Jukeboxmafia: Bell Labs Speech Simulation Demonstration Record

Monday, February 2, 2009

Bell Labs Speech Simulation Demonstration Record - He Saw The Cat

MP3 File
This little demonstration record is pretty fascinating. It's popped up in a couple of other places before like WFMU's 365 Days Project
and the excellent Airform Archives Blog.
but I figured that it's interesting enough to share with Y'all here. Released in 1963, this record demonstrates Bell Laboratories emerging speech simulation program. Strange that after almost 50 years this technology doesn't seem to have improved much. What is really compelling though is how they programmed the computer to sing the song "Daisy" a full 5 years or so before the movie 2001 was realesed, in which the homicidal computer HAL sings the same tune. Apparently Stanley Kubrick did his homework...

2 comments:

Timmy said...: It's all so intertwined & convoluted. THIS isn't at all what I had in mind, when devising the computer. And, besides THAT, HAL was NOT a homicidal maniac, HAL was & I hope still IS on his way to destiny roundup at the Gates Of Eden...; Thursday, February 12, 2009
Jukeboxmafia said...: Um... yeah. Accidently deleted your other comment. Sorry about that. You were saying?; Thursday, February 12, 2009

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Disclaimer:

Most of the music files presented here come from my personal 45 collection and are posted for purposes of musical enlightenment only. These are mostly obscure songs, over 40 years old, that may not have been reissued on CD. The intention is to raise awareness of underappreciated artists/songs. If you like what you hear, seek these artists out on CD or get out there and find some of this old vinyl for yourself... If you are the copyright holder and wish any files to be removed, I will do so immediately upon request.