sarahmichigan | 10 things about computers learned from the movies





I've been reading a "Best Technology Writing" compilation, and 
while I don't love every piece, there' have been some really fun 
ones. I liked this one, especially:

By LARRY O'BRIEN
 
TOP 10 THINGS I'VE LEARNED ABOUT COMPUTERS FROM THE MOVIES AND ANY
EPISODE OF 24


*1. Megapixels aren't important:* What determines the resolution of a
photograph or audio recording is the "enhancement" algorithm run on it.
Any image, when run through the proper enhancement, will reveal
sufficient detail to recognize a face, read a license plate, and so on.
 
*2. Computer screens output text at 4,800 baud and make chirping sounds
while doing so:* Sometimes, computers can be revved up to 9,600 baud,
and sometimes, for instance when printing the names of conspirators,
slow to 300 baud. There is a great deal of variety in the sound
computers make when outputting text, though. It used to be a sound
reminiscent of a line printer, but modern computers seem to implement a
more "boop boop boop" approach. Oh, and most computers output in a 16 ×
9 font.
 
*3. All computer systems have back doors:* Hackers can get into any
system by way of "back doors" that are left by the people who originally
designed the system. The password of the back door is generally the name
of the programmer's daughter.
 
*4. There are wire-frame schematics of every building on Earth:* These
schematics interface with a wide variety of sensor and alarm systems.
They can be manipulated in real time and are infinitely zoomable (see #1
in this list).
 
*5. Decryption works one character at a time, while the other
characters cycle quickly through all possibilities:* Face detection
algorithms work the same way, as do most search algorithms. Oh, and
every time a detail is revealed, the computer makes a beep. You know,
really, most times a computer makes a partial computation, it makes a
beep.
 
*6. It takes 10 minutes to break into a system:* A computer expert will
first play coy, saying that they don't know how long it will take. Then,
in a few minutes, they'll reveal that they can get in, but they'll need
a few minutes more (damn it).
 
*7. The U.S. government surveils the entire planet, in real time, and
keeps the tapes:* At first, this seemed implausible to me, but then I
realized that they probably have a couple dozen Webcams in orbit and use
enhancement.
 
*8. People generally keep incriminating evidence in folders organized
by code name:* However, they often encrypt them (see #5). Oh, and
computers erase data at 300 baud, in reverse (see #2).
 
*9. Powerful people have Webcams that record from the middle of their
displays:* You and I dart our eyes back and forth between the Webcam and
our own screen. Powerful people have intense video conversations while
staring straight into the camera, and, therefore, the Webcams must be
recording from the middle of their screen.
 
*10. Powerful people have access to very powerful PDAs:* The mobile
computers used by powerful people not only support full video, they have
access to the real-time wire-frame schematics, decryption and
enhancement algorithms, and so forth. Oh, and they can read any data in
any device. Oh, and as phones? They have awesome coverage.