Prody Parrot
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Prody Parrot is a desktop assistant computer program made for the Windows 9x (Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME) and Windows NT series of operating systems. It was created by MindMaker in 1999,[1] and acted to help computer users in business environments, whilst still having the facilities to engage and entertain users at home PCs.
Introduction
When installed, this virtual desktop assistant comes with other 2 programs: VoiceAssist and TextAssist, also made by MindMaker.
If it's the first time you run it, he'll introduce himself of the following way:
Hello! It's nice to meet you.
I hope you don't mind, but i'd like to know a little more about you.
Click the OK button and i'll open your user profile so you can enter a little more about yourself.
Clicking the OK button will open your user profile, and Prody will say:
In your user profile, you can enter information, such as your name, address and birth date.
As a minimum, please enter your full name and a nickname.
If you don't have a nickname, just enter your first name there. That way, I'll know how to address you.
When you're done, click the OK button.
I'll just wait here until you're finished.
When you're finished, and click the OK button, the window will close and the Assistant Control Panel will show. Then Prody will say the following phrase:
Hello there. I'm Prody. Would you like to hear more about me?
A window will appear with the same message that Prody said, and the title of the window is "Prody Parrot". Click yes, and Prody will say:
Once again, my name is Prody. I'm here to serve and entertain you.
I can execute command that you give me and help you navigate applications and web sites.
You can give me commands by voice, keyboard, mouse gesture, dropping icons on me, or clicking in a command list.
I can check your e-mail and give you news, sports and weather reports. If you upgrade me to the full version I can also monitor your stocks, remind you of your appointments and even connect you with others via my Prodyphone.
You can teach me to do almost anything for you. But first, you'll need to know about a few things.
Take a look at the Assistant Control Panel. It's the toolbar with a lot of buttons.
The second button from the left, with a picture of microphone on it, controls voice input. When you want to tell me what to do, make sure that this button is down.
To hear me talk, depress the speaker output button. It's the one with a picture of a speaker on it.
When you want to access the Assistant Control Panel's main menu, click the second button from the right.
From this menu, you can control all my input and output modes, train me, or adjust my properties.
Prody will fly to the right of the screen, and he will continue the introduction:
Now, let me tell you about some fun stuff.
When you want to hear a joke, you can say 'tell me a joke'.
I can also sing you a song when you say 'sing a song'.
Also you can say 'Let's play' and i will offer all kinds of games and other interesting diversions.
If you don't want me to disturb you, you can simply tell me to 'go to sleep'.
Of course, if i'm sleeping, like this...
Prody will sleep for some seconds, and it will continue the introduction:
You have to say, 'wake up', before I can help you.
I know a lot of commands. If you don't remember some, you can open a list of commands by saying, 'show commands'.
One of my favorite commands is 'let's talk'. You should try it some time so we can have a conversation together.
If you get tired of talking to me, I can introduce to you Doctor Sbaitso, a friendly psychiatrist who will talk to you about all your problems and concerns.
Finally, I want to remind you to register, if you have not done so already.
You will get free updates, special discounts on related products, and other cool stuff!
Well, that's it for my introduction. I hope we'll have a lot of fun working together.
After that, Prody will get to work.
Behaviour
Prody, the software's titular Parrot, will fly around the screen and offer help where necessary. When he isn't needed, he will either 'perch' on the user's taskbar or on the top of one of the user's windows. The user can engage with Prody through a variety of different methods. Prody was designed to incorporate business functions as well, such as searching the stock market.
You can drag Prody. If you do it gently, he will say the following phrases:
I'll just sit down and enjoy the ride.
You've got my attention.
Then it'll start saying these phrases randomly until you release him.
Very relaxing!
This is the life!
This gives my wings a rest.
I could do this all day.
This looks like fun!
After you release him, he will say one phrase of these:
Things looks different from here!
I enjoyed that!
I have to use my own feet again!
If you don't hold him gently, he'll start struggling and he'll say the following phrases randomly until you release him.
Aaaa!
Okay, okay, that's enough!
Careful, I have a bad back!
You've got me!
Stop doing that, you brute!
I'm confused.
You're being childish.
You've had it!
Just wait until I grow up, you'll be there!
Please be gentle!
That's enough!
Can't you leave me alone?
When you release him, he says some of these phrases:
Thank goodness for that, when you're going to grow up!
Do you enjoy doing that?
I hate it when you do that!
I have feelings you know.
If you point him the mouse, he will react with the following phrases:
Ha ha!
Leave me alone!
Hey watch it!
Hey! Watch it!
Hey stop poking me!
Hey!
What's going on!
Do you mind?
That tickles!
That thing hurts sometimes.
Hee hee!
If you drag a random file to him, he can say the following phrases:
Hey watch it!
Hey, be careful with that thing!
Hey!
Hey be careful, i'm standing here!
What's going on!
Leave me alone!
What do you think your doing!
Watch where you're dragging!
If you let him alone for some moments, and you move the mouse, he can say the following phrase:
About time, i thought you have left me alone!
He sometimes check the mouse, saying the following phrase:
I'll see what the mouse is doing!
After flying where the mouse is, he says:
Well, it's not very interesting here.
And he will go back where it was before.
If you say to him "You're great", he can say some of the phrases:
Thank you, i love being phrased.
Your too kind.
Aw, thanks.
I know.
If you say to him "You're annoying", he can say some of the phrases:
This time you really hurt my feelings.
Well, what did you expect from a parrot?
He can also go away after you say to him "You're annoying".
Say that again and i will go away!
That's it! Apologize or i go away!
After that, he says the following phrase and he goes away.
Have it your own way!
When he's off-screen and mad after going away because you said to him "You're annoying", he can say the following phrase:
I'm not listening to you anymore!
When he's hungry, he opens up the folder "Treasure Chest" from his program files, saying some of these phrases:
Isn't it about time to eat?
I'm a little hungry.
Don't you feel like a snack?
When you let him alone when he says that, he can say the following phrase:
Hey, I am talking to you!
When you leave him alone and you don't give him food, when you ask him if he's hungry, he can say the following phrase:
I'm pretty hungry.
Boy, wouldn't a snack taste so good now!
Sometimes he asks for a food with the following phrases:
I want a (food he wants to eat)!
Please give me a (food he wants to eat)!
Please feed me some (grapes or groceries)!
He also can ask for food to sing you a song or tell you a joke, example:
Please give me a (food he wants to eat) and i will sing you a song.
Please give me some (food he wants to eat) and i will tell you a joke.
You can feed him by giving one of the icons found in the Treasure Chest.
You can feed him a apple, a burger, a cake, a candy bar, a candy, a carrot, a cheese, some grapes, groceries, a hot dog, a lemon, a melon, a orange, a pudding, and a banana. You can also try to feed him a ball, a bone, a key and a turkey.
If you try to feed him a ball, a bone, a key or a turkey, he says some of the following phrases:
Ball = Have you ever eaten a ball!
Bone = Are you trying to kill me?
Turkey = I never eat a turkey, even at Thanksgiving!
Key = A key? Is that all that you can feed me?
When he's full, and you ask him if he is hungry, he can say some of the following phrases:
I think I've had enough.
Not right now, maybe later.
He always steps on the window you selected. He can say some of the following phrases if you change windows too much:
All this flying around is tiring!
Time to take the weight off the old claws!
If you move or resize a window during some seconds, he can say these phrases:
What are you doing to that window?
Playing with the window again?
Dr. Sbaitso
Prody can open up a Dr. Sbaitso program (not to be confused with Dr. Sbaitso DOS program) when you say "Go to Dr. Sbaitso, which introduces himself with the following speech:
(Prody says): Dr. Sbaitso is here to help you. Please type whatever is on your mind freely. I will make sure his memory contents will be erased after you leave.
(Dr. Sbaitso says) Tell me about your problems [Nickname].
If you don't type something to Dr. Sbaitso, he will give the following speech:
(Dr. Sbaitso says) If you have no more to say, I have other patients waiting...
When you put "say" after the word you want Dr. Sbaitso to say, he instead says something else from his phrases.
If you swear at him, he will not break down with the infamous PARITY ERROR.
When you close the Dr. Sbaitso's window, the following speech will be used:
(Dr. Sbaitso says) Goodbye [Nickname].
(Prody says) Goodbye Sbaitso
After that, the window will close.
See also
- Talking Moose, the first desktop assistant program made for Apple Macintosh, which was of a similar nature to Prody
- Microsoft Office Assistant, a series of desktop assistants who were incorporated with the Microsoft Office series of programs, including the infamous paperclip Clippy
- BonziBuddy, a similar 'desktop assistant' which was later found out to be Adware, and claims of Malware were made against it
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6_Rm64s9LI
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