New Books Network

From Hal to Siri: How Computers Learned to Speak

Listen Later

Today we learn how computers learned to talk with Benjamin Lindquist, a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University’s Science in Human Culture program. Ben is the author “The Art of Text to Speech,” which recently appeared in Critical Inquiry, and he’s currently writing a history of text-to-speech computing. 

In this conversation, we explore: 

  • the fascinating backstory to HAL 9000, the speaking computer in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: a Space Odyssey 
  • 2001’s strong influence on computer science and the cultural reception of computers
  • the weird technology of the first talking computers and their relationship to optical film soundtracks
  • Louis Gerstman, the forgotten innovator who first made an IBM mainframe sing “Daisy Bell.”
  • why the phonemic approach of Stephen Hawking’s voice didn’t make it into the voice of Siri
  • the analog history of digital computing and the true differences between analog and digital 

    • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    New Books NetworkBy New Books
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3

    4.3

    147 ratings

    More shows like New Books Network

    View all
    The New Yorker: Fiction by The New Yorker

    The New Yorker: Fiction

    3,330 Listeners

    The Book Review by The New York Times

    The Book Review

    3,917 Listeners

    The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

    The LRB Podcast

    314 Listeners

    The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast by Mark Linsenmayer, Wes Alwan, Seth Paskin, Dylan Casey

    The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast

    2,118 Listeners

    New Books in Critical Theory by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Critical Theory

    147 Listeners

    Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

    Jacobin Radio

    1,460 Listeners

    London Review Bookshop Podcast by London Review Bookshop

    London Review Bookshop Podcast

    134 Listeners

    Philosophy Bites by Edmonds and Warburton

    Philosophy Bites

    1,532 Listeners

    The TLS Podcast by The TLS

    The TLS Podcast

    181 Listeners

    The Dig by Daniel Denvir

    The Dig

    1,590 Listeners

    Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

    Radio Atlantic

    2,380 Listeners

    The Paris Review by The Paris Review

    The Paris Review

    805 Listeners

    What's Left of Philosophy by Lillian Cicerchia, Owen Glyn-Williams, Gil Morejón, and William Paris

    What's Left of Philosophy

    290 Listeners

    The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

    The Ezra Klein Show

    16,525 Listeners

    Past Present Future by David Runciman

    Past Present Future

    347 Listeners