Downloads

Ultra Hal Assistant

Version: 6.2.24

Downloads Count: 3,789

License Type: Trial

Price: $30

Date Added: Jun 17, 2009

Operating Systems: Windows XP, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows Vista

Requirements: Microphone or headset

File Size: 21801 KB

Author: Zabaware

Recommend
this download?

Vote Yes
Vote No
0 Yes
0 No

Avg. User Rating 2

Editorial Review of Ultra Hal Assistant

If you're not a Sci-fi buff, you may not recognize the 2001: A Space Odyssey reference here. HAL was the slightly... okay, very dysfunctional computer with the dulcet voice from that famous movie. If you do get the reference, let's hope you also have a sense of humor and will trust Ultra HAL Assistant 6.2 ($30, 31-day free trial) to be your interactive AI pal. Or at the very least, have a couple of conversations with it--something the intelligence engine is said to learn and improve on over time. IMDB factoids aside, HAL is a lot of fun--but also a lot of work to set up and use.

You can interact with HAL by typing in queries and responses, but the program becomes truly useful when you add a microphone and voice recognition software such as IBM's ViaVoice or Nuance's Dragon Naturally Speaking. E.g., it's a lot easier to simply open Paint from the Start Menu than it is to open HAL and type in the request. Note: I had little luck with the mic built into my Webcam. Voice recognition requires a high-quality headset or mic like the Blue Microphones Snowflake I had sitting around.

I found HAL's interface a tad clunky. For instance, when HAL chattered on about something, sometimes the text display didn't scroll along with HAL's monologue. The stock computer-generated voices are occasionally hard to understand, so that scrolling would help. Also, the program would benefit greatly from a graphic redesign. Reallusion (makers of excellent facial animation software such as CrazyTalk Pro), meet Zabaware--you two were made for each other.

You're warned on one of the first screens that training HAL will take about two hours. I did have fun conversing with HAL, but an hour of hands-on proved insufficient to adequately train either Dragon Naturally Speaking or the program--especially for getting HAL to perform actions or remember data. I did, however, have enough success to convince me of the program's probable usefulness.

It's obvious the programmers have a sense of humor, and forgive me, but I had to try the obvious. HAL's response to "Open the pod bay doors..." was "The program "THE POD BAY DOORS" was not found in my database." Then after what probably only seemed like a slight hesitation... "I'm afraid I can't do that, Dave." That alone was worth the download.

--Jon L. Jacobi

Description of Ultra Hal Assistant

Ultra Hal Assistant is a "chatterbot" application that's billed as a kind of digital secretary and companion. Once installed, Hal presents as an animated character (appearance and gender of your choice) that can perform several common PC tasks on verbal command. For instance, you can dispatch Hal to open your address book, find a name and dial a phone number through your modem. Hal can also open documents and programs, and help with basic Web navigation. Built-in speech recognition and conversational database technology means Hal can more or less chat back and forth with you. In a limited sense, mind you, but the conversational quality is still light-years ahead of the average telemarketer.

Not a member? Register Now.

Add Your Review

Most recent User Reviews for Ultra Hal Assistant

Reviewed by: 66Lee

07-09-2009

Duration of ownership: 3 Days

Strengths: Opens progs, remembers appointments and phone numbers

Weaknesses: AI is not too impressive

Overall Evaluation: The makers tout its deductive abilities and that it can converse. I was not impressed. Its conversation is frequently off-topic and out of context. This technology is a good start but it has a very long way to go.

See more user reviews »

People who downloaded this also downloaded:

You are browsing Desktop

Narrow your results

« Back | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... » Next To re-sort this list, click a column heading.

PRODUCT NAME

30 Day Change ALL-TIME

DATE ADDED

LICENSE
Screen Saver Changer

11,777

Apr 15, 1997

Shareware

Filed Under: Desktop
Change your start-up screens each time you boot.

Be the first to review
Screen Saver Changer
Multiplicity

365

Nov 11, 2007

Trial

Filed Under: Desktop
Control two computers on your home network using the same mouse and keyboard.

Be the first to review
Multiplicity
Carbon Footprint Calculator

315

Apr 8, 2008

Free

Filed Under: Desktop
Calculate your carbon footprint with this easy to use calculator software.

Be the first to review
Carbon Footprint Calculator
Zango Showtimes

184

Jan 13, 2006

Filed Under: Desktop
Zango Showtimes - get movie info in just one click right from your desktop!

Be the first to review
Zango Showtimes
Circle Dock

14,523

Oct 1, 2008

Free

Filed Under: Desktop
Run rings around your PC with this clever program dock.

User Ratings Read Reviews
AVG
Hotkeycontrol

14,511

Apr 4, 2006

Shareware

Filed Under: Desktop
Avoid needless repetition in opening files, ejecting CD Rom drives, and restarting your computer.

Be the first to review
Hotkeycontrol
My world

7,557

Apr 27, 1999

Shareware

Filed Under: Desktop
Geographically challenged? Get this 3D interactive globe for your desktop.

Be the first to review
My world
Kilroy's Oracle

6,729

Aug 26, 1998

Free

Filed Under: Desktop
System-tray "Tarot cards" let you see what your future holds.

Be the first to review
Kilroy's Oracle
HideOE

6,333

Jun 24, 2003

Free

Filed Under: Desktop
Move Outlook Express to the system tray for easy access (or easy ignoring).

Be the first to review
HideOE
Hot Spot

5,815

Jul 27, 1998

Shareware

Filed Under: Desktop
Turn on your screen saver with a single mouse click.

Be the first to review
Hot Spot
PowerPro

5,597

Jan 19, 2001

Free

Filed Under: Desktop
Tweak, change, and customize your desktop experience with this utility.

Be the first to review
PowerPro

« Back | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... » Next

Dell Fast Track

Free Next Day Business Shipping on Dell's Most Popular Systems Over 35% off Dell’s most popular systems. Delivered in 48 hours with free next business day shipping! Ends 12/22 at 3 PM CST

Editors' Favorite Files

See more File Collections »

PC World Related Content

VistaSwitcher a Sight Better Than Vista's Task Window

Replace that boring old alt-tab window with the prettier--and more useful--VistaSwitcher.

Take Control Over Moving and Resizing Windows With WindowSpace

WindowSpace gives you Linux-like abilities to customize windows.

Downloads FAQ

If you have questions about finding, downloading, or opening files in our library, you'll probably find the answers here.

Visit the Downloads FAQ »

Special Offer

Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0

Premium Protection Against Viruses, Trojans and Worms Spyware, Adware, Rootkits and Keyloggers Phishing and Spam Hacker Attacks, Integrated Personal Firewall Privacy and Parental Controls."/>

More Information

PC World Community

Most Recent Threads

Norton Ghost Xms Allocation ErrorStarted on Mon Dec 14 11:17:59 PST 2009"
System MechanicStarted on Fri Nov 27 22:10:29 PST 2009"
Remote Control Of My PcStarted on Thu Nov 12 08:41:22 PST 2009"
Switcher For Xp?Started on Mon Nov 09 10:53:08 PST 2009"
Backup/copy By Dtae ModifiedStarted on Wed Nov 04 11:05:27 PST 2009"

		Superior
		Very Good
		Good
		Fair
		Poor

Resource Centers

Downloads

Ultra Hal Assistant

Editorial Review of Ultra Hal Assistant

Description of Ultra Hal Assistant

Add Your Review

Submit your Review

Most recent User Reviews for Ultra Hal Assistant

Reviewed by: 66Lee

See more user reviews »

People who downloaded this also downloaded:

Sponsored Links

You are browsing Desktop

Dell Fast Track

Email Address	Password	Forgot your password?

Resource Centers

Downloads

Downloads »

Utilities

»Desktop

Ultra Hal Assistant

Editorial Review of Ultra Hal Assistant

Description of Ultra Hal Assistant

Add Your Review

Submit your Review

Most recent User Reviews for Ultra Hal Assistant

Reviewed by: 66Lee

See more user reviews »

People who downloaded this also downloaded:

Sponsored Links

You are browsing Desktop

Dell Fast Track