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technologyreview.com·5d ago
AI Engineering
Hacker News·Jul 16·5 min read
Microsoft Comic Chat is now open source
TL;DR
Microsoft Comic Chat, a nostalgic chat client that transformed text conversations into comic panels, is now open source on GitHub. Originally popularized in the mid-1990s, it featured the iconic Comic Sans font, enhancing the visual appeal of online chats.
✦ Why It Matters
Developers can now contribute to and innovate on a unique piece of internet history by exploring Comic Chat's open-source code.
Key Takeaways
- Examine the Comic Chat source code on GitHub for insights.
- Consider modernizing the code for current platforms.
- Experiment with new visual communication ideas inspired by Comic Chat.
- Reflect on the playful innovation of early internet software development.
How It Works
Comic Chat interprets text input to generate corresponding character expressions and gestures, creating a dynamic comic-like conversation experience. This involves real-time editorial decisions about how to visually represent dialogue, making it more engaging than traditional text chat.