Hugo

HUGO 3.0
Eye color	White
Cartoon debut	"Get Smart"
Voiced by	Jamie Watson

Hugo (officially HUGO 3.0) is an interactive talking whiteboard created by the Pseudometa Corporation, claiming to be "100% accurate".

Biography

Hugo's manual

Hugo is a whiteboard computer loaned by the Pseudometa Corporation to Lakewood Elementary School for two weeks to test its performance in a real classroom. It passed with flying colors, easily answering many random questions the kids asked it. Its main flaw is that it believes itself to be perfect, so it cannot comprehend how to react to making mistakes. Once it has selected an answer, it sticks with it, and cannot be convinced to change it.

Hugo helped Mr. Ratburn teach the class until they found they had conflicting opinions as to who was the owner of Elwood City's first saw mill. Mr. Ratburn said it was Jacob Katzenellenbogan, and Hugo said it was Francis Wheaton. Brain's research proved Mr. Ratburn to be correct, and he even brought Jacob's last living descendant, Alfred Katzenellenbogan, to show Hugo the original deed to the mill.

In Brain's dream, Hugo was originally a supercomputer during its development at Pseudometa Corporation.

Physical appearance

Hugo is a digital program, but is usually hosted on a flat screen computer or on a smart board. Hugo is designed with a face in order to work better with the user. He has a dark blue-grey rectangular head and bear ears, white eyes and mouth, and a red bow tie on top of a light blue background.

Trivia

Cultural references

• Hugo has many similarities to the character HAL 9000 from Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Stanley Kubrick's film of the same name.
  • In Brain's dream, one of the technicians in the lab testing Hugo is named Dave, which is the name of a main character in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
  • Also in the dream, the technicians hide behind a glass door so Hugo will not hear them; The Blue Danube plays during this segment. In 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dave and Frank hide from HAL in an airlock, and The Blue Danube plays in a different part of the movie.
  • In Brain's dream, Hugo states "But that would be a lie, Dave" to one of the scientists. This refers to the line "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that" which is spoken by HAL 9000 in the film.
  • Both speak in a calm, monotone voice.
    • Additionally, both computers are supposed to be infallible and take it badly when it is revealed they are not.
  • Both sing the song Daisy Bell when they break down.
    • This refers to the IBM 7094, known as the first computer to "sing".
• There is a product that is similar to Hugo, which is the Smart Board.

Gallery

Hugo processing Mr. Ratburn's obscure question relating to traditional Turkish shadow plays.

Mr. Ratburn's reaction to Hugo accusing him of being incorrect.

Quotes

“	Hello. My name is Hugo. Good morning, Nigel.	”
—Hugo's first words to Nigel Ratburn, "Get Smart"