"Captain Hook Syndrome"

UNDER CONSTRUCTION This is place holder for a future topic discussing "Captain Hook Syndrome" (AKA "CHS"), and "cobwebs" in learned data.

CHS Preliminary Info

It appears that most 'cobweb's do not cause a problem, and might be normal functioning of the AIBO learning mechanism.

A better way do diagnose this is to track the "Learned Summary" reported by the browser (ABrowser for the ERS-11X and ABrowser23 for the other models).
If you have an older dog, and the Learned data is relatively low (say under 6 things learned and a couple dozen points learned), then your AIBO may have caught "CHS". To test this out, try a "learning boost".

Learning Boost

A Learning Boost is a short experiment to find out if your AIBO has a problem learning ("CHS") or just has forgotten a lot (which is normal).
This technique can work for any model dog running learning software.

Step 1: put your main AIBO memory stick in the PC stick reader
Step 2: run the Browser (ABrowser for the ERS-11x, ABrowser23 for the ERS-210 and later), and open the MEMSTICK.IND at the root of the memory stick
Step 3: write down the numbers for "things" and "points" learned
Step 4: remove the stick from the PC reader, and put it in your AIBO
Step 5: boot up AIBO
Step 6: play with your AIBO for about 3 to 5 minutes. Interact heavily and praise him (pat on the head) every time he does something, anything.
Step 7: press the chest pause button, and wait for the stick to be updated (and beeping to stop)
Step 8: put the stick back in the PC stick reader again (like step 1)
Step 9: run the Browser again (like step 2)
Step 10: compare the new numbers with the last numbers

You should see a noticable spike in the learning. Several new things should be learned, and several dozen new points. If you see this spike in learning, your AIBO is fine, since he can learn.
If you do not see a spike in learning (your AIBO fails to increase the things/points learned), please send me an email.

Requiring more investigation

The general problem requires more investigation. I think most "CHS" problems may just be normal AIBOs, that do have learning problems. The problem is that they forget what they have learned too quickly.
I am still investigating this, and will post more info as I learn more.

I suspect the internal flash memory (the root cause of many PPS problems) may have some influence on the situation, but I am not sure.