This Day In History: Gorilla Goes on AOL
HaloMyBaby: A basic earthy question for Koko from Earth2Kim: Koko, what is your favorite food, fruit, or vegetable?
DrPPatrsn: Ok…she’s thinking…
LiveKOKO: I like drinks.
DrPPatrsn: What kind are your favorites?
LiveKOKO: Apple drink.
Today’s Wired: This Day in Tech recalls the days when AOL would hold celebrity chatroom events, specifically this one from 1998 (cache link), where Koko the gorilla was (technically) fielding questions from thousands of AOL members. In that transcript, HaloMyBaby was the chat moderator, DrPPatrsn is “Penny” Patterson, Koko’s friend/researcher, and LiveKOKO is the transcription of whatever answer Koko made in sign language.
