Lots of talk!
The process we used to name the hand can be used to name any object in Albia . The catch is, you have to wait until your Norn decides to look at an object before you can name it. This can be enormously time consuming if you have an uncooperative Norn!
Fortunately there is an easier way. Norns are able to learn to associate words with basic concepts such as "pull", "eat" and "look." Once they know these words and what they mean, they are able to use them in conversation as well as responding to them when they are typed in.
There is a learning computer just to the right of the incubator that can be used to teach your Norn names of concepts. Each word in the computer has its own page, and you can cycle through the pages using the left and right buttons. There is also a button to repeat the current on-screen word.
The Learning Computer. Both types (one for concepts, one for feelings) operate identically but have different word lists.
(1) Repeat current word.
(2) Cycle to the right through the word list. (This will wrap
when it gets to the last one.)
(3) Cycle to the left through the word list.
(4) This window shows the current word and a visual representation
of it. If you click on this window, it puts the learning machine
in "auto" word to save you clicking on buttons.
Concepts may need to be repeated several times before a Norn learns the word. Words you may wish to teach your Norn early
on are:
Look
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Encourages a Norn to look at an object. |
Eat
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Asks a Norn to eat an object. |
Come
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Asks a Norn to approach an object. |
You can teach your Norn these words by getting her to the learning computer, and then cycling through the various pages until you come to the above words. Then repeat them several times, remembering to tickle your Norn occasionally if she is a quick learner. Watch out for her playing with the machine too! There is a separate row of buttons on the learning machine low enough for your Norn to operate!
To talk to your Norn, move the hand so that it is relatively near to her and type a sentence. For
example:
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Using the Norn's name at the start of the sentence is optional, but if you don't use a name, then any Norn within earshot will be able to hear your command! This can be useful sometimes, but at other times when you wish to address your conversation to just one Norn it is worth using the name to avoid confusion.
You can use "look" to ask a Norn to look at an object. This is an easy way of teaching your Norn the names of objects. If you've taught your Norn the name for food, for example, you can then try sentences such as:
"Alice come food" Asks Alice to approach the nearest food object.
"Alice eat food" Asks Alice to eat the food.
- then by a process of issuing commands and rewarding good responses, you can quickly teach your Norn how to survive.
Over the first hour or so of a Norn's life, you'll want to teach her names to many of the objects so that you are able to communicate with her effectively. Important! Objects in Albia are categorised! This means that cheese and honey are both Processed food . Norns are only able to understand categories. You can find out what category any object is simply by holding the hand over it for a second or two.