Steely Dan Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 I guess a RIP from the Pooj really is a RIP! The article names my three favorite authors growing up - Clarke, Asimov, and Heinlein. We were reading the Odyssey in school when 2001: A Space Odyssey was in theaters. It helps to read the book before you see the movie! Just finished reading Behold a Distant Star. Hope you find some answers on this new odyssey, Sir Arthur! I've read 2001, 2010, 2061 and 3001. Loved 'em all! Big Time loss for the planet and universe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 One of my favorite trivia questions to throw out at a party: How did he come up with the name HAL for the computer in 2001: ASO? The letters are the ones immediately preceeding IBM in the alphabet. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted March 24, 2008 Author Share Posted March 24, 2008 Hate to disappoint, Chevy, but that's a myth: http://www.2001halslegacy.com/interviews/clarke.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Hate to disappoint, Chevy, but that's a myth: http://www.2001halslegacy.com/interviews/clarke.html That's news to me. Damn! The IBM story made so much sense, I always just believed it. Thanks, Lo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChevyVanMiller Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Hate to disappoint, Chevy, but that's a myth: http://www.2001halslegacy.com/interviews/clarke.html Well, there goes a great trivia question. You're a peach, Lori - thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted March 24, 2008 Share Posted March 24, 2008 Hate to disappoint, Chevy, but that's a myth: http://www.2001halslegacy.com/interviews/clarke.html Clarke: Of course the key person in the expedition was the computer HAL, who as everyone said is the only human character in the movie. HAL developed slowly. At one time we were going to have a female voice. Athena, I think was a suggested name. I don't know again when we changed to HAL. I've been trying for years to stamp out the legend that HAL was derived from IBM by the transmission of one letter. But, in fact, as I've said, in the book, HAL stands for Heuristic Algorithmic, H-A-L. And that means that it can work on a program's already set up, or it can look around for better solutions and you get the best of both worlds. So, that's how the name HAL originated." BTW, the voice they chose was really creepy and perfect for the movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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