UPDATED 01.04.2001
This page is best viewed at least 800 x 600 or better.

The HAL Flash Screen Saver Project is an attempt to create a Macromedia Flash based version of the HAL Screen Saver to fruition. I have been working on it since February and is now a stand-alone screensaver for Mac & Windows. The latest build of the screen saver is now build number 9. It contains the best recreations I am able to make so far utilizing screens images gleamed from the film version 2001. There is an update coming soon that will include the AE-35 antenna rotation as featured in the film.

The voice impression of HAL heard briefly in the screen saver is courtesy of Wally Fields. More of his impressions can be heard at his web site. Thanks go out to Wally for this wonderful recreation of HAL's voice.

The splash screen for the screen saver based on HAL's Brain Room entryway graphics from the film 2001.

My primary source material is the VHS print of the film itself utilizing the 1:33 version of the film available on VHS which is cropped from the Cinemascope aspect ratio and the using the letterbox version of the film that is periodically shown on Turner Classic Movies channel. To supplement my work I studied still images from Piers Bizony's book "2001: Filming the Future" and David Stork's book "HAL's Legacy: 2001's Computer as Dream and Reality". These books comprise the sum total of still images from which I have been able to gleam details like numbers, writing and graphics that appear on HAL's screens.


Sharp eyed Kubrick and 2001 fans will detect that some of these screens still are not 100% accurate to the film yet as some of the screens are an attempt at little side experiments in how to create little effects in Flash animation. As a goal I would like to create one version of the screen saver that is as accurate as possible to the 2001 version of HAL's screens and another like the previous Slide Show version that tosses in some of the screens from 2010 as well as fun screens that would show what a "real" HAL might look like today by integrating the idea that though HAL is the ultimate in computing he can emulate other computing environments like Macintosh, UNIX, IRIX, LINUX and others. In deference to Mr. Clarke, HAL would never allow Windows on his circuits however. :^)

HAL's splash screen finishes loading...

One of the main goals I have to overcome is the fact that at present I couldn't afford a copy of Screentime for Flash to create a Macintosh or Windows version of the screen saver.

Luckily the guys at BYTESEQUENCE.COM were nice enough to do a conversion for me. Thanks to the many people who expressed interest in helping so far via email.

I would also welcome any input from fans of 2001 and the films of Stanley Kubrick who would like to contribute to creating artwork for the screen saver or even good old constructive advice. Please feel free to email me.

Now, preview the latest build
of the HAL Screen Saver. --->