Things computers do in movies

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Things computers do in movies


COMPUTERS & ELECTRONICS

       Word processors never display a cursor.

       You never have to use the space-bar when typing long sentences.

       Movie character never make typing mistakes.

       All monitors display inch-high letters.

       High-tech computers, such as those used by NASA, the CIA, or some 
       such governmental institution, will have easy to understand 
       graphical interfaces. Those that don't, have incredibly powerful 
       text-bases command shells that can correctly understand and 
       execute commands typed in plain english. Corollary: you can gain 
       access to any information you want by simply typing "ACCESS ALL 
       OF THE SECRET FILES" on any keyboard

       Likewise, you can infect a computer with a destructive virus by
       simply typing "UPLOAD VIRUS" (see "Fortress")

       All computers are connected. You can access the information on
       the villain's desktop computer, even if it's turned off.

       Powerful computers beep whenever you press a key or whenever
       the screen changes. Some computers also slow down the output 
       on the screen so that it doesn't go faster than you can read. 
       The *really* advanced ones also emulate the sound of a dot-matrix 
       printer.

       All computer panels have thousands of volts and flash pots just
       underneath the surface. Malfunctions are indicated by a bright 
       flash, a puff of smoke, a shower of sparks, and an explosion that 
       forces you backwards.

       People typing away on a computer will turn it off without
       saving the data.

       A hacker can get into the most sensitive computer in the world
       before intermission and guess the secret password in two tries.

       Any PERMISSION DENIED has an OVERRIDE function (see "Demolition
       Man" and countless others).

       Complex calculations and loading of huge amounts of data will
       be accomplished in under three seconds. Movie modems usually 
       appear to transmit data at the speed of two gigabytes per second.

       When the power plant/missile site/whatever overheats, all the
       control panels will explode, as will the entire building.

       If you display a file on the screen and someone deletes the
       file, it also disappears from the screen (e.g Clear and Present 
       Danger).

       If a disk has got encrypted files, you are automagically asked
       for a password when you try to access it.

       No matter what kind of computer disk it is, it'll be readable
       by any system you put it into. All application software is
       usable by all computer platforms.

       The more high-tech the equipment, the more buttons it has
       (Aliens). However, everyone must have been highly trained, 
       because the buttons aren't labelled.

       Most computers, no matter how small, have reality-defying
       three-dimensional active animation, photo-realistic graphics
       capability.

       Laptops, for some strange reason, always seem to have amazing
       real-time video phone capabilities and the performance of a 
       CRAY Supercomputer.

       Whenever a character looks at a VDU, the image is so bright
       that it projects itself onto his/her face (see "Alien", "2001").


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