Cyber woman helps rail passengers

The cyber woman is modelled on a senior stewardess

East Anglia rail operator "One" has created a virtual woman to guide customers round its company website and answer questions about services.

The Lingubot was created using a word and pattern recognition system, which means she is capable of answering questions about almost anything.

The cyber woman is modelled on One's senior stewardess Dionne Mobbs.

Miss Mobbs, 30, from Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, said she was surprised to be chosen as the face of the Lingubot.

"My boyfriend says it's a really good impression of me - especially the angry look.

Censored questions

"I think it is very useful. She is quite intelligent. A lot of these things just say 'I don't understand the question', but she comes out with smart replies."

If asked a routine question about engineering works, the woman, who has yet to acquire a name, directs customers to the right page on the website.

But when asked "Fancy a drink?", she replies: "What would we be without love? Oh, don't worry that was a rhetorical question."

A spokesperson for the rail firm said the questions and answers were being stored in a database so programmers could improve the Lingubot's response.

"Lots of people like to tell her that she smells. She has got a very good response to that. And there have been quite a few questions that are censored."