What is the name of the talking computer in 2001: A Space Odyssey?
Quel est le nom de l’ordinateur parlant dans 2001 : L’ Odyssée de l’Espace ?
The best little Pub Quiz in Paris — at The Green Linnet, 8 avenue Victoria, 75004 Paris.
Metro Hôtel de Ville or Châtelet — every Wednesday, 9.30 pm
2 comments:
H.A.L. offset one and it becomes IBM. As I remember HAL turned on David!
HAL is correct (Heuristic ALgorithmic). The "IBM" part is an urban legend. According to Arthur C Clarke in his book "The Lost Worlds of 2001":
"As is clearly stated in the novel (Chapter 16), HAL stands for Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer. However, about once a week some character spots the fact that HAL is one letter ahead of IBM, and promptly assumes that Stanley and I were taking a crack at the estimable institution ... As it happened, IBM had given us a good deal of help, so we were quite embarrassed by this, and would have changed the name had we spotted the coincidence."
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