[alicebot-aiethics] Ok, who would deny Hawking the first artificial body?

[Tamara Thompson]

Just curious, would anyone actually fight over who gets the first artificial
human body?

I would nominate Hawking, because he's had  great experience with being a mind
and voice trapped inside a body that is failing.  And because he's struggled
to educate all of us despite the problems.  And because he's pretty smart.
<smile>  And because his eyes twinkle,  he's aware of everything.  <big grin>

I was lucky enough a few years ago to meet a boy in a wheelchair who had a
contraption like Hawking's--he used his mouth to hold a straw which he poked
at keys on a keyboard to talk to me.  I was astounded.  He had adapted so well
to that awkward method of communicating.  It was mesmerizing--the lengths that
we will go to to communicate even the simplest ideas to one another.

Years ago I saw and heard Hawking speak in Dallas to an audience about
antimatter, and pairs of particles (Thanks to Brad, a friend who took me to
it)...Hawking's  speach had been recorded, so he would not have to type it all
in on stage.  Hawking was great! His computer voice filled the hall.  I'm not
sure why the others went, maybe they just went to see this great man, and to
say they had been.  But I went to hear Hawking speak.  To hear his physics.
At one point he made a joke, and I embarrassed myself in front of all the
Dallas social scene, because I was listening, and because I got the joke, I
laughed really loudly.  Everyone else was so quiet.  I've never quite figured
that moment out: were they just not listening?  Was his computer voice hard to
understand?  Did they not like the joke?  <smile>

Hawking has truly pioneered communication from a difficult situation.  And
perhaps because his research is so exciting we all respect him.  I'm sure some
would say that at best he is a poster person for others like him, but I have
read and heard him, I think he has some truly amazing things to offer mankind
scientifically and socially.    I hope I get to meet him someday, I think
talking with him would answer a lot of questions that I have about human
communication in general, not to mention what the hell is with the black hole
recently discovered.

Tamara