2001

Toshira · 11-10-2002, 11:15 AM

Is this common knowledge and I just missed it entirely?

When trying to make sense of why HAL might be named HAL, take each character in his name and assign it a numerical value, add one to it, and convert it back to a letter.

I'm thinking this can't be coincidence.

Millie · 11-10-2002, 02:00 PM

Heh. The whole HAL/IBM thing was brought up in a film class I took a few years back. It's inconclusive whether or not that's intentional (Kubrick has never stated as much), but I'm pretty sure it is.

Arthur C. Clarke (co-author of the screenplay and the simultaneously written novel) claims that the lettering stands for "Heuristic Algorithmic Computer," and that any play on the acronym's lettering is purely coincidental. I call BS.

Toshira · 11-10-2002, 02:20 PM

I think I have to agree with you, can't be coincidence. Weird that I have never heard of it in all this time though. Oh well, just goes to show you can be an idiot and still not know everything.

11-10-2002, 11:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Toshira Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 9 +0 Internets	2001 Is this common knowledge and I just missed it entirely? When trying to make sense of why HAL might be named HAL, take each character in his name and assign it a numerical value, add one to it, and convert it back to a letter. I'm thinking this can't be coincidence.

11-10-2002, 02:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Millie A Relic Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 5,872	Heh. The whole HAL/IBM thing was brought up in a film class I took a few years back. It's inconclusive whether or not that's intentional (Kubrick has never stated as much), but I'm pretty sure it is. Arthur C. Clarke (co-author of the screenplay and the simultaneously written novel) claims that the lettering stands for "Heuristic Algorithmic Computer," and that any play on the acronym's lettering is purely coincidental. I call BS. __________________

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11-10-2002, 02:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
Toshira Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 9 +0 Internets	I think I have to agree with you, can't be coincidence. Weird that I have never heard of it in all this time though. Oh well, just goes to show you can be an idiot and still not know everything.