Want to play twenty questions? July 20, 2004 8:15 PM Subscribe
Want to play twenty questions? Play twenty questions against a computer. It can be startling good, sometimes, though there are a few things that still aren't in the database. Still, a decent time waster, if only for a little while.
posted by synecdoche (59 comments total)
Wow, it got it. I was thinking of a mummy. It's good...in a slightly unsettling sort of way. Just how long did it take to programme this game? posted by Dasein at 8:21 PM on July 20, 2004
Hmmm, this has undergone a lot of revisions since last I played it about a year ago. I spent a lot of time training it to identify 'homosexual male' and now that is no longer in its database as far as I can tell. Hmph. posted by WolfDaddy at 8:24 PM on July 20, 2004
Apparently it's just too high-class to have heard of 40 ounces of malt liquor. I think it was going to guess Glenlivet for a minute, though. posted by Dipsomaniac at 8:25 PM on July 20, 2004
it took 26 qs for turtle--cute tho posted by amberglow at 8:26 PM on July 20, 2004
The object in mind? George W. Bush.
The first three guesses: An enemy, A criminal, A fool. posted by sequential at 8:31 PM on July 20, 2004
Wow. 28 questions both times; river and lamp.
And now, 28 for jukebox. Bastard! posted by armoured-ant at 8:32 PM on July 20, 2004
I stumped it completely with a wooden artist's model.
But then it got peanut butter fast. posted by CunningLinguist at 8:36 PM on July 20, 2004
You were thinking of something to do with sex.
Is it small? You said Probably, I say No.
Uncommon Knowledge about a penis
Can you eat off of it? I say Yes. Does it come from an animal? I say Yes. Does it get really hot? I say Yes. Can it fit in an envelope? I say Yes. Does it have feelings? I say Yes. Is it used with animals? I say Yes. Is it symbolic? I say Yes. Can you drink from it? I say Yes. Is it awake at night? I say Yes. Is it used by a baby? I say Yes. Is it addictive? I say Yes. Can it do tricks? I say Yes. Does it have a title? I say Yes. Is it delicious? I say Yes. Does it taste good? I say Yes. Is it made of metal? I say No. posted by sequential at 8:37 PM on July 20, 2004
Wow. 28 questions both times; river and lamp.
And now, 28 for jukebox. Bastard!
Interesting. It took 28 to get a basketball also. posted by markavatar at 8:43 PM on July 20, 2004
were mefi search as accurate :D not a dp callout! (far be it from me :) just for the record!
Same as kliuless, this is not a doublepost (nor a triplepost) callout either – is merely for reference. 20Q is too damn cool to not be posted once a year.
20Q is too damn cool, hey! posted by bitpart at 9:07 PM on July 20, 2004
19 questions to nail the ukulele.
I respect it.
(Best of) Uncommon Knowledge about a ukulele:
Can you use it with your friends? I say Doubtful.
Is it useful? I say No.
Can it be used to start fires? I say Yes.
Does it bear live young? I say Yes.
Does it like sunshine? I say Yes. posted by kaibutsu at 9:11 PM on July 20, 2004
On the other hand, an algebraic group is apparently a stumper. posted by kaibutsu at 9:17 PM on July 20, 2004
Excellent, got sugar glider, logo, and hockey puck within 22 questions. It's smarter than me! posted by loquax at 9:20 PM on July 20, 2004
The FPP's link is actually the beta of the next version of the game. The original (which I think that I read somewhere has actually been around in some form since the '80s, though I can't find where I read that) is here, and doesn't seem to be suffering from the server load that the beta is. posted by bitpart at 9:20 PM on July 20, 2004
I stumped it on a cockring.
Silly thing. It guessed bubble bath. posted by billybunny at 9:26 PM on July 20, 2004
An interview with the creator explains that the website dates back to 1996, but that he first programmed the game on a floppy in 1988 and passed it around with his friends. The artificial intelligence that powers 20Q is a neural network model, based on "bioelectrical networks in the brain formed by neurons and their synapses." posted by bitpart at 9:38 PM on July 20, 2004
I beat it but then it called me out! I'll let you guys decide:
You were thinking of a corkscrew.
Can you play with it? You said Yes, I say No.
Can it bend without breaking? You said Yes, I say No.
Does it bring joy to people? You said Yes, I say Doubtful.
Can you play games with it? You said Probably, I say No. posted by vacapinta at 9:56 PM on July 20, 2004
19 questions to get 'electric guitar.'
Damn machines.... posted by spilon at 9:59 PM on July 20, 2004
I stumped it with a Welsh Terrier. Yorkshire terrier is in there, but not Welsh. posted by SisterHavana at 10:04 PM on July 20, 2004
28 questions to get keyhole, but I beat it with microphone stand. posted by dogwelder at 10:27 PM on July 20, 2004
I tried "Rush Limbaugh" and it didn't get it. Then it showed me a list of what it had guessed, and I got this list:
Similar Objects
stomach, a narwhal (with spiral tusk), the esophagus, a ceiling fan, the large intestine, a giant squid, sea serpent (maybe mythical), a manatee, lungs, an intestine, a beluga (white whale), a traffic jam.
I guess it won after all. posted by interrobang at 10:28 PM on July 20, 2004
I tried Kiwi (the bird) and it won. posted by abcde at 10:29 PM on July 20, 2004
Uncommon Knowledge about a boyfriend
Can you use it with your friends? I say No.
Can it be stolen? I say Yes.
Would you find it on a farm? I say No.
Can you peel it? I say Yes.
Can you talk on it? I say Probably.
Is it lumpy? I say Probably.
Do you hold it when you use it? I say Yes. posted by bonheur at 10:31 PM on July 20, 2004
I went with what I thought was pedestrian stuff (sardines, communism, hockey jersey, an action movie, a gag reflex), and it got 4 out of 5. Impressive. posted by chicobangs at 10:40 PM on July 20, 2004
Wow!, it got protein, I am impressed. Although some of its knowledge is definitely wrong:
Does it grow over time? You said Sometimes, I say No.
Could it be found in a classroom? You said Maybe, I say No.
Is it dangerous? You said Sometimes, I say No. posted by GreenDragon at 10:46 PM on July 20, 2004
whore
pocket protector posted by Hypharse at 11:22 PM on July 20, 2004
It didn't get chair, fish or banana. It did suggest swivel chair and goldfish for the first two. I think its been asked for so many detailed answers that it has problems with higher categories.
I think it got tripped up on banana because I answered no to "does it grow on trees". Everyone knows that bananas do not grow on trees. Don't they? posted by davehat at 1:58 AM on July 21, 2004
Hah! It thinks a wolverine is a chow-chow. posted by dayvin at 2:08 AM on July 21, 2004
Now it thinks a mouse is a centaur. posted by dayvin at 2:11 AM on July 21, 2004
So according to sequential's post a penis isn't small, but its answer for thesaurus was that it is small. Is this the world's most well hung website? posted by biffa at 2:13 AM on July 21, 2004
Does it live in African grass lands? I say Yes.
Does it shine? I say Probably.
Do most people use this daily? I say Yes.
Do you use it at work? I say Probably.
Can you put something into it? I say Yes.
Does it roar? I say Yes.
Does it break if dropped? I say Yes.
Is it shiny? I say Probably.
Is it found on a desk? I say Probably.
Is it very large? I say Yes.
Would you use it in the dark? I say Yes.
Does it come in a box? I say Probably.
Is it an abstract concept? I say Probably.
Does it have an exo-skeleton? I say Yes.
Do you chew it? I say Yes.
Is it conscious? I say Doubtful.
Uncommon Knowledge about lasagne
Does it have hooves? I say Probably.
I'm giving that restaurant a miss. posted by etc at 3:52 AM on July 21, 2004
I stumped it completely with a bicycle pedal, and it took 21 questions for it to guess a drinking glass. posted by emelenjr at 4:26 AM on July 21, 2004
Q. Do bananas grow on trees?
A. No, they're not grown on trees. Bananas are grown on a plant made up of soft overlapping leaves, which can grow up to 30 feet (914 centimeters), making it the largest on earth without a woody stem. posted by davehat at 4:58 AM on July 21, 2004
/smarty pants posted by davehat at 4:58 AM on July 21, 2004
For those of you without a continual computer connection, there is a portable version available at your local or online electronics/toy retailer. posted by aaaaa at 5:27 AM on July 21, 2004
Uncommon Knowledge about a cup of coffee
Is it fluffy? I say Yes.
Is it considered man's best friend? I say Probably. posted by jennyb at 6:15 AM on July 21, 2004
Stumped it with "credenza" ... though it did guess "locker" and "cubicle" ... posted by grabbingsand at 6:15 AM on July 21, 2004
Uncommon Knowledge about an operating system
...
Does it bark? I say Probably.
Is it a member of the cat family? I say Probably.
Can you keep it in a cage? I say Yes.
Does it fly? I say Yes.
What the heck? posted by reklaw at 7:20 AM on July 21, 2004
Dildo is not in it's database... posted by LoopSouth at 7:24 AM on July 21, 2004
I completely stumped it with Jump Rope.
Also, it says a sword is not an object you use daily. I beg to differ. posted by anastasiav at 8:14 AM on July 21, 2004
28 questions for highlighter pen, coke can, and smoke detector.
However, apparently a fart is similar to a smoke detector. I'll remember to evacuate the next time the dog wakes me up in the middle of the night by cutting loose with one. posted by obfusciatrist at 8:33 AM on July 21, 2004
I loved this question: Does it weigh more than a duck? (asked when guessing chainsaw) posted by F Mackenzie at 8:50 AM on July 21, 2004
stumped it with a trillium. apparently endangered flowers, with sets of 3 leaves, 3 sepals, and 3 petals aren't in the database. they're common around here in wooded areas, although still endangered enough that moving them is illegal. (can it be moved easily? i say no.) posted by caution live frogs at 9:15 AM on July 21, 2004
Still unbeatable with "Magna Carta" posted by leotrotsky at 12:58 PM on July 21, 2004
I was shocked at how quickly it got "guitar pick" and "lava lamp." Impressive. posted by litlnemo at 2:34 PM on July 21, 2004
Uncommon Knowledge about a CD
Does it grunt? I say Probably.
Can it be tamed? I say Probably.
Can you add it to a salad? I say Probably.
Does it usually live on a farm? I say Probably.
Is it originally from Canada? I say Yes.
That's a CD, all right--Canadian grunting tamable livestock that's *also* a salad dressing! posted by Turtles all the way down at 6:22 PM on July 21, 2004
*pictures a Canadian turtle ranch, with a rodeo going on* : > posted by amberglow at 6:32 PM on July 21, 2004
"Is it heavier than a pound of butter?"
Is there some sort of joke to this question? A pound is a pound no? I'm not very good with these "clever" questions. posted by juiceCake at 8:54 PM on July 21, 2004
You win Play Again
You were thinking of beer.
Well, duh. posted by yhbc at 9:02 PM on July 21, 2004
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posted by Dasein at 8:21 PM on July 20, 2004