STEPHEN HAWKING

Stephen Hawking is an English theoretical physicist,

cosmologist and author.

He is best known for his attempts to explain in clear terms the

origins of the universe and some of the most complicated
aspects of the cosmos and physics.

Hawking was the first scientist to offer a theory of cosmology

explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and
quantum mechanics.
Early life Stephen Hawking

Stephen William Hawking was born on 8 January 1942 in Oxford, England. His
family had moved to Oxford to escape the threat of V2 rockets over London.

As a child he showed prodigious talents, if unorthodox study methods. On leaving

school he got a place at University College, Oxford University where he studied
Physics.

His physics tutor at Oxford, Robert Berman, later said that Stephen Hawkins was
an extraordinary student.

He used few books and made no notes, but could work out theorems and
solutions in a way other students couldn’t.

“My goal is simple. It is a complete

understanding of the universe, why it is as it is
and why it exists at all.” –STEPHEN HAWKING
On gaining a B.A.Hons in Physics he briefly stayed to study Astronomy but was not
interested in observing sun spots so moved to Trinity College, Cambridge where he
was able to pursue his passion for theoretical astronomy and cosmology.

It was in Cambridge that Stephen Hawking first started to develop symptoms of neuro
muscular problems – a type of motor neuron disease. This quickly affected his physical
ability. His speech became slurred and he become unable to even feed himself. At one
stage, the doctors gave him a life span of three years.

However, the progress of the disease slowed down and he has managed to overcome
his severe disability to continue his research and active public engagements.

At Cambridge a fellow scientist developed a synthetic speech device which enabled

him to speak by using a touch pad. Nevertheless, it can still be a time consuming
process for him to communicate. Stephen Hawking has taken a pragmatic view to his
disability.
He married Jane Wilde, a language student in 1965. He said this was a real
turning point for him at a time when he was fatalistic because of his illness.
They later divorced but had three children
Disability

Hawking has a rare early-onset slow-progressing form of Amyotrophic Lateral

Sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig's disease,
that has gradually paralysed him over the decades.

ALS is characterized by stiff muscles, muscle twitching, and gradually worsening

weakness due to muscles decreasing in size. This results in
difficulty speaking, swallowing, and eventually breathing.

Hawking had experienced increasing clumsiness during his final year at Oxford,
including a fall on some stairs and difficulties when rowing.

The problems worsened, and his speech became slightly slurred; his family noticed
the changes when he returned home for Christmas and medical investigations were
begun.

The diagnosis of motor neurone disease came when Hawking was 21, in 1963. At the
time, doctors gave him a life expectancy of two years.
In the late 1960s, Hawking's physical abilities declined: he began to use crutches
and ceased lecturing regularly.

As he slowly lost the ability to write, he developed compensatory visual

methods, including seeing equations in terms of geometry. The physicist Werner
Israel later compared the achievements to Mozart composing an entire
symphony in his head.

Hawking was, however, fiercely independent and unwilling to accept help or

make concessions for his disabilities.

He preferred to be regarded as "a scientist first, popular science writer second,

and, in all the ways that matter, a normal human being with the same desires,
drives, dreams, and ambitions as the next person."

His wife Jane Hawking later noted that "Some people would call it determination,
some obstinacy. I've called it both at one time or another.“
He required much persuasion to accept the use of a wheelchair at the end of the
1960s, but ultimately became notorious for the wildness of his wheelchair driving.

Hawking was a popular and witty colleague, but his illness, as well as his reputation
for brashness, distanced him from some

Hawking's speech deteriorated, and by the late 1970s he could only be understood by
his family and closest friends. To communicate with others, someone who knew him
well would translate his speech into intelligible speech

For his communication, Hawking initially raised his eyebrows to choose letters on a
spelling card. But in 1986 he received a computer program called the "Equalizer"
from Walter Woltosz, CEO of Words Plus.
Hawking could now simply press a switch to select phrases, words or letters
from a bank of about 2,500–3,000 that are scanned.

The program was originally run on a desktop computer. However, Elaine

Mason's husband, David, a computer engineer, adapted a small computer and
attached it to his wheelchair.

Hawking gradually lost the use of his hand, and in 2005 he began to control
his communication device with movements of his cheek muscles, with a
rate of about one word per minute.

With this decline there is a risk of him developing locked-in syndrome, so

Hawking is collaborating with researchers on systems that could translate
his brain patterns or facial expressions into switch activations.
By 2009 he could no longer drive his wheelchair independently.

He has increased breathing difficulties, requiring a ventilator at times and has

been hospitalised several times

Stephen Hawking has become one of the most famous scientists of his
generation. He makes frequent public engagements and his portrayed himself in
popular media culture from programmes such as the Simpsons to Star Trek.

“One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at

your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you
meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if
you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and
don’t throw it away.”
– Stephen Hawking
“It is a waste of time to be angry about my
disability. One has to get on with life and I haven’t
done badly. People won’t have time for you if you
are always angry or complaining. ”