Alien

[thibodeaux]

So let me see if I understand this: they can make robots that look and act perfectly human, but computer UIs still look like TRS-80s?

[71-1085092892]

The Bilbo Baggins model was still a bit twitchy, though.

And maybe it's like the Space Shuttle computers... stripped down to minimize errors. The space shuttles aint running windows.

[Vince]

So let me see if I understand this: they can make robots that look and act perfectly human, but computer UIs still look like TRS-80s?

I thought the same thing about the digital read-out in the X-wing cockpit in the first Star Wars. You know... the scope thingie that Luke was using as he flew through the trench.

[Paul]

Yeah, they'd want computers that are tough and ugly. Something that can get banged up and survive some unexpected radiation.

I used to do work at machine shops. The computers on the machines are really basic. The display reminds me of something you'd see on an Apple ][. Now, "fancy-pants" computers can give those machines orders remotely, but what you get when you're at the machine is really basic.

[thibodeaux]

Sorry, not buying it. A crappy ui does NOT equal toughness.

This was not a CNC-machine microcontroller. They fully expected this computer to be able to give them advice on how to fight the alien. Not only that, there's a scene where Ripley's trying to abort the self-destruct, and she's screaming at the computer, so it's obvious the computer has speech-understanding capability.

The hardest part of building a humanoid robot is getting it to interact with people such that it appears to be human itself. Conversation is especially difficult. I'm just saying that since this problem has been solved, why are they still typing on keyboards and reading off 9-inch CRT displays?

[71-1085092892]

Government contractors?

[Paul]

Someone knitted a face hugger.