H.A.L. Plant
In Arthur C. Clarke’s novel “2001: A Space Odyssey,” which served as the basis for the movie, it is mentioned that the HAL 9000 computer became operational in Urbana, Illinois, at the HAL Plant. The HAL Plant is depicted as the University of Illinois’s Coordinated Science Laboratory.
The Coordinated Science Laboratory at the University of Illinois is indeed a real research facility. It was established in 1951 and has been involved in various research projects related to computer science, engineering, and technology. The laboratory has played a significant role in advancing computing technology over the years.
In Clarke’s novel and the subsequent movie adaptation, HAL 9000 is portrayed as an advanced artificial intelligence developed at the HAL Plant to manage the Discovery One spacecraft’s systems and assist the crew during their mission to Jupiter.
It’s worth noting that while the novel provides additional details about HAL’s origins, the movie itself focuses more on the events during the mission and the interaction between the crew and HAL. Nevertheless, the HAL Plant and its association with the University of Illinois’s Coordinated Science Laboratory remain a notable part of the story’s background.
