Does Stephen Hawking give autographs?

[Ben Niehoff]

I'm going to a talk he's giving tonight, and I don't want to offend him somehow. I also don't know if he actually can, practically speaking...

 

[cristo]

Given that the guy can only move his eyes and his cheek muscle, no, he does not give autographs!

 

[khemix]

Maybe he gives audiographs.

 

[FredericGos]

hmmm, just wondering. How does he communicate then? I thought he could move his hands enough to controls a joystick or something. Surely he didnt morsecode eye blink his books? :)

 

[mgb_phys]

hmmm, just wondering. How does he communicate then? I thought he could move his hands enough to controls a joystick or something. Surely he didnt morsecode eye blink his books? :)

He used to have a joystick but his illness has progressed so he can now only move a switch with his cheek.
The software uses something like the predictive texting on a mobile phone but it's still pretty long winded to get an answer.

On the plus side he isn't such a menace to cyclists anymore :tongue:

 

[Brilliant!]

Sure he does. I got him to sign this post:

Stephen Hawking, Ph.D.

 

[Proton Soup]

maybe you could get a photo with the guy

 

[humanino]

Sure he does. I got him to sign this post:

Stephen Hawking, Ph.D.

This is funny, because it seems that he would care about the "PhD" title. Please realize that a PhD is awarded by academic institutions. The vast majority of academic institutions out there would be happy if Stephen Hawking would award them a compliment ! Stephen Hawking holds Isaac Newton's chair.

 

[Proton Soup]

Stephen Hawking holds Isaac Newton's chair.

and their administrative skills are both legendary

 

[mgb_phys]

Stephen Hawking holds Isaac Newton's chair.

Although he seems to have had it 'pimped' since then.

 

[Blenton]

Although he seems to have had it 'pimped' since then.

LOL. Not even Newton could have imagined how the chair wouldve been. Who know what it will be in another 200 years... time travel anyone? :O

 

[Chi Meson]

This is funny, because it seems that he would care about the "PhD" title. Please realize that a PhD is awarded by academic institutions. The vast majority of academic institutions out there would be happy if Stephen Hawking would award them a compliment ! Stephen Hawking holds Isaac Newton's chair.

If he can't move his hands, how is he holding up that chair?

Bolted to his wheelchair, I assume.

 

[binzing]

You are incredibly lucky to get to go see hims speak, I'd love to see that.

I second the photo idea.

 

[Ben Niehoff]

Well, I didn't get a chance for a photo at all. I took photos of him, but I never got near him. It was a nice speech, though.

And in one slide he showed us the official bet with Thorne and Preskill. He did sign that document, with a smudge (that was probably a fingerprint).