ELIZA

    A famous program by Joseph
   Weizenbaum, which simulated a Rogerian psychoanalyst by
   rephrasing many of the patient's statements as questions and
   posing them to the patient.  It worked by simple pattern
   recognition and substitution of key words into canned
   phrases.  It was so convincing, however, that there are many
   anecdotes about people becoming very emotionally caught up in
   dealing with ELIZA.  All this was due to people's tendency to
   attach to words meanings which the computer never put there.

   See also ELIZA effect.

   (1997-09-13)