Abstract: A method and system for efficiently incorporating multiple personalities into a robot. The robot acts as a computer server for the purpose of accessing a knowledge base and processing natural language queries. The different personalities are exposed to different users and see different knowledge bases (or altered views of the same knowledge base). The personalities are customized to suit the needs of the users. By handling a large number of personalities on a server, it is possible to accommodate and sustain the interests of a large number of users.

Abstract: A small energy efficient afterburner for oxidizing the byproducts of incomplete combustion is disclosed. Gases are forced into a firebox, where a heating element maintains a temperature above the flash point for the more common and undesirable pollutants. Typical temperatures are 500.degree. C. to 800.degree. C. for burning hydrocarbons coming from internal combustion engines or wood stoves. After gases pass through the firebox, they are forced into a chamber adjacent to the firebox intake, so that heat energy may be transferred to the incoming gases, thereby greatly increasing the thermal efficiency of the device. Greater efficiencies are achieved by putting a catalytic surface in the firebox, and by insulating the afterburner exterior.