On a summer day in 1846 at London's grand Egyptian Hall, Joseph Faber - a German astronomer-turned-inventor - unveiled one of the strangest inventions to come out of the 19th century's technological boom. Spectators were ushered into a dimly lit back room to see the Euphonia, a machine that boasted the ability to replicate human speech.
In the middle of the disheveled chamber sat a piano-like instrument topped with a female automaton whose face, framed with ringlet curls, stared vacantly into the crowd.
0 comment(s):
Post a Comment