from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
robot
crawler
1. <robotics> A mechanical device for performing a task which
might otherwise be done by a human, e.g. spraying paint on
cars.
See also {cybernetics}.
2. <chat> An {IRC} or {MUD} user who is actually a program.
On IRC, typically the robot provides some useful service.
Examples are {NickServ}, which tries to prevent random users
from adopting {nicks} already claimed by others, and MsgServ,
which allows one to send {asynchronous} messages to be
delivered when the recipient signs on. Also common are
"annoybots", such as KissServ, which perform no useful
function except to send cute messages to other people.
Service robots are less common on {MUDs}; but some others,
such as the "Julia" robot active in 1990--91, have been
remarkably impressive {Turing test} experiments, able to pass
as human for as long as ten or fifteen minutes of
conversation.
3. <World-Wide Web> {spider}.
[{Jargon File}]
(1996-03-23)