How does Stephen Hawking type, and how fast is he?

Question

I'm curious as to how long it took him to write his books. Does he have to hunt and peck with a little pointer of some kind? I would think that would take an incredibly long time.

(And this is a serious question. I'm certainly not poking fun. I've just always wondered what his "interface" is)

He doesn't talk, John R. You apparently are the idiot...

Answer 1

Why not let him answer that question:

"I communicate with a computer system. I have always used IBM compatible computers, on my wheel chair. They run from batteries under the wheel chair, although an internal battery will keep the computer running for an hour if necessary. The screen is mounted on the arm of the wheel chair where I can see it, more recent systems have the whole computer in a box on this arm. The original systems were put together for me by David Mason, of Cambridge Adaptive Communications. This company manufacture and supply a variety of products to help people with communication problems express themselves. Recently, Intel engineers designed a new computer for me powered by a Pentium II processor, which I now use.

On the computer, I run a program called Equalizer™, written by a company called Words Plus inc. A cursor moves across the upper part of the screen. I can stop it by pressing a switch in my hand. This switch is my only interface with the computer. In this way I can select words, which are printed on the lower part of the screen. When I have built up a sentence, I can send it to a speech synthesizer. I use a separate synthesizer, made by Speech+. It is the best I have heard, though it gives me an accent that has been described variously as Scandinavian, American or Scottish. I also can use Windows 98 through an interface called EZ Keys, again made by Words Plus. I am able to control the mouse with the switch through cleverly selected process from a small box shown on the desktop. I can also write text using similar menu's to those in Equalizer.

I can save what I write to disk. I write papers using a formatting program called TEX. I can write equations in words, and the program translates them into symbols, and prints them out on paper in the appropriate type. I can also give lectures. I write the lecture beforehand, and save it on disk. I can then send it to the speech synthesiser, a sentence at a time. It works quite well, and I can try out the lecture, and polish it, before I give it.


Stephen Hawking"

Answer 2

Although I don't have an exact answer for you, I DID read an auto-biography called "Look Up For Yes", in which the author (Julia Tavalro, a paralyzed stroke victim) was only able to move her neck a little to the right. In the mid-80's, they placed a switch by her right cheek, and she had a screen hooked up to a scanner that would go through the entire alphabet, one at a time. When a letter popped up that she wanted, she'd press her cheek onthe switch to put the letter on the screen, and then the alphabet would start over from A. She said it was tedious, but that it was better than no voice. Of course now, with better technology and predictive texts, the process for Hawking appears similar. Some people have to blow into a straw-like mechanism to get their machines to work. They're usually made according to each individual's needs. Hawking is exceptionally speedy. He's even been on The Simpsons a couple of times and shown his comedic side.

Answer 3

Hey, kids, let's be nice.

It takes Stephen Hawking a long time to write out anything, because he doesn't have fine motor control due to his Lou Gehrig's disease. He can't type in the normal sense, so he's reduced to a single "clicker" that selects words from a digital dictionary (I assume it works based on how long he holds the button down, scrolling through menu options until he reaches the word he wants... think of it being like using a single-button mouse, but the roller ball doesn't work) At that rate, it takes him several hours to compose an hour-long lecture, and he has assistance with visual aids. He also has to pre-compose answers to questions he might be asked during the lecture, because it takes so long to respond otherwise.