People seem to often be confused about which of the Restless Studio Pandorabots to purchase. I am frequently asked which one best suits their needs and what is the difference between them. I'll try to provide a brief overview of the differences between the various models and a capsule feature review.
All of the Pandorabot models provide an artificial intelligent chat, Wikipedia query, greeter, notecard/landmark dispenser, spell check, email, group invites, speech synthesis, and dialog menu interface.
The simplest Pandorabot is the Pandorabot V5 which comes in a variety of appearances. In addition to the male, female, and Steven Colbert / Bob Dobbs two dimensional textured cutouts there is also a 3D sculpted parrot either perching on a stand or worn on the owner's shoulder. The 2D cutout Pandorabots are really all the same and each can be configured to appear as male, female, rotating Bob/Steven head, parrot, or any texture you add to the contents. The 3D sculpted parrot can only be configured to appear as the sculpted object either perched or worn.
The Inner Spheres Pandorabot includes the same scripts and functionality as the Pandorabot V5 but appears as rotating changing textured geometric shapes that emit a variety of particle displays. This is intended to serve as an art display or club entertainment as well as provide the standard AI chat and Wikipedia query features of the Pandorabot V5. The Inner Spheres Pandorabot can also be worn and you can configure it to appear as your avatar.
The Pandorabot Actorbot Add-On and Pandorabot METAbolt Add-On are 3D animated Pandorabots that appear as an avatar and provide all of the Pandorabot features as well as the ability to cycle through dances and stand animations. Whereas the Pandorabot V5 and Inner Spheres Pandorabot are prims that you rez, the Actorbot and METAbolt Pandorabots are actual Second Life avatars that are automatically logged into Second Life via a free desktop client that you run or (in the case of the Actorbot) via a server that you pay for by the hour (5L per hour per Actorbot).
It can be difficult to choose between the Actorbot and METAbolt Pandorabots. The differences and features of each make them well suited for a variety of deployments. I'll try to review each briefly to give you an idea of which might be better suited for your needs.
Actorbots can be programmed to perform specific actions when a given trigger condition is met. For instance, if an Actorbot is paid 250L that could trigger an action. Actions can be any one of instant message, chat, send group invitation, give object, wear outfit, play animation, stop animation, or sit on prim. The Actorbot Pandorabot is more programmable and scriptable than the METAbolt Pandorabot. On the other hand, the METAbolt Pandorabot utilizes an extremely lightweight desktop client that can run as many bots as you like. The Actorbot desktop client is limited to three free Actorbots, does not have near the features of the METAbolt client, and is somewhat more resource intensive. If you want to "drive" your bot via your desktop then the METAbolt Pandorabot is better equipped and really quite feature full.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Use the Inner Spheres Pandorabot as an Avatar
The Inner Spheres Pandorabot, a set of rotating geometric objects, can be worn as an attachment. In fact, using the alpha mask feature of the appearance editor, you can make your avatar invisible and wear the Inner Spheres Pandorabot. In this way you appear to be rotating cool objects emitting particles!
First, edit your appearance (Edit -> Appearance). Save your current appearance in case you want to restore it later by clicking the "Save As" button and giving it a name. Click the Alpha tab. Check all of the Alpha boxes (Head Alpha, Upper Alpha, Lower Alpha, Hair Alpha, and Eye Alpha). Click "Save As" and save your invisible appearance.
Click "OK" and exit the appearance editor. You should now appear invisible except for any attachments you may be wearing. Remove all attachments. I even detach my AO as an invisible avatar really doesn't need an AO.
Locate the Inner Spheres Pandorabot in your inventory. Right click on the Inner Spheres Pandorabot and select "Attach to -> Spine" (or another attachment point if spine is in use). You should appear as rotating geometric objects and respond as a Pandorabot.
The most common problem with wearing a Pandorabot as an attachment is the use of the greeter when teleporting to other locations. I recommend turning the greeter off or minimalizing your greeting. To configure the greeter and a few other things to tailor your Pandorabot as an attachment you will need to edit your configuration notecards.
Right click the Inner Spheres Pandorabot you are wearing and select "Edit". In the Contents tab of the edit window find the Configuration notecard. Right click the Configuration notecard and select "Open". Add the following lines to the top of the Configuration notecard:
FIRST_NAME = <your avatar's first name>
LAST_NAME = <your avatar's last name>
NAME_ENABLED = TRUE
TEXT_ENABLED = FALSE
RESTRICTED_ACCESS = 1
HOVER_ENABLED = FALSE
GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
AI_ENABLED = FALSE
Save your changes and close the edit window. Some of the above are only suggestions based on my experience using Inner Spheres as my avatar appearance. I like to set NAME_ENABLED = TRUE because then the Pandorabot will only respond when either my first or last name is used in local chat. Otherwise it responds to all local chat and that can be annoying. Since I will be teleporting to other locations I turn the greeter off. Use your own judgment.
If you wish to leave your greeter on but fine tune it's behavior, set GREET_ENABLED = TRUE in the Configuration notecard and edit the greeter configuration notecard Greeter_Config. Several parameters allow you to adjust your greeter in the following ways:
If you wish to send new arrivals an Instant Message greeting, set
GREET_ENABLED = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
If you wish to give new arrivals a landmark, set
GIVE_LANDMARK = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
If you wish to give new arrivals a notecard, set
GIVE_NOTECARD = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
If you wish to give new arrivals the named notecard NOTE_NAME,
GIVE_NAMED_NOTECARD = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
I also like to edit the Inner_Config notecard and set:
SOUND_ON = FALSE
Finally, I edit the Inner Spheres Pandorabot and position it a little higher so the rotating prims don't go underground and the whole assembly appears to float slightly above my head. This way I can wear a cape or hat or other attachments and it will look like the invisible caped person with rotating geometric objects floating over her head is present.
First, edit your appearance (Edit -> Appearance). Save your current appearance in case you want to restore it later by clicking the "Save As" button and giving it a name. Click the Alpha tab. Check all of the Alpha boxes (Head Alpha, Upper Alpha, Lower Alpha, Hair Alpha, and Eye Alpha). Click "Save As" and save your invisible appearance.
Click "OK" and exit the appearance editor. You should now appear invisible except for any attachments you may be wearing. Remove all attachments. I even detach my AO as an invisible avatar really doesn't need an AO.
Locate the Inner Spheres Pandorabot in your inventory. Right click on the Inner Spheres Pandorabot and select "Attach to -> Spine" (or another attachment point if spine is in use). You should appear as rotating geometric objects and respond as a Pandorabot.
The most common problem with wearing a Pandorabot as an attachment is the use of the greeter when teleporting to other locations. I recommend turning the greeter off or minimalizing your greeting. To configure the greeter and a few other things to tailor your Pandorabot as an attachment you will need to edit your configuration notecards.
Right click the Inner Spheres Pandorabot you are wearing and select "Edit". In the Contents tab of the edit window find the Configuration notecard. Right click the Configuration notecard and select "Open". Add the following lines to the top of the Configuration notecard:
FIRST_NAME = <your avatar's first name>
LAST_NAME = <your avatar's last name>
NAME_ENABLED = TRUE
TEXT_ENABLED = FALSE
RESTRICTED_ACCESS = 1
HOVER_ENABLED = FALSE
GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
AI_ENABLED = FALSE
Save your changes and close the edit window. Some of the above are only suggestions based on my experience using Inner Spheres as my avatar appearance. I like to set NAME_ENABLED = TRUE because then the Pandorabot will only respond when either my first or last name is used in local chat. Otherwise it responds to all local chat and that can be annoying. Since I will be teleporting to other locations I turn the greeter off. Use your own judgment.
If you wish to leave your greeter on but fine tune it's behavior, set GREET_ENABLED = TRUE in the Configuration notecard and edit the greeter configuration notecard Greeter_Config. Several parameters allow you to adjust your greeter in the following ways:
If you wish to send new arrivals an Instant Message greeting, set
GREET_ENABLED = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
If you wish to give new arrivals a landmark, set
GIVE_LANDMARK = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
If you wish to give new arrivals a notecard, set
GIVE_NOTECARD = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
If you wish to give new arrivals the named notecard NOTE_NAME,
GIVE_NAMED_NOTECARD = TRUE
Otherwise, set GREET_ENABLED = FALSE
I also like to edit the Inner_Config notecard and set:
SOUND_ON = FALSE
Finally, I edit the Inner Spheres Pandorabot and position it a little higher so the rotating prims don't go underground and the whole assembly appears to float slightly above my head. This way I can wear a cape or hat or other attachments and it will look like the invisible caped person with rotating geometric objects floating over her head is present.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Create a 3D Sculpted Pandorabot
If you own one of the 2D Pandorabots you can easily transform it into a 3D Pandorabot using a sculpted prim. Sculpted prims can give the appearance of a 3D avatar. All that is required is to move the scripts, notecards, and landmarks from your 2D Pandorabot into the contents of a 3D sculpted prim. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you.
First, find or create a 3D sculpted prim you want to use as a Pandorabot. It doesn't have to be a single prim, it can be as elaborate as you like or just a single prim. You must have modify permission on the sculpted prim. XD Fusion has a few free full perm 3D sculpted prims and some animated sculpted prims for sale. Any modifiable prim will do and it doesn't have to be a male/female human form. I run one Pandorabot as a spinning texture changing bunch of prims in a club setting.
Create a folder in your inventory where you will temporarily store the scripts, notecards, and landmark(s). Rez the 2D Pandorabot and edit it by right clicking and selecting "Edit". In the edit window click on "Contents". Select all the items in the contents by left clicking on the first one and shift left clicking on the last one. Left click and hold the mouse button down as you drag the items from the Pandorabot contents to the new folder you created. Release the mouse button. Your Pandorabot contents should be in the new folder. You can close the edit window and take the Pandorabot back into your inventory.
To make sure the Pandorabot does not attempt to apply a texture to itself, edit the Configuration notecard. Right click on the Configuration notecard in your new folder and select "Open". Add the following line to the top of the Configuration notecard:
TEXT_ENABLED = FALSE
Close the notecard editing window.
Rez the sculpted prim you want to use as a Pandorabot. Edit the prim and click on the Contents tab. Select the items from your new folder you wish to copy. You do not need to copy the textures. Drag and drop the items from your inventory into the Contents tab of the edit window. While still in edit mode, select "Tools -> Reset Scripts in Selection" from your viewer's menu bar. Close the reset window and close the edit window.
You should be running a 3D sculpted Pandorabot now!
First, find or create a 3D sculpted prim you want to use as a Pandorabot. It doesn't have to be a single prim, it can be as elaborate as you like or just a single prim. You must have modify permission on the sculpted prim. XD Fusion has a few free full perm 3D sculpted prims and some animated sculpted prims for sale. Any modifiable prim will do and it doesn't have to be a male/female human form. I run one Pandorabot as a spinning texture changing bunch of prims in a club setting.
Create a folder in your inventory where you will temporarily store the scripts, notecards, and landmark(s). Rez the 2D Pandorabot and edit it by right clicking and selecting "Edit". In the edit window click on "Contents". Select all the items in the contents by left clicking on the first one and shift left clicking on the last one. Left click and hold the mouse button down as you drag the items from the Pandorabot contents to the new folder you created. Release the mouse button. Your Pandorabot contents should be in the new folder. You can close the edit window and take the Pandorabot back into your inventory.
To make sure the Pandorabot does not attempt to apply a texture to itself, edit the Configuration notecard. Right click on the Configuration notecard in your new folder and select "Open". Add the following line to the top of the Configuration notecard:
TEXT_ENABLED = FALSE
Close the notecard editing window.
Rez the sculpted prim you want to use as a Pandorabot. Edit the prim and click on the Contents tab. Select the items from your new folder you wish to copy. You do not need to copy the textures. Drag and drop the items from your inventory into the Contents tab of the edit window. While still in edit mode, select "Tools -> Reset Scripts in Selection" from your viewer's menu bar. Close the reset window and close the edit window.
You should be running a 3D sculpted Pandorabot now!
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