It has been so many years since the HAL-9000 computer demonstrated that in 2001 we could be able to talk to our computers and they would clearly talk back to us. It’s 2007, six years after the events in 2001: a space odyssey! I want true simple Speech Recognition!
This is more of a complaint that a ’state of the technical union’ address.
We’ve come a long way since Apple hired Industrial Light and Magic to create their 1987 proof of concept video called the “Apple Knowledge Navigator.”
With the internet permanently established, voice-over the internet (VOIP) phone calls, and video cameras in our computers, we’re not that far off. But why are we completely stagnant when it comes to True Speech Recognition? There has to be a reason… did Microsoft Patent the idea and want too much money to make it practical? Why can you talk to a human sounding machine on the phone, that can practically understand what you say, but your computer can’t?At least True Speech Synthesis has evolved considerably.Here… listen to this clip from Apple’s upcoming 10.5 (Leopard) version of the Mac OS X here. More…
Back in 1983 Apple introduced the ‘Lisa’ business computer. It was a revolution of innovation, and was the prelude to the Macintosh. A 68000 processor, Dual 5.25″ floppy drives and expandability by putting additional entire computer boards inside the case. Ideas well ahead of their time. The price? $9,999.99.
It horribly failed.
There are stories of hundreds of unsold Lisa computers in a landfill. The machine was Steve Job’s baby… It was the computer that was to change the world. It did, but only after it was completely revised in 1984 and rechristened as ‘Macintosh.’ The Mac was an amazing machine as well. 8 MHz 68000 processor, with an amazing 128k of RAM. Apple proudly proclaimed the Macintosh “The computer that would never need upgrading!” I think my watch today has more memory than the Mac did.
I always found the Lisa story amazing in both the technological breakthrough of the machine, and the arrogance of it’s price. Don’t misunderstand me… I would have paid that much for it had I had it, but I was thirteen at the time.
For nostalgic sake, go visit both Vintage Mac News (Thanks guys for reporting on the Costner clip!) and also be sure to go visit their sister site The Mothership! for an amazing collection of historical ads and brochures about the early days of Apple.
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