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Computer Interaction in Science Fiction Movies
MidVicious writes "From futuristic 'Punch Cards' to Voice Recognition HoloDeck Interfaces, human/computer interactions have always mirrored the base concepts of our emerging technologies. An article from a Saarland University CS Seminar highlights Hollywood history with UI, ranging from the moderately feasible (Total Recall's television/scenery display wall) to the often ridiculous (Swordfish's 6-flat screen monitor setup complete with 3-D virus-hacking environment). An interesting read, especially considering some of the technology is on its way to becoming a reality."
It's like, yeah, that's really how I configure iptables or add a server cert to Apache.
Parity: What to do when the weekend comes.
This is a Unix system! I know this!
What's wrong with the six panels? I use three 19'' at work (with Matrox hardware and a el-cheapo nvidia card) and is an extremely nice setup to work with various VMWare virtual machines at once.
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The computer in Alien (the first in the series) was unrealistic - not because of the artificial intelligence or natural-language processing, but because of the cumbersome way commands were entered and the unnecessary tekno-futurism of the computer room. Still, it was really good at helping the conspiratorial mood of the movie, and it is still one of my favorites in terms of fictional computers. I think the Star Trek TNG computers were probably the best depiction of how computers should be.
The English word fart is one of the oldest words in the English vocabulary.
Aside from the 3D virus hacking environment, Nvidia does sell graphics cards that let you do 4 monitors per card, so you can get 8 displays. The Quadro NVS 440. So 6 monitors isn't really that outlandish.
Does anybody else think that the X-Men 3-D interface is entirely doable?
Am i the only one who notices punching keys is all they do in movies? even tho they have a graphical UI
The claim that something similar to the system depicted in swordfish is ridiculous, is on itself ridiculous. Multi-monitors are nothing new; even ordinary PC users with a decent graphic-card can already link two. Currently, there are already systems which can handle *more* then 6 screens.
And as far as the 3D goes:
"HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- August 9, 2004
Sharp Systems of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, today introduced the Sharp LL-151-3D display, Sharp's first stand-alone display that features Sharp's 3D LCD Technology. This exciting 15-inch 3D LCD monitor delivers eye-popping 3D images to the naked eye, and can be easily switched between 2D and 3D viewing for standard applications such as spreadsheets, word processing or email. "
Note the date. It's not even Sci-fi anymore.
--- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
which consists of 6 flatscreen monitors of common size put together and probably supposed to be used as an enhanced display.
Great speech from a guy who can't count past 6!
"Don't meddle in the affairs of a patent dragon, for thou art tasty and good with ketchup." ~ohcrapitssteve
I want a monitor that will project the text I'm typing onto my face.
...but is it art?
Lets also not forget those great glass monitors used in Minority Report. All one has to do is look at how interaction is working with the Wii. The use of gloves with motion detection is already a reality. The only piece left is the see through monitors. I would love to have one of those.
TheTiminator
After the attempt at Bob and then Clippy I wonder if Douglas Adams predicted where Microsoft will be 200 years from now? Are they the real Sirius Cybernetics? If so how long do I have to wait for my very own Marvin? ...........Now that I think about it hopefully a very very long time.
"The conceptual fault here is that the controls of the machine are exactly the opposite of a human-centered design, since user has to work for the device to make it run."
That's the God DAMN POINT, fool.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
You should see this video (204 MB MPEG4) of a 23C3 Speech/Screening featuring biometric interfaces in SciFi movies.
The Metropolis interface consists of a person moving levers to positions indicated by lights. Now where have I previously heard the idea of a human augmenting a machine??? .. I am sure I heard it recently .. something to do with a patent application or some such .. I can't quite find it now, but I am sure that rather than using google myself that this post will prompt a person to look it up for me .. Hmm .. is that also a human augmented computer system?????
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Go to a website like Stereo3D. There are numerous way to enjoy stereo 3D with computers : from ultra cheap hacks, to expensive high tech. From immersive interface to systems enjoyable by a large audience.
It's just that, those display fit very special niches (hardcore players of 3d-hamster-maze like games similar to descent, education, scientific/medical simulation, military training, etc.) and are not very usefull for desktops (their effect ranging from useless gimmicks (Vista-style) up to giving motion sickness).
Nobody has come yet with some 3D desktop interface that wasn't just eyecandy but actually useful.
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
"My favorite are scenes where figuring out how to hack through some kind of super hardened security amounts to playing a big old video game."
Tron 2.0
Is anybody else getting tired of these "silly technology in movies" articles? Seems like there's a new one every other week.
Given the title of the "paper" and given that he knows how to use references, he could at least admit which luminary in the field of HCI he has stolen the idea from.
Somehow the way comm badges work in Star Trek doesn't make any sense. Take the scenario which is frequently done on the show:
(1) Enterprise bridge crew is watching an away team's planet survey on the main viewscreen. Captain Piccard decides to ask Commander Riker (who is on the away team) a question.
(2) Scene cuts to the planet. You see Riker with his away team. Suddenly you hear Piccard's voice on Riker's comm badge "Piccard to Riker: Report!"
Now tell me this... In this scenario, Piccard supposedly hails Riker and even though there is no "routing" done with the message beforehand, Piccard's entire vocal request automatically goes to Riker and ONLY Riker, though everyone on the away team has a comm badge. In fact, you hear the initial request for Riker on his own badge. Did the comm badge psychically know to message Riker solely at the instant Piccard clicked his comm badge to transmit?
Those who laugh at you for you having a Mac.. are the people who constantly call you to fix their PC.
A movie line that always amuses me:
"A Unix computer! I know this!"
In all these movies, they are a joke.
I mean, I cannot find a proper cable and even then I need to dig out 3 gender changers and a break-out box. These guys can I/F with some computer port from a different civilization using the same RS-232 port and a TTL voltage. Amazing! If only we the same interoperability here on planet Earth.
here's what the stupid article says about Metropolis : "The conceptual fault here is that the controls of the machine are exactly the opposite of a human-centered design, since user has to work for the device to make it run."
Duh ! That was the point of the movie !
They're within a program designed to assist with the management of the dozens of ships that have suddenly been invented between the end The Matrix and the star of The Matrix Reloaded.
Seriously, what the heck? Include it by all means, but see the film first, please!
They forgot Earth: Final Conflict. The 3d movement interface in flying the shuttles were interesting. Of course if it was not a woman pilot, would the movements be the same?
Fight Spammers!
This game takes it the other way round. It takes a movie style interface and give the the impression you are "hacking" into corporate computers. Pretty entertaining (And it has a Linux Version yay)
Main Site:
http://www.introversion.co.uk/uplink/
Review at Home of the Underdogs:
http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=3044
Something tells me that they didn't quite grasp the concepts at work in some of these films, like criticising the metropolis interface for making the 'user' work. The workers in metropolis weren't users, and they didn't interface with the machines, they were slaves to the machines and just carried out the machines instructions, they didn't have any input, they just performed physical labour acording to the machines instructions. The clock thing was like a relay, but with a person doing the physical labour. They seemed to miss the whole point of that scene.
What if Tetris was invented by Nazis?
I know, I know... I am as comfortable in front of csh and piping through awk and sed as most folks are with playing video games. Today, as part of the normal day-to-day crap, I wrote a 15 line perl script without referring to a manual, that formatted a bunch of data and made it all pretty for a browser. My co-workers can all do this.
I'm also big into making films. Much as I want to join the chorus and laugh at the totally unrealistic interfaces, I do realize something: most people don't know and don't care. To them, this is how they see computers. When I type up some bizarre iptables ruleset it's about as clear to them as Swahili is to a goat in Uganda. For the director it's a matter of balancing the telling of the story with realism. This is *tough* to do.
BTW, someone once said that it's better to blame stupidity/laziness/ignorance than malice. I realized this all too clearly when I had to shoot 4 actors. One was *extremely* difficult to light because of his skin tones to the point that I ended up cutting him out of the shot entirely. My ignorance probably contributes to the idea that directors/producers don't highlight certain actors. It's not malice, just that I'm not experienced enough to do it properly. Certainly not an excuse for professionals though... The same thing with computers.. Film guys are not necessarily computer guys (though there's a lot of overlap).
1. Although not necessarily a sci-fi flick, hackers had some really neat 3d hacking... 2. Back to the Future had some interesting hci when a 3d Jaws almost bit Martys head off or when Lorraine mcfly hydrated a pizza. 3. ???? 4. Profit. Oh wait....
Hello Computer?? ***maybe you should use the keyboard*** ... Ah yes, how quaint.
What no mention of Space 1999? They very acurately predicted the paper tape printout I get at the grocery store computer.
I'm pretty sure some of this violates some of Amazon's new patents.
I tend to try and overlook alot of the "super tech" computers that TV wants us to beleive us taxpayers supply to our civil servants.. but sometimes it's just too silly. On the show Bones, the 3d holographic display with what looks like rain coming down, is just too much. Maybe a holographic display will look like that someday, but I doubt it.
waiting for ad.doubleclick.net
Microsoft Execs will be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.
Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
That reminds me. Are there any Perl libraries that generate a modern level and brushes? It would be faster than using an editor.
In the tv series SeaQuest DSV they had a real 'holographic' display in the captain's quarters, a very simple process that looked pretty neat, a wide, thin jet of what looks like dry ice is sprayed downwards whilst an image is projected onto the 'virtual' screen of fog - SeaQuest Hologram jpg
A company has already produced a similar display which looks much clearer than the SeaQuest one: http://www.physorg.com/news2591.html
To do something right, you often have to roll up your sleeves and get busy.
Trinity logged into the Power Plant with SSH in the Matrix Reloaded; err while jacked into a simulation so I guess she really didn't type her way in now that I think about it. hrmm..
Am I right in remembering "Scotty" in the "Save the whale" movie. His fingers zipped in a blur across the "Quaint" keyboard. Now, If I could type that fast, that would really be something wouldn't it? And anyway, I just cant picture myself talking to a computer, apart from the occasional "COME ON YOU STUPID MACINE, OR I'LL UPGRADE TO VISTA! screamed at the top of my voice. PS Anyone remember the Sinclair Z80? My first computer with 1k ram, wow!
Can't think of anything clever or funny.
I want Cerebro! Now there's an interface.
You could do it with a transparent OLED display and one layer of LCD in back for opacity. You'd also need to write a monitor driver that could handle true 32 bit color, but there's no reason it couldn't be done.
"See, the thing about menu driven interfaces is they are serious compromises."
All interfaces are a compromise. A good interface has the fewest compromises.
"When operating critical machinery, you can't be navigating menus. "
No one says that an interface has to be purely one metaphor.
"Consequently, it is a lot easier to run - everything is always in the same place, and the things you use often you learn where are almost immediately - and it is a whole lot faster to operate. "
It's called muscle memory.
"Buttons cost more in terms of real estate, but then again, they can give you more in terms of outright survival."
An "analog" control doesn't have to have an analog purpose, nor does it have to be a one to one relationship.
No references to Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell? Virtual user interfaces, data storage in cybernetic memory, inter-human message exchanging via wireless... we're getting there.
For the first year after I had MS Windows on my computer, I did not have a mouse on my system. It is entirely possible that they know what they are doing with keyboard shortcuts, and therefore do not need a mouse.
Two observations: On the Aliens IV "breath" authentication; I think more credit needs to be given besides novelty. Feasibility notwithstanding, this would be one of the few biometric methods where the authenticator needs to be alive and *breathing*. I found this concept intriguing and it does show some thought on how to have a system that at least cannot be fooled by a chopped off hand, plucked eyeball, or easily recorded voice. OTOH not being able to get through a door because of your last, garlic laden, meal does pose some problems. :D Second, with the Nebuchadnezzar approach scene in "The Matrix: Reloaded" I understood the controller to be jacked into a mini-matrix enviroment (like the training scenes) with the 'display' being a VR. I think the article implies they think it was some sort of 3D display.
I used to think that we'd need neck-jacks and VR goggles and all sorts of other gimcrackery in order to mentally internalize our machinery and the internet as a whole. And here I find out, with me constantly thinking that I know something, and realizing that I just know how to easily find or verify it on the internet, that it just takes a certain level of ease-of-use.
You all do it; when someone asks you if you know what time it is, and you say yes, you're probably lying. You don't know--your watch does.
Laws do not persuade just because they threaten. --Seneca
Yes, that's the obvious solution. And if Nextel doesn't have it working within four years, somebody is goofing off.
Wildfire, the voice controlled phone system which Microsoft bought and killed, was making real progress in that direction.
I like Dr Merrick's desktop in "The Island". I also liked th thumb-index finger PDA from "2057"
"You are only young once, but you can be immature forever." -www.animemusicvideos.org
I'm assuming by your comment that you have never seen Password:Swordfish. Trust me, watching the movie to understand just why that particular multi-screen setup was so ridiculous is not worth it. I downloaded the movie from the internet and I still feel ripped-off.
Touted as PlayTogether ?
- Firefly features nice full color ePaper and some cool interactive holographic displays.
- the space suits in Planetes had interactive HUD displays in their helmets, kind of like some of that augumented reality stuff
- Ghost in the Shell is full of direct-to-brain interface stuff
In general animes are often full of technology, maybe there are some more interesting pieces to find.I was watching an episode of Eureka the other night where the trapped people in the automated house were asked, "Shall we play a game?" by the house's temporarily evil software. The characters all said (in increasing tones of concern/panic), "No!"
It was extremely funny as a reference to Wargames. I find Eureka to be very entertaining. YMMV.
[I am a fan of ReGenesis and Dexter also -TV is not a total wasteland]
and I know Swahili just fine, you insensitive bardhuli!
HMMM...well, if the handscanner also looked for the warmth-signature of bloodvessels (quite unique on it's own) the finger/handprint recognition would solve the problem of 'cut off hands' too.
Of course, one could speculate that chopping of the hand and *immediately* putting the hand on there would fool the system, but then again, you caould as well argument that it's possible to kill someone, put his mouth over the mouthpiece and perform a Heimlich-maneuver; since there is always some air left, it could be forced out, that way, possibly fooling the system as well.
But then again, it would be more probable, if it came so far, to just force the guy to do whatever he needs to do by gunpoint, or other life-threat.
--- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
You want the AI to be stupid. Smart AIs lead to M5 and such.
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The worst hollywood interface im>ho was minority report's. His arms are flailing this way and that over a basically 2D screen. It was wide and things were stacked, but the size is the only part that is novel. How tired would you be if you spent a day, even an hour doing those gyrations. Imagine using that interface with just one arm, or sitting in a wheelchair. He could have just as easily been sitting down and clicking and dragging with a mouse up on the wide projection screen. Pretty, yes. But not practical for anything longer than the scenes we saw him use it. There was a Micheal Douglas movie that had a equally stupid interface. He put on a VR helm and gloves to control VR hands open VR drawers and sift through VR folders. Why make an interface that mimics the OLD way of doing something?
Utilizing the synergization of benchmark e-solutions to pre-workaround action items!
"5. Satiric movie scenes ...is taken from "Start Trek IV" when Spock and Scotty are on earth and supposed to use a 20th century personal computer. Scotty tried to talk to it as he is used to do on the Enterprise and of course failed. He was then advised to use the mouse, which he did - assuming that it is used as a microphone."
He states that Spock and Scotty attempt to use a 20th century computer, when it was actually Scotty and McCoy (both shown in the accompanying picture).
Just sayin...
Shatner's short-lived TV series "Tech Wars" also had a great 3D UI, but damn'd if I can find a useful link to a page about the show... It starred William Shatner and Greg Evigan.
I annoys me to see movies depicting *any* computer interfaces that are so obviously over-the-top 3D and "gee-whiz we're futuristic" without any regard for . . . well . . . usability. Thank God the real world doesn't have operating systems like that.
The article is full of bad examples, and misses many much better ones. It's also chock full of bad grammar and incorrect word usage. Just awful. I've read high school papers that put this to shame.
If the author doesn't speak English as his/her primary language then I'll cut them some slack, but I've read Slashdot comments that were better written than this!
Boundless Expansion, Self-Transformation, Dynamic Optimism, Intelligent Technology, Spontaneous Order- BEST DO IT SO!
So you can teleport hundreds of Km but still have to tell the computer to time stamp your personal log... I expected more from Star Trek. Sigh.
flinging poop since 1969
I wrote a white paper in 1990 about voice recognition where I predicted that it would difficult to impossible to become the predominant method of human/computer interaction.
Why? Unrealistic depictions in popular entertainment.
I called this the "Star Trek Syndrome" because that show and the Star Wars films that followed a decade later set the bar way too high and created an expectation for the average consumer that can't be met anytime soon.
Granted, there are voice solutions for many things ranging from voice-dialing your cell, GPS and audio systems in cars, Speech tools in XP, Vista, and so on. The problem arises in that Average Joe has the expectation that you can speak natural language on a crowded bridge, with Khan shooting the hell out of your ship, and have the computer pick out your voice from an ambient noise floor of around 100dB, and parse the command(s) PERFECTLY every time.
Ain't gonna happen anytime soon, kids. Yes, very narrow applications work well and have for some time. The technology for speech recognition is very good. It's the EXPECTATION of the average consumer that's the issue. And unfortunately, if it doesn't work that way, Billy Ray Trailer Park won't buy it.
So, while computer interaction in sci-fi movies ranges from almost right to wildly stupid, the real issue is what it does to the consumer mindset.
I am my own gestalt.
Try searching for it as TekWar, since that was the name of the Shatner novels and so I imagine that's how it was with the series, too.
Microsoft execs were the first against the wall when the revolution came. Mot all of us are from the same time, you insensitive clod.
USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)
You mean the "Shatner" novels, since they were written by Ron Goulart.
I hope we don't have the form of human-computer interaction they had in the first Terminator movie.
It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
Jeff Goldblum writing his "Jolly Roger" virus for the alien computer systems takes the cake for me. We are to believe they have no type of firewall, that you can just get there, plug in and upload, and that his OS graphics translate to the same images on their OS?? Fantasy, pure and simple.
Its like those moronic aliens that get destroyed by water, trying to take over a planet that is 70% water in Signs.
"Hey guys! Lets go naked to conquer a planet where a substance deadly to us routinely falls from the sky!!"
"Sounds good to us Emmnyte, count us in!"
Ruined the entire thing for me...
"People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything."
Yeah, I don't really remember anything about that show except the great looking computer interfaces. Oddly enough, it was the main reason I watched the show at the time. Nothing else in Hollywood came close. Things have gotten better these last few years though.
One of the finest shows ever made with absolutely the worst UI ever portrayed in Hollywood. Gotta love that flash in history when virtual reality was going to take over the world.
If any hacker or geek carries the possibilities of The Matrix into real life, I will be seriously tempted to slug him. This, of course, presumes that I find out about it before "real life" gets redefined for humanity.
There is a fine line between recklessness and courage... -- Paul McCartney