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Article: An Einstein for the '80s // Wheelchair is no bar for British physicist
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- May 29, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright (null) Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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CAMBRIDGE, England A battery-powered wheelchair whirrs along the
corridor and Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the 20th century's
leading scientists, glides into the room.
Deprived of virtually all voluntary movement by years of wasting
illness, Hawking uses his fingers to guide the chair and operate its
built-in computer screen and voice synthesizer.
He stops and squeezes a slim black control box, his head lolling
back against the headrest. A series of clicks issue from the
computer as he keys in a greeting.
"Hello, how are you?" the artificial voice intones. He moves
his head to one side, and striking blue eyes fix the visitor.
At 46, Hawking has lived more than 20 years longer ...