Technology

[ellarien]

I've just been talking to a very nice computer. I called the airline to confirm my flights, and a very polite and friendly simulated voice looked up my details and read the flights back to me. I was especially impressed by the bit where 'she' listened to me say my name, British accent and all, and spelled it out flawlessly in response. The signing-off bit was a little awkward -- the illusion of talking to a person was too strong for me to just hang up, but not quite strong enough for it not to feel strange saying 'thank you' to a computer.