Glimpse of Stephen Hawking's Computer

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Glimpse of Stephen Hawking's Computer

Posted by Unknown on Monday January 9, 2012 @10:20PM from the long-live-dectalk dept.

kenekaplan writes "Intel application engineer Travis Bonifield has been working closely with Hawking to communicate with the world for a decade. He's traveled from the United States to England every few years to hand-deliver Hawking a customized PC. Bonifield talks about the technology that powers the customized system." Hawking's latest machine is a Thinkpad x220. Lately he's been trouble speaking due to weakened cheek muscles (down to one word per minute). New Scientist has a brief interview with Hawking's outgoing technician on the challenges he faced. It turns out Hawking is still using a DECtalk (despite some reports suggesting otherwise).

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DECtalk by Sockatume · 2012-01-09 22:23 · Score: 5, Funny

With a cat for scale. That's it, Wikipedia, we're through.

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No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
1. Re:DECtalk by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-09 22:31 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You'd rather the cat be in a box?
2. Re:DECtalk by Sockatume · 2012-01-09 22:56 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Nice try, Schrodinger.
  
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  No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
3. Re:DECtalk by Joce640k · 2012-01-09 23:07 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Humor. You don't have it.
  
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  No sig today...
4. Re:DECtalk by SeaFox · 2012-01-09 23:12 · Score: 2
  
  According to the image description on Wikipedia it was a "convenient cat". Maybe the photographer forgot the ruler or whatever he originally meant to use for scale.
5. Re:DECtalk by Sockatume · 2012-01-09 23:17 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Without knowing whether it's an imperial or metric cat it's completely useless, though.
  
  --
  No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
6. Re:DECtalk by Joce640k · 2012-01-09 23:18 · Score: 2
  
  Maybe the photographer forgot the ruler or whatever he originally meant to use for scale.
  ...or maybe he just thought it would be fun.
  
  --
  No sig today...
7. Re:DECtalk by Rumagent · 2012-01-10 00:51 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Neither dead nor alive! it is undead I tell you! UNDEAD cats roam the land!!!
8. Re:DECtalk by MiniMike · 2012-01-10 01:50 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  No, he's right- a cat makes a terrible scale. It only tells you if you're heavy enough to squish a cat.
9. Re:DECtalk by Peter+Simpson · 2012-01-10 02:15 · Score: 2
  
  Nice to see a vestige of DEC still doing something useful. Perfect Paul is probably the only DEC employee who still has a job :-)
10. Re:DECtalk by Stenchwarrior · 2012-01-10 02:37 · Score: 2
  
  And a bunny on his back. Or India, depending on how you look at it.
  
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  Loading...
11. Re:DECtalk by slashmojo · 2012-01-10 03:50 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Cats rule so it would have to be imperial.
12. Re:DECtalk by nomoreunusednickname · 2012-01-10 04:02 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  It only tells you if you're heavy enough to squish a cat.
  I find it useful to determine if a room is large enough to swing a cat.
13. Re:DECtalk by nman64 · 2012-01-10 05:44 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Careful, there. Five out of six ends of a cat are sharp.
He identifies with the voice now by Viol8 · 2012-01-09 22:25 · Score: 4, Insightful

So why the surprise that he still uses the DECTalk?
In this case if it is broke then someone probably will fix it.
1. Re:He identifies with the voice now by Nick+Fel · 2012-01-09 22:34 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  But I've never understood why the DECTalk voice can't be replicated in software. There must be someone capable and willing to do it for the publicity.
2. Re:He identifies with the voice now by HyperDrive · 2012-01-09 22:53 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  MESS has preliminary support for emulating the DECTalk.
3. Re:He identifies with the voice now by ciderbrew · 2012-01-09 22:58 · Score: 2
  
  It does have a software version. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DECtalk
4. Re:He identifies with the voice now by Joce640k · 2012-01-09 23:06 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I read an article where he said he takes the robotic voice very personally, he regards it as his voice.
  He's a geek so wants the real thing, not some stupid software emulation. What's the fun of a wheelchair if you can't strap loads of wires and circuit boards to it?
  
  --
  No sig today...
5. Re:He identifies with the voice now by vlm · 2012-01-10 00:48 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  I read an article where he said he takes the robotic voice very personally, he regards it as his voice.
  He's a geek so wants the real thing, not some stupid software emulation.
  The first thing that instantly struck me is its rather like women and their rack. Some fraction love the idea of an upgrade, some hate the idea of an upgrade, but the feature that makes it most like the female chest situation is that Everybody Seems to Have A Strong Opinion about what upgrade strategy, if any, is best, and all the women I've talked to about that topic pretty much want all the folks with opinions one way or another to F off and when they want an opinion they'll darn well ask for it first.
  The other interesting thing Ive not considered is the legal / financial / employment minefield of whoever is the "new voice of Hawking" is absolutely going to advertise that, and he might not be cool with getting into that whole scene. So on one hand he should get money, on the other hand he doesn't need money, on the other hand the money would be coming from his fellow sufferers so that would make him a jerk, on the other hand he could donate his endorsement money to a charity, but what if the device he signs the contract for sucks and he wants to switch back, but if he doesn't sign an endorsement contract he's basically pulling money out of a charity, I can see a guy just saying F-it forget about the whole topic now back to black hole thermodynamics.
  The final part is /. and IT in general are populated by noobs who think nothing of upgrading because they've only been in the game 2 years so whats one upgrade during an entire lifetime? But he's pretty much in it for life, and I know from personal experience that when you can skip upgrade cycles, you're best off doing so if at all possible. Sometimes not possible. At work I do not scrap the old gear and spec out an entirely new amplifier line solely because one corporation released one new microwave RF transistor today (and someone will release another next week, repeat into the indefinite future). I can totally see the guy saying there is no point in upgrading every time something new is released and therefore living life as a perma-noob, especially if the performance gain is minor. I'm sure the world would rather have him thinking about physics than endlessly re-learning this months new synth release.
  
  --
  "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
6. Re:He identifies with the voice now by mwvdlee · 2012-01-10 01:03 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Actually, that statement says nothing about whether he's a geek or not. It only states he does not want the voice changed; i.e. the audio coming out of some speaker. He says nothing about what hardware of software that should be used.
  Judging from his attitude towards switching control mechanisms, I'd say he's anything but a nerd; he seems to prefer stability/reliability above all else. Logical, considering without controls, he's effectively a vegetable.
  
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7. Re:He identifies with the voice now by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-10 02:44 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Yes it *could* be replaced with software. Probably sound exactly the same. However think about this.
  You buy a bit of kit for say 4500 in 1980ish. It works does exactly what you want (it talks). You know exactly how to use it. It integrates into your system. It may have bugs but you know how to work around them. It is a sunk cost with both time and money.
  Now lets upgrade.
  You buy another bit of kit for say 500.. It works does exactly what you want (it talks). You need to relearn how to use it (probably). It may/may not integrate into your system (another dollar/time cost). It may have bugs to work out and you need to spend time working around the probably existing ones and any new ones (time cost). You end up with the exact same functionality at the end but at a higher time cost.
  If it were me I would probably buy a couple of spares. Then just send them out to get fixed somewhere if they broke and do a swap if they do break.
  Remember this is a person how types about 5-7 characters a minute in effect. So he is not going to want to be able to play the latest fps on his wheel chair. He is too busy typing! And if he wanted that he could get a laptop that does it, and still retain the existing functionality he has in an interface he understands perfectly. To this man time is his commodity. Not smaller/faster/cheaper. He is living as if he has 6 months to live. Also at nearly 70 he probably doesnt have much time left and doesnt want to spend that time farting around with some new computer. He doesnt care about the latest gizmos (like many people in their 70s, not saying all but many)... If he wanted a new computer he would have had it by now. He is being eminently practicable about the matter.
  He probably thinks of it more as a wrench. You dont need a new wrench all the time. You only swap it out if you broke your previous one. Then you go buy one exactly like it as the last one lasted 30+ years... You just do not get that reliability out of newer stuff.
One word a minute by EponymousCustard · 2012-01-09 22:31 · Score: 4, Insightful

And twitter users think they have problems with 140 characters.
At one word a minute, you get to really think about what you are gonna say.
1. Re:One word a minute by Luckyo · 2012-01-09 23:01 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  There are, but if you read the article, his problem is learning curve and the fact that if he's disconnected from the working machine and something is wrong, he can't call for help.
  I really suggest reading the articles linked. They are far more interesting then average stuff you get on slashdot and it answers a lot of questions as to "why is he still using this dated stuff". Especially the part that notes that when someone pitching a new system is in the room, Hawking's talking speed goes up because of his competitiveness and stubbornness.
2. Re:One word a minute by Noughmad · 2012-01-10 01:48 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  A brilliant theoretical physicist cannot learn a new (arguably easier) technology over a ten year period, yet alone flourish?
  Have you ever seen a professor trying to turn on a projector?
  
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3. Re:One word a minute by Luckyo · 2012-01-10 02:46 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Funny my ass dear mods. That's about as informative as it will ever get on slashdot!
4. Re:One word a minute by camperdave · 2012-01-10 03:16 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  You, sir, just wasted three minutes of my life!
  
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5. Re:One word a minute by ajo_arctus · 2012-01-10 03:40 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  A very smart guy whom could average a few words a minute jumped at the concept of switching architectures on the suggestion of an industry shill at a conference?
  What? You appear to have read the article but completely missed some really important pieces of the puzzle. Here,
  
  Stephen and Gordon met at a conference around 1997. Gordon noted that Stephen was using an AMD machine. Gordon asked Stephen, "Would you like to use an Intel computer moving forward? We'd be happy to build that for you and support it."
  The article makes it very clear that the Gordon in that sentence is Gordon Moore. You know, of Moore's law fame. One of the guys who started Intel the first place. Calling Moore an industry Shill is like saying Gates shilled for Microsoft or Jobs shilled for Apple.
  The article is just some guy's anecdote. Don't get so worked up.
DecTalk is a warhorse by assemblerex · 2012-01-09 22:33 · Score: 5, Insightful

Why the Dectalk hate? It served the world well for many many years and will for a lot longer than most people think.
1. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by DarkOx · 2012-01-09 22:47 · Score: 2
  
  What hate? I don't see any hate. Nobody has posted anything negative about DECTalk. I don't think asking why someone uses a 30 year old electronic device when newer and therefore likely more capable options exist is hate. Actually I'd be really interested to hear some reasons. Are the technical considerations as well as peference here? Does DECTalk posses some unique quality that is not easily replicated?
  
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2. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by ciderbrew · 2012-01-09 22:55 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Maybe he want to keep using it as it is now *his* voice. Beyond any technical issue, that bit of kit is synonymous with him and he doesn't want it replaced upgraded or changed.
3. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by Joce640k · 2012-01-09 22:56 · Score: 2
  
  He regards it as HIS voice.
  Would you want somebody to replace your voice with 'something a bit more more modern'?
  
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  No sig today...
4. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by MichaelSmith · 2012-01-09 23:02 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Does DECTalk posses some unique quality that is not easily replicated?
  It is Hawkings voice.
  
  --
  http://michaelsmith.id.au
5. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by JasterBobaMereel · 2012-01-09 23:13 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Someone found recordings of his original voice and offered to build a voice around this, but Hawking said that he did not even recognise it as his own voice anymore ...
  
  --
  Puteulanus fenestra mortis
6. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by Sockatume · 2012-01-09 23:19 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  There's a company in Edinburgh that's doing the same thing with Roger Ebert, drawing on the large body of recordings of his voice. Wonder if it's the same one.
  
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  No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
7. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by martin-boundary · 2012-01-09 23:32 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I could totally see Hawking with the voice of HAL 9000.
  Student: What if I integrate this term on the left here?
  Hawking: I'm afraid you can't do that, Dave.
8. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by Lumpy · 2012-01-10 00:36 · Score: 2
  
  Oh hell yes,
  I want http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapp_Brannigan as my voice.
  Or to sound like the movie phone guy all the time.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
9. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by ae1294 · 2012-01-10 01:27 · Score: 2
  
  You know I think we are forgetting that the guy is 70! What guy that age is happy about anything new.
10. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by Sockatume · 2012-01-10 03:20 · Score: 2
  
  The novelty in this case is that they're offering Ebert's voice to Ebert as a prosthesis.
  
  --
  No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
11. Re:DecTalk is a warhorse by petermgreen · 2012-01-10 05:47 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The big difference between Ebert and hawkings situation is that ebert was only forced to use a speech synth fairly recently. So probablly more people are going to know him by his natural voice than by the synth he uses.
  Hawking has been using that speech synth for many years and I strongly suspect more people know him by that voice than know him by his natural voice.
  
  --
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Wrong question by Viol8 · 2012-01-09 22:58 · Score: 5, Insightful

"asking why someone uses a 30 year old electronic device when newer and therefore likely more capable options exist"
You should be asking - why someone WOULDN'T use a 30 year old device when it does everything they need it to do. Not everyone thinks upgrading for the sake of it is a worthwhile pursuit especially if its as critical as your only means to communicate.
1. Re:Wrong question by Lumpy · 2012-01-10 00:37 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  From my experience.. the 30 year old device is built better, higher quality and will continue to operate for another 50 years. Unlike the utter crap that is available today that you will be lucky to keep working for 5 years.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Typo in summary by Rik+Sweeney · 2012-01-09 23:24 · Score: 4, Funny

Lately he's been trouble speaking due to weakened cheek muscles (down to one word per minute).
I see Slashdot's come up with a simple solution that just involves skipping words that don't seem necessary :)

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Summation 2
1. Re:Typo in summary by gman003 · 2012-01-10 02:30 · Score: 2
  
  Tommorows headlines:
  Politics
  Microsoft
  iPad
  China
  Nuclear
  Cat
  Arguments in comment threads will continue much as they have, since few people read even the summary before wading into the flamewars. The only complaint they'll have tomorrow is not knowing whether to argue about nuclear power, or nuclear weapons, in the "Nuclear" story.
Same for everyone with recordings of their voice by Viol8 · 2012-01-09 23:36 · Score: 4, Insightful

None of us really recognise our recorded voice as our own even though we know it is so I guess thats not much of a surprise especially given that 30 years has passed in his case too. I'd be interested to know what Hawkings internal voice in his head sounds like - is it his original voice or is it his speech synthesizer?
The most profound mystery in the Universe is ... by Framboise · 2012-01-09 23:48 · Score: 5, Interesting

From the Telegraph link, we happily learn:
In an interview with the New Scientist magazine to mark his 70th birthday on Sunday, January 8, he was asked: "What do you think most about during the day?" to which he replied: "Women. They are a complete mystery."
What about Dasher with eye control? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-01-09 23:55 · Score: 2, Interesting

I have often wondered whether Hawkins has ever tried using dasher.
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/
Occurs to me it is ideal for people with very little or no physical mobility
http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/SpecialNeeds.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d6yIquOKQ0
Just a thought....
US Customs, TSA by Tokolosh · 2012-01-10 00:53 · Score: 2

What does he do when US Customs decides to take his computer for a year of analysis? How the hell does he get by the TSA? Or is he just one of many influential people who avoid traveling to the USA?

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1. Re:US Customs, TSA by ae1294 · 2012-01-10 01:32 · Score: 2
  
  What does he do when US Customs decides to take his computer for a year of analysis? How the hell does he get by the TSA? Or is he just one of many influential people who avoid traveling to the USA?
  They think he is their robotic overlord.
2. Re:US Customs, TSA by Amouth · 2012-01-10 03:09 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Simple - don't fly on the mass transit passenger planes.. Private charter planes do not have to go through TSA check points.. So the real rich and government guys never even experience it..
  
  --
  '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
Re:The most profound mystery in the Universe is .. by vlm · 2012-01-10 01:04 · Score: 2

This opens up a million (bad) quantum mechanics Heisenberg Uncertainty principle jokes.
Women, either you're drunk, or they don't make any sense, never both at the same time (which is closer to a pauli exclusionary principle joke I guess)
or
something to do with their emotional state being an unknown quantity until the wavefunction collapses?
In Hawkings honor, any black hole thermodynamics jokes? I'm thinking something along the lines of every time a male makes a mistake that information never escapes past the female event horizon, or make something weird (even for me) involving sex, virtual particle emission, and childbirth?
As a closely related issue, everyone is aware that there exists "nerdy hiphop rap". But does anyone know of "nerdy stand up comedy"? Clearly this post shows I'm not cut out to blaze a trail thru that new genre, but the non-internet equivalent of /. +1 funny mod must exist for some sorta technical stand up comedian? I just want to hear someone say the F word 6 times per minute while saying something funny about microsoft, to laughing drunks, or something like that. The closest I can think of is some podcasts like "the phone show" by the PLA, but thats not quite it.

--
"Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
Emotiv by DeFKnoL · 2012-01-10 04:55 · Score: 2

Has no one thought to give him an emotiv? It seems like he could even map out each letter or even words with one of those. http://emotiv.com/