Computers have appeared in the various forms of media even since their invention. On these pages, we take a look back to see how computers have been portrayed in both a positive and a negative light.
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All images and video clips herein are Copyright © 1996,1997,1998 James Willing except where superceded by previous existing copyright.
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This section consists of historical images of computers, most often generated for promotional or advertising purposes, but also images specifically for historical documentation.
Vilified and deified, often in the same breath! This section references the news media to a large extent, although we may venture across other forms as we progress...
Computers as tool, as good guy, as bad guy, as saviour, as conquerer, and as comic relief. Computers have played a part in movies and television ever since their invention. Here we will look as representative examples from various movies and television shows where computers have played a significant part, and where possible (this is where the audience participation part comes in) try to identify the specific machines involved. (and occasionally indicate various operational faus pax, like forgetting to turn a device on, or a happily typing on a terminal with no cables connected to it B^} )
Note: the movies are not necessarily computer related, we are just attempting to point out where computers have increasingly played a role in the media, either as prop, device, character, and or all of the above. And while we will make specific mention of real computers in use, we won't ignore the not so real ones either...
Battlestar Galactica (circa 1978)
Tektronix found themselves involved with the movie (later television show) "Battlestar Galactica" thru the efforts of a somewhat overzealous marketing representative. (or so the story went)
Apparently, it was a rather major committment of time, equipment, and money which was not well received by upper management.
A good deal of time was apparently involved in generating the graphics needed for many of the displays, an example of which is shown above in this test plot of a flight of 'Viper' spacecraft which was pulled from the (in)famous "Galactica Tape" which surrepticiously made the rounds of internal and private demos for some time. (if anyone has a copy...)
WarGames (circa 1983)
If you have ever wondered just how the movie studios get all of that really neat looking computer gear that you see in the movies, here is one example...
(this seemed appropriate to add now, since the IMSAI microcomputer that was used in the movie was recently auctioned off...)
...and no, the paper has not yellowed that much, "Computer Shopper" used to be published on yellow newsprint.
Also, the "WOPR" defense computer was reportedly a (somewhat modified) piece of classic IBM gear.
Colossus: The Forbin Project (circa 1969)
...aka Colossus 1980 (1969)
...aka Day the World Changed Hands, The (1969)
...aka Forbin Project, The (1969)
(you think this film had an identity crisis?)
Large amounts of Control Data and IBM equipment around the various sets, plus a few Teletypes and some Tektronix gear... (more details to follow)
Ghostbusters (circa 1984)
Look closely and you will see a Cromemco System One with a C-10 terminal in the lab. (more details to follow)
Three Days Of The Condor (circa 1975)
Shows a PDP-8 system with DECtapes in one of the opening scenes (more details to follow)
The Six Million Dollar Man [TV] (circa 1973)
Look closely and in some scenes among the panels of lab equipment you will see an Altair 8800 (painted white, yuck!) which was rumoured to actually be used for control of the lab panel lighting effects. (more details to follow)
Red Dwarf [TV] (circa 1988, 1992)
A Commodore 64 frequently appears as a terminal... (more details to follow)
2001: A Space Odyssey (circa 1968)
Dare we forget the 'HAL 9000' ? (more details to follow)
2010: The Year We Make Contact (circa 1984)
Roy Scheider's character sits on a beach working with an Apple ][c with the hard to find LCD display. Odd, did they have AC power on that beach? (more details to follow)
Beverly Hills Cop (circa 1984)
Numerous DEC Raibow 100 units in the police station (more details to follow)
Executive Decision (circa 1996)
A Psion 3a used to trigger the bomb... (more details to follow)
Weird Science (circa 1985)
Reports of a Memotech MXT512 appearing somewhere in the proceedings...(more details to follow)
The Explorers (circa 1985)
Kids and their Apple ][c travel through space...(more details to follow)
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (circa 1991)
An Atari Portfolio used for 'fun with ATMs' and other diversions...(more details to follow)
The 'Saint' (circa 1997)
HP 200LX makes an appearance...(more details to follow)