Richard Stephenson's Blog - Posts Tagged "hal"

Howard Beck's A.I. computer, Hal, is many a fan favorite based on the feedback I have received thus far. What made me create the character? Maybe not "create," more like "mimic."

I am a computer nerd. Well, more aptly put, I am a tech nerd. Gadget nerd? Which is it? Doesn't matter. You get the idea. This is the story of how it all began, what put me on the path to obsession with all things technology. The story does not start out on a positive note. I feel that I should be upfront with that little disclaimer. However, if you stick around till the end I think you might enjoy it.

For a large portion of the 1980s I was a Mallrat. What is a Mallrat you ask? Ever see those kids wandering around the mall with everything except commerce on their minds? Not really getting into trouble because they like the mall and don't want to get thrown out, but not exactly up to anything good? Ring a bell? That was me. My parents owned some retail shops in three of the malls in the DFW area. In my summers I spent many a day at the mall from open to close. Sometimes I would see two or three movies a day. Sometimes I would read books in B. Dalton or Waldenbooks, or look at cassettes in the local music store.

But the most worthwhile adventures were in Radio Shack looking at computers.

I remember the first time I set eyes on a computer. I was maybe eight or nine. The movie 2010 was in theaters and the HAL-9000 completely blew me away. My youthful naivety led me to believe that the circa 1984 Radio Shack computer in front of me would behave like HAL. Well, what to do on this historic occasion? What wonders could this Radio Shack marvel perform? Figured I would keep it simple, you know, no need to insult this powerful piece of machinery. So, with no typing skills whatsoever, I slowly pecked out a simple question that the computer would be able to tackle with no problem at all. "How far is the Earth from the Sun?" Then I hit "Execute" (not enter, mind you, but Execute like I was in the Swan Hatch on Lost ). I waited the second or two ready to be impressed.

I was not.

Huh? What happened?! I must have done something wrong. I typed the question again, double checked it to make sure there were no typos. And, like Desmond, I hit "Execute" one more time. I was certain I must have made a typo and that things would be right this time.

The computer had to be broken, that was it.

I found one of the Radio Shack employees and asked for help. Not thrilled to be bothered by a Mallrat, the faithful employee swallowed his frustration and humored the eight year old.

"There's something wrong with the computer, I asked it a simple question and it couldn't answer it."

He laughed. "Kid, computers can't do that!"

I was very disappointed. I thought with awe and wonder about how cool it would be to have a computer that could answer questions and open up an entire world of knowledge at my fingertips. I hoped and dreamed that one day I would have a computer that could do all of that and more. I longed for a day that computers would be woven into every aspect of our lives like they were in the sci-fi adventures that sparked my imagination.

Now, over a quarter century later, every single time I do a Google Search, a very small, tiny part of me, somewhere in the back of my mind is in complete amazement that I can ask my computer a question and it will answer me in the blink of an eye.

Even better, after I hit submit on this little story I hope you enjoyed, I'm going to ask that question again, only this type I'm not going to type it. I'm going to Siri and think back to that little boy in the Radio Shack all those years ago and ask the same question that he did. Only difference is that this time I won't be disappointed. ;)