New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

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/science-technology-and-society

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store
    New Books in Science, Technology, and SocietyBy New Books Network
    • 3.7
    • 3.7
    • 3.7
    • 3.7
    • 3.7

    3.7

    31 ratings

    More shows like New Books in Science, Technology, and Society

    View all
    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,133 Listeners

    In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

    In Our Time

    5,412 Listeners

    Arts & Ideas by BBC Radio 4

    Arts & Ideas

    296 Listeners

    Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

    Thinking Allowed

    308 Listeners

    The LRB Podcast by The London Review of Books

    The LRB Podcast

    293 Listeners

    New Books in Critical Theory by Marshall Poe

    New Books in Critical Theory

    143 Listeners

    Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

    Unexpected Elements

    355 Listeners

    The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

    The New Yorker Radio Hour

    6,691 Listeners

    The world, the universe and us by New Scientist

    The world, the universe and us

    114 Listeners

    Acid Horizon by Acid Horizon

    Acid Horizon

    175 Listeners

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

    What's Left of Philosophy

    261 Listeners

    Ones and Tooze by Foreign Policy

    Ones and Tooze

    346 Listeners

    Macrodose by Planet B Productions

    Macrodose

    27 Listeners

    Close Readings by London Review of Books

    Close Readings

    67 Listeners

    Past Present Future by David Runciman

    Past Present Future

    321 Listeners