Technology can now tell what's funny.
Well what's a funny pun anyway.
New research, by Justine Kao, a cognitive psychologist at Stanford University has created a computer programme that can rate the hilarity of a pun accurately against a human reaction.
Psychologist Kao told
i100 it is the first model to give a good prediction of reaction from a human test group.
The research has been published in
Cognitive Science.
The funniest puns, as calculated by the computer model are the following:
- My battery had an alkaline problem, so it went to AA meetings
- The man put his name on the neck of his shirt so he would have collar ID
- Herb gardeners who work extra get thyme and a half
- Last night, I kept dreaming that I had written Lord of the Rings. The wife said I'd been Tolkien in my sleep
- An electrician is a bright spark who knows what's watt
The least funny puns, according to the computer are these:
- To heir is human
- You should run really fast but be careful not to brake anything
- If a barista is not allowed to make espresso she will lose her tamper
- When you use glue in class it paste to be careful
- Did you know that donuts were first made in Greece?
Hat-tip to i100
