Movie Gadget Friday: TRON
By Ariel Waldman 
posted Feb 29th 2008 11:58PM
posted Feb 29th 2008 11:58PM
Ariel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.
Previously on Movie Gadget Friday, we traveled across war-torn galaxies in the 1978 version of Battlestar Gallatica. Moving forward a few years to 1982, we'll take a look inside the computational arcade culture of TRON. Saturated with neon suits and Pac-Man blips and bleeps, the sci-fi cult Disney film has achieved pop culture status over the years.
The ENCOM Digitizing Molecular Laser
Using a matter transform sequence and a grid matrix, the ENCOM Digitizing Laser is able to transport physical matter into a digital space. The laser is able to lock on a target and dismantle the molecular structure on a cubic grid. When used for its original intentions, the molecules remain suspended in the laser beam. However, the Master Control Program is able to deviate this sequence into transporting the restructured molecules into a digitized computer game world where TRON resides. The molecules can then be shifted back safely into the physical world by selecting the run mode through the laser system. Surprisingly, the only side effects the laser has on humans is minor disorientation and temporary memory loss. Phew. More after the break.
Edward Dillinger's Executive Touchscreen Desk
This mammoth of a desk is featured as the main text-based control panel access the Master Control Program. With a sleek glass surface, the table top doubles as a dynamic touchscreen, doing away with the need for a bulky keyboard (we can only hope it would do away with a lot of other devices for a desk that size). The MCP that runs within the desk was originally programmed as an artificial intelligence chess game, but over time was able to increase its intelligence and conversational abilities through an internal audio input / output system. If the size and MCP weren't intimidating enough, the desk also comes equipped with embedded monitors, capable of displaying multiple CCTV feeds at any given time for spying on potential intruders.
Aside from lasers and computer desks, it's hard not to notice all the virtual devices that are featured throughout Flynn's digitized journey. Since most are bits of software, they're able to take on any form and function despite the usual laws of physics and mechanics. But from Light Cycles and Identity Disks to hovering Recognizers, we tend to have more lasting wonder about the necessity of men in TRON-tights, and less to do with the electrical output levels of Logic Probes.
Ariel Waldman is a social media insights consultant based in San Francisco. Her blog can be found at http://shakewellbeforeuse.com.
Previously on Movie Gadget Friday, we traveled across war-torn galaxies in the 1978 version of Battlestar Gallatica. Moving forward a few years to 1982, we'll take a look inside the computational arcade culture of TRON. Saturated with neon suits and Pac-Man blips and bleeps, the sci-fi cult Disney film has achieved pop culture status over the years.
Using a matter transform sequence and a grid matrix, the ENCOM Digitizing Laser is able to transport physical matter into a digital space. The laser is able to lock on a target and dismantle the molecular structure on a cubic grid. When used for its original intentions, the molecules remain suspended in the laser beam. However, the Master Control Program is able to deviate this sequence into transporting the restructured molecules into a digitized computer game world where TRON resides. The molecules can then be shifted back safely into the physical world by selecting the run mode through the laser system. Surprisingly, the only side effects the laser has on humans is minor disorientation and temporary memory loss. Phew. More after the break.
This mammoth of a desk is featured as the main text-based control panel access the Master Control Program. With a sleek glass surface, the table top doubles as a dynamic touchscreen, doing away with the need for a bulky keyboard (we can only hope it would do away with a lot of other devices for a desk that size). The MCP that runs within the desk was originally programmed as an artificial intelligence chess game, but over time was able to increase its intelligence and conversational abilities through an internal audio input / output system. If the size and MCP weren't intimidating enough, the desk also comes equipped with embedded monitors, capable of displaying multiple CCTV feeds at any given time for spying on potential intruders.
Ariel Waldman is a social media insights consultant based in San Francisco. Her blog can be found at http://shakewellbeforeuse.com.
"Surprisingly, the only side effects the laser has on humans is minor disorientation and temporary memory loss."
No, thats the Marijuana.
On a side note, duuuude, thats aweesssooome
What about those wonderful motorcycles they rode on in the virutal world...those Light Cycles were the best and the coolest in 1982, until the Hoverboard came out.
Amazing how accurately that touchscreen desk presaged the iPhone and Microsoft's Surface!
Indeed, there's your prior art right there
When I was a tot, and I first watched this movie, I totally wanted the desk. Soon, I may have one!
Trolls love delicious, nutritious spam: andytime@earthlink.net
First person to incorporate the bottom picture into an avatar wins.
Classic!
What? The admiration of the people on a website for all of .000006 of a second? Now if it was that desk....I'm so there.
Star War All agian?
Tron actually stunk as a movie, pacing and plot all over the place. But it was also a magnificent achievement. I kinda get a headache trying to reconcile these two aspects in my head when I watch it.
You're right, the plot and character development are definitely geared to the average 10-year-old, but this was one of the first depictions of cyberspace and for that in gets some kind of recognition.
The movie that blew my mind in this regard was "Scanners" (which preceded "Tron" by a year). It was the part where Cam gets on a pay phone and connects his brain to a mainframe. Oh, and the exploding head was pretty kickass, too.
The bit!
"How about this one?"
"NO"
"HERE!?!"
"NO"
(ship crashes)
"Get out of here!"
"YES YES YES"
Good or bad, I have fond memories of this movie. I remember seeing it the the theater and it had a commercial for Dig-Dug attached. It was the first time I'd seen a commercial at the movies.
Of course I grabbed the DVD box set for it and I loved every geeky frame. I still hope there will be a sequel made but I'm not holding my breath.
They did make one, or at least tried to. Tron 2.0 saw light of day only as a video game, alas.
there's a new movie in the works, actually.
What the f**k is a "social media insights consultant"? Sounds like a job that only exists in San Francisco.
You forgot,"...owned by a Texan."
Got to love the lightcycles.
At this very moment (noon on March 2nd), this movie is being shown at the Cinerama in Seattle, the huge 70mm-format theater owned by Paul Allen. I wish I could have gone! :(
No love for light cycles other than a casual mention?
Light Cycles are f-ing awesome.
I was born in the other end of the eighties, but I still remember the dank and dark corner where the VHS of this movie was trapped, along with the X-rated horror and erotica sections.
The tape was never replaced or cleaned, and needed tracking endlessly, but it's retro neon animations burned into my brain. I'm glad that years later Adidas made a jacket and shoes in honor of the movie.
Thankfully I'm not too much of a fan to be like Tron Guy.