Extempo Announces Imp Character Web Guides for Staffing the Web.SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 14, 1998--Extempo Systems, Inc. showed the most recent alpha versions Software that has just been compiled and ready for its initial test inhouse. See alpha test, beta test and release candidate. of its Imp Character Web Guides(TM) characters and content-authoring tool software at the Web.Builder conference Technology Showcase (Booth No. 14) today, continuing through April 16. Extempo also disclosed its directions for Web Guides software, including its initial program for value-added developers, which enables them to test and evaluate pre-release versions of Web Guides software. Built using Extempo's Imp(TM) software technologies, Web Guides(TM) are interactive characters that bring life to Web applications with their topical conversation and expressive animation. They can control web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. navigation -- for example, to guide a visitor on a tour of a sequence of Web pages. They can elicit information from the visitor and remember and use it to provide a personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. , customized experience, as well as logging it for other applications. Their distinctive personas can enhance brand or Web site identity. They can provide application-appropriate entertainment content to create a more engaging user experience. Their conversation and other behavior follow social and interpersonal conventions that can foster a sense of familiarity and relationship for visitors. Web Guides are intended especially for use in Web E-commerce applications, such as product and brand marketing, sales, and support. However, they can be integrated into any Internet or intranet Web application to enhance content delivery and create a memorable, personalized experience for users. At Web.Builder, Extempo is launching its Imp Character Developer Program, which initially will include a limited number of participants from leading Web design firms. The program delivers Extempo's first Imp Character Development Kit, which includes alpha versions of Web Guides character and authoring tool software. "Extempo Web Guides can humanize hu·man·ize tr.v. hu·man·ized, hu·man·iz·ing, hu·man·iz·es 1. To portray or endow with human characteristics or attributes; make human: humanized the puppets with great skill. 2. the on-line transaction experience," observed Shane Ginsberg, Creative Director at Plastic, Inc., a San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden interactive communications firm that specializes in advanced technology applications and is an initial participant in the Imp Character Developer Program. "Plastic views Extempo character technologies as a cornerstone for building the next generation of large-scale, consumer-oriented Web sites." Extempo's direction for its Web Guides character and tool software aims at their broad availability and use across different market segments. It ranges from custom characters, tailored to a single customer's unique requirements, to stock characters, supplied with a non-technical content authoring tool usable by any Web content developer. Within this range, the developer program enables value-added developers to create and market Web Guides with custom personalities and content for standard roles (e.g., greeter, tour guide, and sales agent) supplied by Extempo. "We're very pleased that our Web Guides technology was selected for the Web.Builder Technology Showcase," commented Keith Wescourt, Extempo Director of Product Management. "With the launch here of our developer program, Extempo is taking a major step towards its objective of staffing the Web with interactive characters to benefit both providers and users. The program will enable innovative developers like Plastic to transform their clients' Web sites with new high-touch relationship, transaction, and branding features." "Max," a Web Guide character Extempo is showing at Web.Builder, is also available on the Extempo Web site (http://www.extempo.com) to guide visitors on a tour that features pages devoted to other Extempo Imp Characters. Visitors can choose to interact with Max via either a Java applet A Java program that is downloaded from the server and run from the browser. The Java Virtual Machine built into the browser is interpreting the instructions. Contrast with Java application. , which operates with most leading browsers, or Microsoft Agent Microsoft Agent is a technology developed by Microsoft which employs animated characters, text-to-speech engines, and speech recognition software to enhance interaction with computer users. Thus it is an example of an embodied agent. , which can be installed to operate with Microsoft Internet Explorer See Internet Explorer. . Web developers interested in applying for the Extempo developer program should inquire by e-mail to developer_program@extempo.com or by fax to 1-408/557-6791, Attn: Developer Program. About Extempo Located in San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif., Extempo's mission is to engender en·gen·der v. en·gen·dered, en·gen·der·ing, en·gen·ders v.tr. 1. To bring into existence; give rise to: "Every cloud engenders not a storm" a new generation of captivating cap·ti·vate tr.v. cap·ti·vat·ed, cap·ti·vat·ing, cap·ti·vates 1. To attract and hold by charm, beauty, or excellence. See Synonyms at charm. 2. Archaic To capture. interactive products and services incorporating improvisational characters. Its Imp Character technologies and content properties add lively content to interactive E-commerce, education/training, and entertainment applications. Executing on the Imp Engine(TM) runtime system, Imp Characters can be deployed flexibly across server and client platforms. Using Imp Talk(TM) technology, characters converse through text-based chat interfaces, audio-based voice systems, or other uwell known for her R&D on intelligent agent software and for directing the Virtual Theater project at Stanford University Stanford University, at Stanford, Calif.; coeducational; chartered 1885, opened 1891 as Leland Stanford Junior Univ. (still the legal name). The original campus was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. David Starr Jordan was its first president. . Extempo is a privately-held corporation and has been financed in part by project grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology, governmental agency within the U.S. Dept. of Commerce with the mission of "working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and standards" in the national interest. (NIST (National Institute of Standards & Technology, Washington, DC, www.nist.gov) The standards-defining agency of the U.S. government, formerly the National Bureau of Standards. It is one of three agencies that fall under the Technology Administration (www.technology. ) Advanced Technology Program and from the California Trade and Commerce Agency, Office of Strategic Technology. Visit Extempo's Web site at http://www.extempo.com for more information and to meet some of its Imp Characters. -0- NOTE TO EDITORS: Imp Character, Imp Engine, Imp Talk, and Web Guides are trademarks of Extempo Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. CONTACT: Extempo Systems, Inc. Keith Wescourt, 408/557-6758 wescourt@extempo.com http://www.extempo.com |
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