What song does HAL sing in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
You might already know this, but it's news to me. Arthur C. Clarke went to a Bell Labs demonstration in 1962 or 1963 featuring an IBM 704 singing the song "Daisy" (or, more properly, "Daisy Bell") and it made a huge impression. This was also the first real-life example of a singing computer.
Strange Horizons editor Jed Hartman has more details, and then adds that even fifty years on, we still don't have singing computers in daily life. Another failure of living in the future, like jetpacks and aircars. I'll have to console myself by listening to the Dictionaraoke version of "Video Killed the Radio Star" again.
More Info:
io9.gizmodo.com
What are your thoughts on this subject?
31 Comments
Rosemary Grove
Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer, do, I'm half crazy over the love of you, It won't be a stylish marriage, I can't afford a carriage, But you'd look sweet, upon a seat of a bicycle made for two.
Robert Mookerdum
This computer had to be called HAL because of copyright reasons.It is in fact IBM if each alphabet from HAL is moved an alphabet forward,hence HAL.
Jude P
Never heard it called "Daisy Bell", always "Daisy Daisy". One of the most heart-rending scenes in a film.
Pierre Poirier
This is one of the saddest scenes fron any movie ever. You feel bad for Hal who is dying before your very eyes
Kath Thomson
Vast.Majority, like me, had no idea so got this wrong.
Lisa Rodrigues
Rosemary Grove, "built"
james parrillo
Naked Kitty Slave, Not having seen the movie, I am not sure why that would apply any less than the other options. Thank you, Christine, James' wife
dmarkc
From childhood, thought it's name, A Bicycle Built for Two.
dmarkc
robert karel, the AI we're all supposed to fear.
Akeel1701
Jude P, my mind is going....
Dani Smith
Robert Mookerdum, the author denies it was planned to be that way (IBM to HAL), but that is interesting.
robert karel
Who’s HAL!
mikewkirby
Like to watch 2001 every now and then.
Jaimi McEntire
No singing computers? Never heard of Hatsune Miku?
https://www.wmagazine.com/story/hatsune-miku-crypton-future
ninakamwene
Missed it but I know the song "Daisy Daisy".
Michael Schamp
Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer = HAL
Sean Philips
Gary Smith, a sentient computer..get it? Geez, Gary Smith....