Poem-generating algorithms:
- Regular poem - mixes user input and a random sampling of words from a variety of sources
- Shake It! - mixes user input with random samples from William Shakespeare's plays
- Jabberwocky - builds a poem with user words mixed with random selections from a database of nonsense words
Special display functions:
- Fridge Magnet Poetry - transforms a robopoem into virtual fridge magnets which can be dragged around in a computer window
- Ransom Note Generator - Words of a robopoem are re-presented in a graphic format where each letter is represented in magazine or newspaper cutout fonts
|
A poetic rhythm is usually achieved by matching the syllable counts in pairs of lines (couplets) or alternating lines. A syllable can be thought of as a beat: it is a natural rhythmic unit in a spoken word. In the case of songs (sung poems), the syllables usually sync up to the notes in the melody. The skill of matching up the syllable counts in adjoining (or alternating) lines of poetry might traditionally be identified as a special human talent, but it is a chore which can also be performed by poetry software. The fact that no computer can understand human language shouldn't present much of a problem: many songs and poems seem meaningless anyway!
Computer-generated Poetry with ROBOPOEM:
Robopoem is a computer program which creates poetry out of random words and user input. The computer algorithms powering Robopoem analyze INPUT words to determine their rhythmic structure and rhyming characteristics. Based on these properties, a random selection is made from a pool of potential words which have the desired syllable counts and rhyming structure as requested by the user in a Settings panel.
|
|
|
Why Computer Poetry?
A great deal of poetry mystifies it's readers: It may sound pretty, but it leaves you wondering "what the hell was that supposed to mean?". Yet meaning (or the lack of it) is the one ingredient distinguishing computer generated poems from those written by humanoids. Once you take away a poem's semantic features, it's remaining defining characteristics might easily be automated in the cyber realm. For example, one of the reasons a poem might be recognized as a poem (and not prose) is that the text is often formatted into some kind of rhythmic structure. Another common (but not essential) feature is a rhyming scheme. The ROBOPOEM function of the Cut'n'Mix application creates poetry from random pools of words, assembling them in pre-defined rhythmic and rhyming structures - the resulting robopoems are mostly nonsensical, but quite often they sound like real poetry.
DOWNLOAD Cut'n'Mix:
 Download Cut 'n' Mix 6.0
23.4 MB, Windows XP or Windows Vista required. (Windows 7 or 8 operating systems may have compatibility issues). This installer contains a fully-functional 7-day trial. For continued use beyond the trial period, check the licensing page.)
|
New for 2012:
There is another ROBOT Function
Version 6.0 of the Cut'n'Mix Postmodern Word Processor now includes an Automatic Collage building function called ROBOCOLLAGE. This new feature allows the user to transform cut-ups and ROBOPOEMS into automatic word and image mashups saved in html format and ready to upload to a website. This new feature includes a database of 182 image files which are free for licensed users to upload to their own websites.
A new Automatic Collage Tips'n'Tricks homepage called ROBOCOLLAGE.COM will offer more detailed HOW-TOs, and also contains a gallery of digital collage.
Not ready to download the Cut'n'Mix application?
To find out more about the ROBOPOEM function, you can either watch a video demo on YouTube OR run the simplified online Automatic Poetry Demo.
For more in-depth documentation about the Robopoem poetry-building functions read the poetry generator functions section of the Cut'n'Mix User Guide.
|
|
|