View Full Version : Hypnosis Software (freeware/opensource)
followthewatch55
11-23-2004, 12:17 AM
I'm the author of a somewhat new hypnosis software suite called Virtual Hypnotist, which is completely free and comes with all source code. I've also made some of my own hypnosis mp3s which people have really enjoyed.
Here's the official "about" text:
Virtual Hypnotist is a free, open source, interactive hypnosis program, and is a rewrite of Hypnotizer 2000. It includes features such as voice recognition, speech synthesis, subliminal messages, completely customizable scripts (featuring a unique scripting language), videos, audio, and lots more. Its purpose is to simulate a real hypnosis session as much as possible. Features - Script Maker, for easily editing scripts, and for creating your own. - Binaural brainwave synchronizer, for generating sounds that help induce hypnosis (sync brainwaves), and for providing flashing color bars that visually also sync brainwaves. - Lots of pre-made scripts, from inductions, deepeners, suggestions, etc. - Two subliminal message systems, which add visual subliminal messages in sessions, and even let you display them on your computer screen while you work! - Cool presets that get you started instantly - A session logbook that lets you write down successes, notes, ideas, etc. - Fully customizable hypnosis sessions - Complete speech synthesis; choose from a selection of multiple voices, and even use other SAPI-4 compliant speech engines. - Speech recognition that lets you verbally respond to questions and prompts while under hypnosis - Easy and powerful scripting language used for creating and processing scripts - Animated characters used as virtual “hypnotists” - Pop-up sessions, where the program can hide in the background and “pop up” at a certain time, and start the hypnotic induction - Support for video files and flash animations, via Windows Media and Macromedia Flash, and even lots of videos/animations included - Speed controls, to slow down and speed up both audio and video - Comes with the Virtual Hypnotist User's Guide - All source code is included (written in Visual Basic 6) And more!
Here's some pictures:
http://vhypno.sourceforge.net/pics/interface.jpg
http://vhypno.sourceforge.net/pics/vismaker1.jpg
http://vhypno.sourceforge.net/pics/scriptmaker.jpg
Website:
http://vhypno.sourceforge.net
Mp3 site:
http://hypnosis.kicks-ass.net
So if anyone here wants to use it, I hope they find it useful :)
-followthewatch55
Hello,
Having seen many versions of this sort of product I found that most of them do not work, or at least not in the way intended, but nevertheless I always find the concept interesting.
Couldn't get your downloaded prog to open successfully, so there is no opportunity to test it, unfortunately. I work with a local university and we've tested several of this type of programme in the past so I would be interested to acquire a working copy of this one. Are you the originator of this software, are you in the UK and do you have an email address you would be willing to provide? Thank you.:)
Jack
I have downloaded and played with this. I tried an early version, and just about two months ago tried the latest release.
It uses the microsoft text to speech technology for 'reading' the scripts and 'playing' them out loud.
It is about as intrieging as watching gasoline evaporate.
If you are interested in monotone, mechanical sounding voices, reciting scripts at you, at a pedestrian pace, that never varies in tone or tempo, while the display goes thru various optical distortions ranging from cartoon characters who are supposed to represent the hypnotist, to optic displays, designed to induce nausia, then by all means go for it.
Someone has put in an inordinate amount of work, to get the results they got.
It could easily be made 10000x better by replacing the 'voice to text' with prerecorded mp3's using the same scripts, and giving the 'viewer' the option of having no display at all.
BUT it is free, so if you want to be bored to death, if not trance, by all means give it a try.
skip
Thanks for the critique, Skip. You weren't impressed, then?:)
Jack
followthewatch55
11-25-2004, 01:00 AM
If you are interested in monotone, mechanical sounding voices, reciting scripts at you, at a pedestrian pace, that never varies in tone or tempo, while the display goes thru various optical distortions ranging from cartoon characters who are supposed to represent the hypnotist, to optic displays, designed to induce nausia, then by all means go for it. The program uses the SAPI4 speech system, which allows you to use other speech engines with it, including AT&T Natural Voices (which sound extremely realistic).
As far as the optic displays designed "to induce nausia", eye catalepsy is important in the induction process, and users of the software enjoy the visuals.
It could easily be made 10000x better by replacing the 'voice to text' with prerecorded mp3's using the same scripts, and giving the 'viewer' the option of having no display at all. Prerecorded mp3's are planned for the next release (5.0), and the app used to run in the background fine without taking up the whole screen (that feature started having serious issues a while back). You can turn off the visuals though if you truly want to. It's simple.
BUT it is free, so if you want to be bored to death, if not trance, by all means give it a try. Is hypnosis really that boring to you? ;) This program is just intended to be everything the commercial and other hypnosis applications should be (I started writing Hypnotizer 2000, the predecessor app, back in late 2000; by 1/1/01 it had speech synthesis, and then in 2004 Virtual Hypnotist 3.0 had speech recognition)
If you think the program's boring, sample my mp3s - are they boring? hehe
-followthewatch55
Dear followthewatch55,
As it stands I havent changed my opinion of the software.
HOWEVER, I would be very interested when scripts are on mp3's recorded by people who use real voice inflection and rythm to effect trance, as opposed to a voice recorded that attempts to imitate the monotone, non varying cadence you have now.
AND yes you can minimize the visuals, but with the scripts, and the way it is done currently, it doesnt correct the IMO fatal flaw.
AND NO, eye fatigue is NOT necessary for hypnosis, it isnt even, IMO, desirable. I wont bother to ask you how a cartoon talking head induces eye fatigue.
BUT, I do recognize the incredible amount of work you have put into it. AND I do agree that yours is probably as good, or better, than much of the commercial trance inducing software out there. That isnt such a complement on you as much as it is a slam against them.
You have a good idea, you have worked hard and long, and Ill give it to you that you do use a variety of inductions.
I sincerely hope there will come a day when I can sing your praises, it just isnt this day.
skip
I agree entirely with Skip's take on currently available software. But, I'd still like to be able to evaluate your software, FTW 55.
Jack
followthewatch55
11-27-2004, 03:03 AM
HOWEVER, I would be very interested when scripts are on mp3's recorded by people who use real voice inflection and rythm to effect trance, as opposed to a voice recorded that attempts to imitate the monotone, non varying cadence you have now.
I too would love to have real voices used; the main issue is flexibility for the end user. With synthesized speech and a scripting system, a person can literally make any type of hypnosis session they can think of, without anybody recording anything. When I add my voice (and possibly other people's voices too) to it, it will probably still have some sort of script construction that will take recorded phrases and bind them into a script; the synthesized voices that it has now are decent but not great; there are others that sound extremely realistic, but are commercial. Remember, the program was designed for self hypnosis.
The main thing this program has been designed for (in comparison with the predecessor Hypnotizer 2000) is to process user input during sessions - something that is not possible with normal self hypnosis; only with multiple people. For example, a script can be read by the software which tells the person to close their eyes, hold their hand above their computer keyboard, and does a "hand drop" induction, which loops until the user's hand touches the keyboard, then continues. Another situation happens after a user has trained their computer to fully recognize their voice; the software can ask them if they're deep enough during a deepener, and the user can verbally respond with a yes/no; the software can then take action based on the response.
AND NO, eye fatigue is NOT necessary for hypnosis, it isnt even, IMO, desirable. I wont bother to ask you how a cartoon talking head induces eye fatigue.
I know it's not necessary; but lots of people (and I really do mean *lots*) want well-constructed visuals. The animated characters are not supposed to induce fatigue; the visuals in the background do. If you don't like the visible characters, you can turn them off ;) Other people have also been doing research on how to integrate much more realistic animated faces into the program - please note that a lot of the features the program has have been originally suggested by users.
BUT, I do recognize the incredible amount of work you have put into it. AND I do agree that yours is probably as good, or better, than much of the commercial trance inducing software out there. That isnt such a complement on you as much as it is a slam against them.
You have a good idea, you have worked hard and long, and Ill give it to you that you do use a variety of inductions.
I sincerely hope there will come a day when I can sing your praises, it just isnt this day.
Thanks :)
followthewatch55
11-27-2004, 03:10 AM
Here's an example of a hand-drop session script with speech recognition, so you can see how the program is not just a simple script reader:
#Theoretically, this file should help enhance suggestability
<speak> \Pau=4000\
<speak> %1%... Listen very carefully to my voice... I am now going to give you a suggestion...
<speak> First, place your wrist above the space bar on the keyboard, so that it can easily fall onto it...
<speak> During this session %1%... Whenever I say the word... sleep... your arm will drop and your hand will fall onto the space bar... and you will go deeper and deeper into trance... after your hand falls, lift it back up...
<speak> When you hear that word %1%... don't consciously try... just let your subconscious do the work...
<speak> Do you understand?
<getvoice>
<if voice!> Yes
<goto> 1
<speak> During this session %1%... Whenever I say the word... sleep... your arm will drop and your hand will fall onto the space bar... and you will go deeper and deeper into trance... after your hand falls, lift it back up...
<speak> When you hear that word %1%... don't consciously try... just let your subconscious do the work...
<speak> Do you understand?
<getvoice>
<if voice!> Yes
<goto> 1
<set 2> 0
<set 3> 0
<speak> \Pau=7000\
<increment> 3
<keybuffer>
<speak> sleep... \Pau=4000\
<getkey>
<if key=> Space
<increment> 2
<if 3=> 15
<goto> +2
<goto> -8
<if 2<> 4
<goto> +2
<end>
<speak> You seem to not be responding correctly. That's ok. Let's try it again...
<goto> 1