This is the big guy. The character to which any conversational computers are inevitably compared. Created by Arthur C. Clarke and brought to the screen in Stanley Kubrick\u2019s 2001: A Space Odyssey<\/em>, HAL thoughtfully illustrated both the possibilities and the potential dangers of thinking machines.<\/p>\n From a personality design standpoint, however, HAL left a bit to be desired. With the voice of a plain-spoken, late-night radio host, HAL was very much a utilitarian, task-oriented on-board computer. Though he played chess, and paid attention to the stress-levels of his human counterparts, he offered little in the way of light-hearted companionship during the long journey through space.<\/p>\n HAL’s monotone voice, his analytical responses, and his glass-enclosed camera lens, inevitably left the audience with the feeling that HAL was very much dead inside. As a stylistic choice, this impression served the story remarkably well, especially considering the path HAL\u2019s character took near the end of the film. But as a model for cognitive, conversational interfaces, HAL exemplifies the exact opposite of what it should feel like to talk to a computer. Though they may be truthful, outward characteristics which emphasize the soul-less, mechanical nature of a device only deepen the divide between humans and computers instead of building a bridge.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Name:<\/strong> They won\u2019t say this in their press releases, but every company that\u2019s working on a self-driving car (Google, Toyota, Ford, GM, BMW, everyone) is secretly just trying to fulfill the fantasy of cruising around in a talking Pontiac Trans-Am like David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider<\/em> – the NBC primetime action hit created by Glen A Larson in 1982.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no argument that the quintessential example of the self-driving car is, and will remain for the time being, KITT (which stands for Knight Industries Two Thousand) \u2013 the fully self-aware, nearly indestructible vehicle with the red pong-light scanner transplanted directly from one of the Cylons from Battlestar Galactica. Every week, KITT and his driver Michael Knight, “a lone crusader in a dangerous world” played by The Hoff, would “champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless in a world of criminals who operate above the law.”<\/p>\n Personality-wise, KITT was the slightly stuffier half of a typical buddy-cop-action-pal duo. Part C3PO, part Evel Knievel, he often spoke out as the voice of reason but would nevertheless jump at the chance to use his turbo thrusters. His pragmatism made room for Hasselhoff to be the reckless, imperfect human who defied the odds and said things like \u201cYou gotta learn to trust your gut, pal,\u201d while his daring side allowed him to elevate the action to a technology-assisted superhuman level on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n Voiced by the smug-sounding actor William Daniels, who played Dustin Hoffman\u2019s smug dad in The Graduate, and the smug Dr. Craig from St. Elsewhere, KITT could often come off as a bit\u2026 I guess the word would be \u201csmug.” But then why shouldn\u2019t he be? You\u2019d be pretty impressed with yourself if you came equipped with a “super pursuit mode” and “laser-assisted braking system.\u201d<\/p>\n KITT also had no problem being witty or charming. He was even known to be a decent wingman when Hasselhoff was trying to make it with the lady guest-stars. When a love interest sat down in the calf-skin seats for the first time and suddenly heard, from out of nowhere, a comment like \u201cAre my cushions soft enough for you?\u201d \u2013 her blouse pretty much unbuttoned itself after that.<\/p>\n The KITT \/ Michael bromance was actually a pretty good model for a human-computer relationship. KITT wielded all the impressive abilities, had access to more information than Michael, and could drive himself without a problem. Yet he willingly subjugated himself to the role of the sidekick and exhibited no desire for autonomy. He was a car built with a driver\u2019s seat and he therefore required a driver to sit in it.<\/p>\n The show\u2019s writers gave very few hints about what might comprise the inner-workings of KITT\u2019s mind. He was a computer. He was cool. Why break it down any further?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\nHAL 9000
\n(Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer )<\/small>
\n
\nYear Introduced:<\/strong>
\n1968<\/small>
\n
\nFictional timeframe:<\/strong>
\nStory takes place in 2001
\nHAL first became operational on January 12, 1992<\/small>
\n
\nCreator:<\/strong>
\nArthur C. Clarke
\nStanley Kubrick<\/small>
\n
\nFictional Creator:<\/strong>
\nDr. Chandra of The University of Illinois’ Coordinated Science Laboratory<\/small>
\n
\nVoiced by:<\/strong>
\nDouglas Rain<\/small>
\n
\nPhysical Presence:<\/strong>
\nA red-lit, unblinking camera lens that stares hauntingly outward.<\/small>
\n
\nGender<\/strong>
\nMale<\/small>
\n
\nCharm Score<\/strong>
\n3 \/ 10<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[fusion_builder_next_page]K.I.T.T. (Knight Rider)<\/h3>\n<\/div>