20 Questions - It Knows the Answer

[mac 2005]

Just learned about this site this evening...

Twenty Questions for the 21st century (http://www.20q.net)

Amazing how it works. I saw it get motorcycle, glass bottle, CD-ROM and lamppost. A friend said it even got toenail clippings.

(If this has been posted before, my apologies. I did search first!)

Also available as a handheld toy -- which is where I saw the AI at work. A couple at a Scottish bar I frequent had one.

Let me know what you think. What works and what stumps it.

Baseball took it 25 questions. And it actually guessed Macintosh computer before settling on the more generic computer I'd had in mind. :)

Edit: It got cellphone in 19 questions and safe in 18 questions.

[iBlue]

it got me (i forgot to check how soon, about 15 questions)
pomegranate - i thought for sure i picked a good one, dang!


edit: i stumped it, it said i won and then it went on to argue with me about my choices. how funny!

click thumbnail screenshot to enlarge:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5252/scnst20q3cd.th.jpg (http://img209.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scnst20q3cd.jpg)

[ColoJohnBoy]

Interesting - I won, twice. First the word was 'penis' (Not fair, apparently, as the quiz isn't allowed to talk about anything related to sex), took 25 questions before the quiz gave up. The second word was 'crayon'. 29 question, it had no clue - said it wasn't even in its knowledgebase.

[Whyren]

Hurricane: 23 q :o

Pretty cool li'l thing. Got it with chlorine, though. :D

[Dr. Dastardly]

A friend said it even got toenail clippings.

It did in 25 questions for me. :p

[gekko513]

It got rucksack after about 23 questions, but it's kind of weird because afterwords it says:

"Does it burn? You said Probably, I say No."

I would think most rucksacks are made of some kind of fabric or material that burns?

[Abstract]

Apparently we disagree about the properties of a pumpkin, and it wasn't happy. ;)

[gekko513]

I've found that we disagree on a lot of things, especially if it can burn or not. It claimed that a skyscpraper couldn't burn, too.

[kainjow]

It got "computer mouse" with 20 exactly from me! :)

[thepannist]

It guessed guitar string in 18 questions. Pretty awesome.

[ColoJohnBoy]

Perhaps it meant burn in the way that acid burns, or fire burns, or a backhanded compliment burns.

[GFLPraxis]

It doesn't believe me that I can have a computer smaller than a loaf of bread.

*looks at Mac Mini and OQO*

[mikebatho]

It took 29 by my answers to get BEARD.

Fun though........

[mikebatho]

I also won with public toilet..........

[Abstract]

It doesn't believe me that I can have a computer smaller than a loaf of bread.

*looks at Mac Mini and OQO*

That is the ONE thing (a computer) that I thought about trying but didn't think we would ever agree.

It did get laptop though.

And it couldn't get chopsticks bucause.....well......if you're asian, you know that they can be made of a lot of different materials, you may or may not use them to cook, you may or may not use them everyday....etc.

[gekko513]

It didn't get fire alarm ... apparently because most others think they are square and have four corners, but I know them as being mostly circular/cylindrical.

[Nermal]

Burger King had this integrated with their site a while ago. I can't find it now though :(

Edit: Found it (http://www.sithsense.com/) :)

[CorvusCamenarum]

<From the site>
You were thinking of dingleberries.
Does it have a hard outer shell? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Is it made in many different styles? You said Maybe, I say No.
Is it a specific color? You said Depends, I say Yes.
Is it outside? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Is it bad for your health? You said Probably, I say No.
Is it furry? You said Sometimes, 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 wart, a glass eye, lint, a zit (pimple), a kidney stone, a hemorrhoid, a canker sore (mouth ulcer), dryer lint, earwax, a pimple, a hickey, a cavity (tooth decay).
Uncommon Knowledge about dingleberries
Does it have a title? I say Yes.
Is it used with a computer? I say Probably.
Does it taste good fried? I say Probably.
Can it be used to write? I say Probably.
Does it roar? I say Probably.
Is it brown? I say Yes.
<End from>

I'm almost impressed, but I don't think it would taste good fried.

[Nermal]

It's a bit stupid sometimes:

10. Is it worn? (I answered Yes).
14. Is it something you can wear?

[barneygumble]

it claimed i cheated with "wire" screw it wire belongs in minerals, thats what they are made of dopey!!!

[barneygumble]

I just had to post this one and i was thinking of a TV

19. I guessed that it was a Macintosh computer? Close.
18. Is some part of it made of glass? Yes.
17. I guessed that it was a personal computer? Close.
16. Do you open and close it? Yes.
15. Is it used in travel? Irrelevant.
14. Is it used to record an event? Yes.
13. Is it a part of something larger? No.
12. Can you speak into it? No.
11. Does it open? Yes.
10. Does it play music? Yes.
9. Is it smaller than a loaf of bread? No.
8. Do you need batteries to use it? No.
7. Can you play games with it? Yes.
6. Would you give it as a gift? Yes.
5. Do you hold it when you use it? Sometimes.
4. Was it used over 100 years ago? No.
3. Is it found on a desk? Sometimes.
2. Does it help accomplish tasks? Yes.
1. It is classified as Other.
?
Exit

[swy32x]

I won after 30 with a jet ski.

[Diatribe]

I won after 30 with a jet ski.

It got jet ski after 17. It's learning fast. :eek:

[dcv]

wow that's cool. it got 'subwoofer' at 17 questions.

[barneygumble]

another gem and i was thinking of the ipod


Q30. I am guessing that it is ikanoshiokara (Japanese spicy squid)?
Right, Wrong, Close
29. I guessed that it was a hand-held computer? Wrong.
28. Does it have a hole in it? Yes.
27. Is it part of a set? No.
26. Would you pay to use it? Yes.
25. I guessed that it was a mobile phone? Wrong.
24. Can you open it? Yes.
23. Does it usually have four corners? Yes.
22. Can you play games with it? Yes.
21. I guessed that it was a gift? Wrong.
20. I guessed that it was camera film? Wrong.
19. Is it used for communications? Yes.
18. I guessed that it was a digital camera? Wrong.
17. Could it be found in a classroom? Yes.
16. Does it use numbers? No.
15. Can it make a sound? Yes.
14. Do you open and close it? No.
13. Is it shiny? Yes.
12. Do most people use this daily? No.
11. Does it involve contact with other humans? Yes.
10. Is it used with a computer? Yes.
9. Does it help accomplish tasks? Yes.
8. Do you carry it in your pocket? Yes.
7. Does it communicate? No.
6. Does it process data? Yes.
5. Do you need batteries to use it? Yes.
4. Was it used over 100 years ago? No.
3. Is it small? Yes.
2. Do you use it at night? Yes.
1. It is classified as Other. :eek:

[Abstract]

Soon it'll make premonitions.

"So before you click on BEGIN, I'll tell you right now that I believe you're thinking of a Jetski."

I'm trying Jetski next.

FAKE EDIT: Goddamn. In 17. It's like a sponge.

[whocares]

FAKE EDIT: Goddamn. In 17. It's like a sponge.

ok. Jet ski in 16 and counrting ;)

[Lyle]

I remember trying the one with Darth Vader a while back and not being impressed because I was able to stump it with several pretty easy objects. This one (20Q) got "ceiling tile" in 20 questions, though. Actually, it guessed "cork board" after 19 questions, and I told it that it was close; ceiling tile was its next guess.

Pretty cool. I suspect I'm going to waste a lot of time on this today. ;)

[AoWolf]

Got armadillo in 16. They must have taken forever writing it...

[gwuMACaddict]

it didn't know bacon at all... took it like 30 questions... made me enter it in to the database

[Lyle]

Got armadillo in 16. They must have taken forever writing it...If the game's really using some kind of (artificial) neural network, it may not have taken that long to write the software. I do wonder how long it's been online and "learning", though (and how much it was trained before it was put online). I also wonder if the questions that it asks are hard-coded, or if there are some scenarios (e.g. for previously unseen objects) where they ask the user to provide it with questions that it could have asked to arrive at the correct answer.

[Lyle]

it didn't know bacon at all... took it like 30 questions... made me enter it in to the databaseYou posted this while I was writing my previous post. When it was unable to guess "bacon", what did it ask you to do? For example, did you provide some additional questions that it could have asked to narrow the search down (e.g. "Is it an essential ingredient for a club sandwich?", or, "Is it the subject of a long thread in the MacRumors forums?")?

[wordmunger]

You posted this while I was writing my previous post. When it was unable to guess "bacon", what did it ask you to do? For example, did you provide some additional questions that it could have asked to narrow the search down (e.g. "Is it an essential ingredient for a club sandwich?", or, "Is it the subject of a long thread in the MacRumors forums?")?

I did "Canadian bacon," and it gave up, but it wouldn't let me add it to its knowledge base.

[mc68k]

game boy in 26 questions

[PlaceofDis]

this is pretty awesome.... although it couldnt get clock for some reason.

[Lacero]

26 questions for airplane and only 16 for asteroids.

[sushi]

I won with Helicopter. It gave up after 30 questions.

Of course it argued with me.

Sushi

[Lacero]

I won, and it didn't argue with me. :D

30. I guessed that it was education? Wrong.
29. I guessed that it was a concept (an idea)? Wrong.
28. Does it use numbers? Yes.
27. I guessed that it was an opinion? Close.
26. Can it be heard? Yes.
25. I guessed that it was conscientiousness? Wrong.
24. Can you get information by using it? Yes.
23. Can it live out of water? No.
22. Do you use it when you write? Yes.
21. Is it made in many different styles? No.
20. I guessed that it was kindness? Wrong.
19. Is it used by the police? Maybe.
18. Is it used by a baby? No.
17. I guessed that it was an idea? Wrong.
16. Would you find it in an office? Yes.
15. Can you play games with it? No.
14. Is it something you bring along? Yes.
13. Does it grow over time? Yes.
12. Is it outside? No.
11. Would you use it daily? Yes.
10. Does it get wet? No.
9. Can you buy it at a store? No.
8. Does it display information? No.
7. Is it used in a sport? No.
6. Is it small? No.
5. Does it come in a box? No.
4. Is it used for entertainment? Yes.
3. Does it bring joy to people? Yes.
2. Does it make sound? No.
1. It is classified as Other.

I was thinking rumors.

edit: I think it got tripped on the third question.

[Dynamyk]

It got eggplant in 17

[mpw]

It got tombstone (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=148101&highlight=tread) in 20 Q's although we disagreed on 6!


EDIT: It got mouse in 20Q's but guessed trackball at 17 and we only disagreed on whether it can be used for recreation.
EDIT2: It got crude oil in 23Q's but not before guessing Irish Wolfhound at Q19 and husky at Q20!

I'm addicted!

[Lau]

For a 'zine:

29. I guessed that it was fingernail polish? Wrong. :confused:
28. I guessed that it was a comic book? Close.
27. Can you use it to hit something? Rarely.
26. Would you find it in an office? Doubtful.
25. Is it taught in school? No.
24. Would you give it as a gift? Maybe.
23. Do you put your name on it? No.
22. Can you find it in a church? Doubtful.
21. Is it pleasurable? Usually.
20. I guessed that it was an instruction manual? Close.
19. Is it used for entertainment? Depends.
18. Do you open and close it? Yes.
17. Is it colorful? Depends.
16. Is it something you can purchase? Usually.
15. Does it fit in your wallet? Doubtful.
14. Does it come in a pack? Rarely.
13. Do you carry it in your pocket? Maybe.
12. Can it be used more than once? Usually.
11. Is it used to record an event? Sometimes.
10. Can you get information by using it? Sometimes.
9. Is it made from paper? Yes.
8. Can it fit in an envelope? Usually.
7. Is it straight? Irrelevant.
6. Is it white? Sometimes.
5. Do you use it at night? Maybe.
4. Is it manufactured? Partly.
3. Is it usually colorful? Depends.
2. Is it hard? Rarely.
1. It is classified as Other.

You won!

[efoto]

I just won on Jet Ski, apparently we disagree with a few things :rolleyes:

Does it use electricity? You said Yes, I say No.
Does it open? You said Yes, I say No.
Does it have a hole in it? You said Yes, I say No.

to show a few....

[WildCowboy]

Hmmm....it got "afro" in 19 questions (after first guessing "dreadlocks"). But one of its complaints was "Is it annoying? You said Sometimes, I say No."

Apparently it's never sat behind a big one.

[Super20]

I went to 24 questions before it guessed Alto Saxophone. Very fun. I'll play this every day!

[redAPPLE]

I won, and it didn't argue with me. :D


I was thinking rumors.

edit: I think it got tripped on the third question.

i think IT has to be an object...

[Macaddicttt]

it didn't know bacon at all... took it like 30 questions... made me enter it in to the database

Bacon in 19... It's learning... :)

[PlaceofDis]

so i tried condom, heres what i got:

Q17. Get your mind out of the gutter! I am not allowed to talk about stuff like this, but, I am guessing that it has something to do with sex?
Right, Wrong, Close
16. Is it fragile? Yes.
15. Does it have a long neck? Yes.
14. Would you wear it on your wedding day? Yes.
13. Do you carry it in your pocket? Maybe.
12. Is it a synthetic material? Yes.
11. Can it be washed? No.
10. Is it black? No.
9. Do you put things in it? Yes.
8. Can you stretch it? Yes.
7. Could it be found in a classroom? Doubtful.
6. Does it have a hard outer shell? No.
5. Is it smaller than a loaf of bread? Yes.
4. Can you put something into it? Yes.
3. Does it get wet? Usually.
2. Can you get information by using it? No.
1. It is classified as Other.

[Don't panic]

what's the best performance?
so far it got a 16 to guess horse
and it doesn't get better then 17 for lightbulb, over several tries.

the weirdest claim is that cows have no horns :confused: :)


and it got 20Q in twenty questions!

[PlaceofDis]

what's the best performance?
so far it got a 16 to guess horse
and it doesn't get better then 17 for lightbulb, over several tries.

the weirdest claim is that cows have no horns :confused: :)


and it got 20Q in twenty questions!

cows don't, bulls do.

[Don't panic]

cows don't, bulls do.

Really? than what is this calf doing? :eek: :)
http://www.oneskyranch.com/tressa.calf.7.24.05.1..jpg

[tech4all]

Really? than what is this calf doing? :eek: :)
<PICTURE>

You know I have found some of the most shocking and weirdest pictures at MacRumors :rolleyes: ;) :eek:

[Nermal]

It just told me that a wetsuit probably lays eggs! :eek:
Edit: And has a bushy tail!

Uncommon Knowledge about a wetsuit
Does it have writing on it? I say Yes.
Does it require specific knowledge to use it? I say Probably.
Does it lay eggs? I say Probably.
Does it live in water? I say Yes.
Does it move air? I say Yes.
Does it have a bushy tail? I say Yes.

[Nickygoat]

It got handbag in 25 questions but stumped me by asking "does it weigh more than a duck?" :eek: How the h*** would I know what a duck weighs?
Great toy though.

[dops7107]

Marvellous fun. But it didn't know what a lobotomy was. I guess it now does! :rolleyes:

[zap2]

I thought of Computer and it came out with Mac Computer crazy!!

[sushi]

Really? than what is this calf doing? :eek: :)
http://www.oneskyranch.com/tressa.calf.7.24.05.1..jpg
Growing up on the farm, your response had me rolling on the floor! :D

Sushi