ELIZA
A famous program by {Joseph Weizenbaum}, which simulated a Rogerian psychoanalyst by
rephrasing many of the patient's statements as questions and
posing them to the patient. It worked by simple {pattern
recognition} and substitution of key words into canned
phrases. It was so convincing, however, that there are many
anecdotes about people becoming very emotionally caught up in
dealing with ELIZA. All this was due to people's tendency to
attach to words meanings which the computer never put there.
See also {ELIZA effect}.
(1997-09-13)