2005, 11:12 pm
by Dregor Thule
Stumped it!
30. I guess that it is a nostril? No.
29. I guess that it is a cyclops? No.
28. Is it originally from Africa? No.
27. Is it brown? No.
26. Does it have claws? No.
25. Do you know any songs about it? No.
24. I guess that it is a cannibal? No.
23. Does it slobber? Yes.
Does it live near water? Unknown.
22. Is it a predator? Yes.
21. Does it have fangs? No.
20. I guess that it is an enemy? Close.
19. Does it have a hole in it? Yes.
18. Is it spontaneous? No.
17. I guess that it is a fool? Close.
16. Would you find it in an office? Yes.
15. Can it cheer you up? No.
14. Can you find it in a house? Yes.
13. Is it pleasurable? No.
12. Can it help you find your way? Doubtful.
11. Is it larger than a microwave oven (or bread box)? Yes.
10. Does it swim? Maybe.
9. Does it have feet? Yes.
8. Does it grow over time? Yes.
7. Can it fit in an envelope? No.
6. Is it small? Yes.
5. Does it have a tail? No.
4. Does it live in water? No.
3. Can it swim? Maybe.
2. Does it have fur? No.
1. It is classified as Animal.
30. I guess that it is a dwarf? Close.
29. I guess that it is a child? Close.
28. Does it store information? Yes.
27. Does it stink? Probably.
26. I guess that it is an insect? Close.
25. Does it involve contact with other humans? Yes.
24. Does it eat leaves? Yes.
23. Can you lift it? Yes.
22. Does it get wet? Yes.
21. Does it perform? Irrelevant.
20. I guess that it is a fool? Close.
19. Does it contain a lot of water? Yes.
18. Does it help accomplish tasks? No.
17. Can you hold it? Yes.
16. Can it save your life? No.
15. Could it be found in a classroom? Yes.
14. Is it considered valuable? No.
13. Can it help you find your way? Doubtful.
12. Does it grunt? Yes.
Does it have good vision? Unknown.
11. Is it pleasurable? No.
10. Does it jump? Yes.
9. Does it live in cities? Yes.
8. Is it a small mammal? Yes.
7. Does it fit in your wallet? No.
Would you find it on a farm? Unknown.
6. Does it make sound? Yes.
5. Is it small? Yes.
4. Can it affect you (cause an effect to you)? Yes.
3. Does it have four legs? No.
2. Can you buy it? No.
1. It is classified as Animal.
Anyone know what this one is? Gave you 2 run throughs!
Posted: May 24, 2005, 12:13 am
by Voronwë
Lohrno wrote:Voronwë wrote:Marcelus Wallace's soul?
Lmao. As far as I know Marcelus Wallace is still alive. =D
.
yeah but he can be alive, and have his soul in other hands. more specifically, his soul could be contained within a briefcase!!
Posted: May 24, 2005, 1:24 am
by Moonwynd
A crack whore!
Lohrno wrote:I stumped it. First person to guess what I was thinking gets 50VVs.
29. I guess that it is a criminal? Close.
28. Is it heavier than a pound of butter? Yes.
27. I guess that it is a boxer (a person who boxes)? No.
26. Is it used in a sport? Sometimes.
25. I guess that it is a drunk? Close.
24. Is it dangerous? Yes.
23. Would you pay to use it? No.
22. Does it have a tail? No.
21. Can it change size? No.
20. I guess that it is a composer? No.
19. I guess that it is a spine? No.
18. Is it hard? Sometimes.
17. I guess that it is a chef? No.
16. Do you use it in public? Yes.
15. Can it help you find your way? No.
14. Can it climb? Sometimes.
13. Does it live in cities? Yes.
12. Is it colorful? No.
11. Can it run fast? No.
10. Is it small? No.
9. Is it considered valuable? Yes.
8. Is it smaller than a loaf of bread? No.
7. Is it awake at night? Sometimes.
6. Does it move? Yes.
5. Can it save your life? No.
4. Does it lay eggs? No.
3. Is it fuzzy? No.
2. Can you find it in a house? Yes.
1. It is classified as Animal.
Posted: May 24, 2005, 2:00 am
by Leonaerd
It doesn't do so hot with things that aren't physical, like "a word" or "a haiku".
Posted: May 24, 2005, 12:40 pm
by Lohrno
Dregor Thule wrote:Christ Farley?!
A corporate stiff with a coke habit?!?
I dunno :/
Now that is quite close...the latter...
Posted: May 24, 2005, 12:48 pm
by Drolgin Steingrinder
a corpse omg
Posted: May 24, 2005, 12:57 pm
by Atokal
Damn smart,
20Q won!
Play Again
You were thinking of a dwarf.
Can it be tamed? You said Yes, I say No.
Is it comforting? You said Maybe, I say No.
Contradictions Detected
The opinions of the game are its own and are based on the input of people playing the game. It does not matter if our answers disagree, as over time the game will change its answers to reflect common knowledge. If you feel that the game is in error, the only way to fix it is to play again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Similar Objects
a human being, a child, a gnome, a daughter, a composer, a family, a woman, a girlfriend, heartache, sunshine, a gypsy, an accident/kyoukan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: May 24, 2005, 1:58 pm
by Lohrno
Dregor Thule wrote:Stumped it!
30. I guess that it is a nostril? No.
29. I guess that it is a cyclops? No.
28. Is it originally from Africa? No.
27. Is it brown? No.
26. Does it have claws? No.
25. Do you know any songs about it? No.
24. I guess that it is a cannibal? No.
23. Does it slobber? Yes.
Does it live near water? Unknown.
22. Is it a predator? Yes.
21. Does it have fangs? No.
20. I guess that it is an enemy? Close.
19. Does it have a hole in it? Yes.
18. Is it spontaneous? No.
17. I guess that it is a fool? Close.
16. Would you find it in an office? Yes.
15. Can it cheer you up? No.
14. Can you find it in a house? Yes.
13. Is it pleasurable? No.
12. Can it help you find your way? Doubtful.
11. Is it larger than a microwave oven (or bread box)? Yes.
10. Does it swim? Maybe.
9. Does it have feet? Yes.
8. Does it grow over time? Yes.
7. Can it fit in an envelope? No.
6. Is it small? Yes.
5. Does it have a tail? No.
4. Does it live in water? No.
3. Can it swim? Maybe.
2. Does it have fur? No.
1. It is classified as Animal.
30. I guess that it is a dwarf? Close.
29. I guess that it is a child? Close.
28. Does it store information? Yes.
27. Does it stink? Probably.
26. I guess that it is an insect? Close.
25. Does it involve contact with other humans? Yes.
24. Does it eat leaves? Yes.
23. Can you lift it? Yes.
22. Does it get wet? Yes.
21. Does it perform? Irrelevant.
20. I guess that it is a fool? Close.
19. Does it contain a lot of water? Yes.
18. Does it help accomplish tasks? No.
17. Can you hold it? Yes.
16. Can it save your life? No.
15. Could it be found in a classroom? Yes.
14. Is it considered valuable? No.
13. Can it help you find your way? Doubtful.
12. Does it grunt? Yes.
Does it have good vision? Unknown.
11. Is it pleasurable? No.
10. Does it jump? Yes.
9. Does it live in cities? Yes.
8. Is it a small mammal? Yes.
7. Does it fit in your wallet? No.
Would you find it on a farm? Unknown.
6. Does it make sound? Yes.
5. Is it small? Yes.
4. Can it affect you (cause an effect to you)? Yes.
3. Does it have four legs? No.
2. Can you buy it? No.
1. It is classified as Animal.
Anyone know what this one is? Gave you 2 run throughs!
Me? =D
Posted: May 24, 2005, 3:14 pm
by Dregor Thule
Lohrno wrote:Me? =D
You're close. And I don't mean with your guess.
And Drolgin is right

Yours must be a corpse!
Posted: May 24, 2005, 3:20 pm
by Lohrno
Dregor Thule wrote:Lohrno wrote:Me? =D
You're close. And I don't mean with your guess.
And Drolgin is right

Yours must be a corpse!
If no one gets it by tomorrow I'll give points to you because you are closest. I"ll give a hint. It's office is not the usual shape...
I'm pretty sure it will guess a corpse.
Posted: May 24, 2005, 4:36 pm
by Ennia
guessed mine, I got a laugh from Q11 lol
Q18. I am guessing that it is a dustmite?
Yes , No , Close
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17. Does it get wet? No.
16. Do you catch it? No.
15. Is it awake at night? Yes.
14. Does it live in groups (gregarious)? Yes.
13. Does it live in the jungle? No.
12. Is it a predator? Doubtful.
11. Would you touch it with a 10-foot pole? No.
10. Is it dangerous? Sometimes.
9. Is it bad for your health? Yes.
8. Does it live in wet-lands? No.
Is it green or black? Unknown.
7. Does it involve contact with other humans? Maybe.
Does it bite? Unknown.
6. Can you buy it at a store? No.
5. Is it useful? No.
Is it black? Unknown.
4. Can you find it in a house? Yes.
3. Is it heavy? No.
2. Can it scratch? No.
1. It is classified as Animal.
Posted: May 25, 2005, 1:51 pm
by Lohrno
Ok I'll give it to Dregor, he came close.
It was Dubya.
Now if I could figure out how to donate vvs....

Posted: May 25, 2005, 1:54 pm
by Lohrno
Dregor Thule wrote:Lohrno wrote:Me? =D
You're close. And I don't mean with your guess.
And Drolgin is right

Yours must be a corpse!
My momma?
A Penix?
Edit: I gave you 2 Cherry Pies which you can sell to get about 50vv. I couldn't find the donate VVs option...
Posted: May 25, 2005, 2:41 pm
by Homercles
we got a couple of those 20 question gadets for xmas. They are freakishly accurate.
Posted: May 25, 2005, 3:40 pm
by Sueven
Lohrno, it doesn't work with proper nouns, there's no way it was going to get that.
Posted: May 25, 2005, 3:58 pm
by Lohrno
Sueven wrote:Lohrno, it doesn't work with proper nouns, there's no way it was going to get that.
Doh.
Oh well. This one got it and is kind of entertaining.
Dictator or Sitcom star?