# 287: Joke With No Punchline

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Length: 1h 21m
- Episode: 287
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/287-joke-with-no-punchline

## Summary

Kate Compton, a computer scientist and creator of the open source story generator Tracery, discusses her concept of 'casual creators' and tools that empower non-professionals to engage in creative play. She explains how Tracery and the platform CheapBotsDoneQuick allow users to build Twitter bots, including text-based ones like @infinite_scream and graphic bots using SVG, by structuring generative rules rather than relying on large machine learning corpora. Compton argues that these constrained, autotelic tools lower the barrier to entry for AI and creativity, fostering a sense of agency and joy without the pressure of professional output.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=6) Introduction: Kate Compton and Casual Creators
- [3:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=204) Defining Casual Creators and Autotelic Play
- [17:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=1049) Improv Techniques: Yes, And and the Grock Loop
- [28:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=1680) Control vs. Power in Tools like Spirographs and Pottery Wheels
- [40:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=2441) Tracery: Generative Grammar vs. Machine Learning
- [56:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=3390) Building Twitter Bots with CheapBotsDoneQuick
- [1:00:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=3648) SVG Graphics and Emoji Bots
- [1:14:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline#t=4451) Future Work: Chancery and Artbot.club

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Tracery (tool)
- CheapBotsDoneQuick (tool)
- Spore (product)
- Sim City (product)
- Kid Picks (product)
- Eliza (other)
- Bottery (tool)
- Chancery (tool)
- Artbot.club (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [392: We Can Design Our Way Out of This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-03-17-392-we-can-design-our-way-out-of-this) (Making It)
- [Episode 025: Staying playful](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-06-18-episode-025-staying-playful) (Making It)
- [125. Prompt Engineering: Latest Meme or The Next Big Thing?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-06-06-125-prompt-engineering-latest-meme-or-the-next-big-thing) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Episode 147: You never know, you never know…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-12-08-episode-147-you-never-know-you-never-know) (Making It)
- [396: A Little Chicken Puncture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2023-04-28-396-a-little-chicken-puncture) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-04-25-287-joke-with-no-punchline. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.