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Computer Interaction in Science Fiction Movies

Posted by Zonk on from the there-is-no-spoon dept.

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."

9 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Video game as firewall by starfishsystems · · Score: 5, Funny
    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.

    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.
    1. Re:Video game as firewall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      You mean YOU don't compile the kernel by using tetris bricks?

    2. Re:Video game as firewall by Mr.+Flibble · · Score: 5, Funny

      You don't? Hell I use psDooM on all my production systems. I like to let my processes sort out their own issues, who needs nice anyways? And boy, with this kind of user interface, I deal with hackers by "iddqd" "idkfa" and then pull out the BFG. Problem solved.

      (Screenshots for those who don't remember psDooM: http://psdoom.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html

      --
      Try to hack my 31337 firewall!
    3. Re:Video game as firewall by Clazzy · · Score: 5, Funny

      What they don't realise is that firewall configuration goes something like this:

      You are now entering port 80.
      It is pitch black.
      You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
      The batteries have gone on your flashlight.
      > CHANGE BATTERIES
      You have no new batteries.
      You were eaten by a grue, port 80 is now open.

      --
      If we can hit that bull's-eye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... Checkmate.
  2. Lex says... by the_tsi · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is a Unix system! I know this!

  3. Re:Star Trek comm badge logic by rklemaster · · Score: 5, Funny

    You need to get laid.

  4. Re:Alien by Oktober+Sunset · · Score: 5, Funny

    I think the TNG computer was a sack of crap, you ask it where someone is and its says they aren't on board, if the computer knows where people are on he ship, why doesn't it tell you something usefull like, they went crazy and flew off in a shuttle or they mysteriously vanished from some coridor due to weird alien crap. And why didn't it tell someone when they went missing, rather than sit there like a fucktard for 5 hours untill someone notices they are gone before telling anyone they were mysteriously abducted by wierd energy monsters or whatever. The interface was good, with the touch screens and the voice, but the AI of the thing was dumb as fuck.

    --
    What if Tetris was invented by Nazis?
  5. Scotty by jac89 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hello Computer?? ***maybe you should use the keyboard*** ... Ah yes, how quaint.

  6. Re:Alien by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    While it never made it in to film, the interface in the later Foundation novels wins for me. Do the UI components still explode with a sea of sparks every time the ship has any problem like in the TV shows? Or have they finally figured out how to get input from consoles without needing 100,000 V and a couple of pieces of random explosives strapped inside?