In It Together

We humans often compensate for our own weaknesses by partnering with those with complementary strengths. So fiction is full of characters who complete each other, just as show-business thrives on successful double acts. If it works for humans, then why not for our machines? The comparative strengths and weaknesses of different CC systems are well-documented in the literature, just as the pros & cons of various technologies or platforms are well known to the builders of these systems. A good pairing does more than compensate for the weaknesses of one with the strengths of another: it can find value in disparity, and deliver results that are beyond the reach of either partner alone. Here we consider the pairing of two CC systems in the same thematic area, a speechbased story-teller (with Alexa) and an embodied storyteller (using a NAO robot). Working together, these two compensate for each other’s weaknesses while creating something of comedic value that neither has on its own.