Custom-made speech synthesiser for Stephen Hawking

This is part of Stephen Hawking's first synthesizer system. After using it for more than a decade, he gave it on loan to the Science Museum in 1999, where it has been on display in different exhibitions. Stephen was proud to mention that his voice was in the Science Museum. In 2021, this system, which was previously on loan, became part of the newly allocated collection of Stephen Hawking's Office.

In 1985 Hawking completely lost his voice after emergency windpipe surgery. Shortly after, he began to try a voice synthesiser and software that allowed him to select letters or preprogrammed words and phrases. The synthesiser hardware was adapted into a portable system hanging on his wheelchair.

With practice, Hawking was able to say about 20 words per minute (most people reach about 150). His synthetic voice became famous, and he later refused offers to ‘humanise’ it.

This is part of Stephen Hawking's first synthesizer system. After using it for more than a decade, he gave it on loan to the Science Museum in 1999, where it has been on display in different exhibitions. Stephen was proud to mention that his voice was in the Science Museum. In 2021, this system, which was previously on loan, became part of the newly allocated collection of Stephen Hawking's Office.

In 1985 Hawking completely lost his voice after emergency windpipe surgery. Shortly after, he began to try a voice synthesiser and software that allowed him to select letters or preprogrammed words and phrases. The synthesiser hardware was adapted into a portable system hanging on his wheelchair.

With practice, Hawking was able to say about 20 words per minute (most people reach about 150). His synthetic voice became famous, and he later refused offers to ‘humanise’ it.

This is part of Stephen Hawking's first synthesizer system. The computer itself is more modern than other parts of this system, dating from around 1997. Not all of Stephen's communication systems were updated at the same time. Once Intel started providing his computers, these were replaced every two years.

After using his first communication system for more than a decade, Hawking gave it on loan to the Science Museum in 1999, where it has been on display in different exhibitions. Stephen was proud to mention that his voice was in the Science Museum. In 2021, this system, which was previously on loan, became part of the newly allocated collection of Stephen Hawking's Office.

In 1985 Hawking completely lost his voice after emergency windpipe surgery. Shortly after, he began to try a voice synthesiser and software that allowed him to select letters or preprogrammed words and phrases. The synthesiser hardware was adapted into a portable system hanging on his wheelchair.

With practice, Hawking was able to say about 20 words per minute (most people reach about 150). His synthetic voice became famous, and he later refused offers to ‘humanise’ it.

This is part of Stephen Hawking's first synthesizer system. After using it for more than a decade, he gave it on loan to the Science Museum in 1999, where it has been on display in different exhibitions. Stephen was proud to mention that his voice was in the Science Museum. In 2021, this system, which was previously on loan, became part of the newly allocated collection of Stephen Hawking's Office.

In 1985 Hawking completely lost his voice after emergency windpipe surgery. Shortly after, he began to try a voice synthesiser and software that allowed him to select letters or preprogrammed words and phrases. The synthesiser hardware was adapted into a portable system hanging on his wheelchair.

With practice, Hawking was able to say about 20 words per minute (most people reach about 150). His synthetic voice became famous, and he later refused offers to ‘humanise’ it.

This is part of Stephen Hawking's first synthesizer system. After using it for more than a decade, he gave it on loan to the Science Museum in 1999, where it has been on display in different exhibitions. Stephen was proud to mention that his voice was in the Science Museum. In 2021, this system, which was previously on loan, became part of the newly allocated collection of Stephen Hawking's Office.

In 1985 Hawking completely lost his voice after emergency windpipe surgery. Shortly after, he began to try a voice synthesiser and software that allowed him to select letters or preprogrammed words and phrases. The synthesiser hardware was adapted into a portable system hanging on his wheelchair.

With practice, Hawking was able to say about 20 words per minute (most people reach about 150). His synthetic voice became famous, and he later refused offers to ‘humanise’ it.

This is part of Stephen Hawking's first synthesizer system. After using it for more than a decade, he gave it on loan to the Science Museum in 1999, where it has been on display in different exhibitions. Stephen was proud to mention that his voice was in the Science Museum. In 2021, this system, which was previously on loan, became part of the newly allocated collection of Stephen Hawking's Office.

In 1985 Hawking completely lost his voice after emergency windpipe surgery. Shortly after, he began to try a voice synthesiser and software that allowed him to select letters or preprogrammed words and phrases. The synthesiser hardware was adapted into a portable system hanging on his wheelchair.

With practice, Hawking was able to say about 20 words per minute (most people reach about 150). His synthetic voice became famous, and he later refused offers to ‘humanise’ it.