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In Pictures: 30 Famous Fictional Computers

In Pictures: 30 Famous Fictional Computers
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Tom's Top 30, In Chronological Order

It seems like Hollywood’s goal is to get as far as possible from the real computers that left their mark on our epoch, as seen in Iconic Machines from Computing History. And yet, many of these fictional works have influenced our culture by producing machines that are sometimes more famous than actual historical systems. We decided to take a look back at 30 imaginary computers that defined their genres and left an indelible stamp on popular culture.

Our definition of “computer” is broadened to include artificial intelligence and robots, and while the list is in chronological order of appearance, the illustrations are mostly anachronistic. Let’s kick this journey off in the world of comic books, way back in the 1960s…

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  • 0 Hide
    vmem , May 30, 2013 10:10 PM
    I like how many of us now have cellphones that replicate some of these famous computer's abilities :) 
  • 1 Hide
    agnickolov , May 30, 2013 10:12 PM
    I'll add to the list Kortana from the Halo universe
  • 5 Hide
    wildkitten , May 30, 2013 10:26 PM
    Quote:
    i hate these type of filler articles on a Friday.


    I wouldn't call it filler. I think enthusiasts often look at science fiction for inspiration and that inspiration drives innovation.

    Would we have smartphones with the capabilities they have today if it weren't for the Star Trek communicator driving people's imaginations?

    If it weren't for people asking themselves "what if?" I don't believe that we would have near the wonderful devices we do today.
  • -3 Hide
    mayankleoboy1 , May 30, 2013 11:34 PM
    ^ I want pointing to this specific article, but to the general "30 of the blah blah blah" picture slideshows that are posted in lieu of a genuine article, on most fridays.
  • 1 Hide
    Memnarchon , May 30, 2013 11:58 PM
    In Ulysses 31 episode 22, there was a super computer called "Cortex" that controlled an entire planet.
  • 0 Hide
    Immaculate , May 31, 2013 12:47 AM
    Where is the Fallout computer? I guess it was kind of dumb and easy to convince though
  • 0 Hide
    de5_Roy , May 31, 2013 1:09 AM
    person of interest's 'the machine', csi tv series' computer systems that compare dna results and other data instantly, automan etc.
  • 0 Hide
    Izuall , May 31, 2013 1:21 AM
    Im surprised SHODAN(SS2) isnt on the list.Gives me the creeps just by thinking about it.
  • 0 Hide
    assasin32 , May 31, 2013 1:22 AM
    Quote:
    person of interest's 'the machine', csi tv series' computer systems that compare dna results and other data instantly, automan etc.


    Don't forget it also does fingerprints in CSI as well. And when the machine is down they have to do it "old school" and it will take awhile, and have have the fingerprints displayed on what is probably 2x 60+in screens in the background. Despite them showing the prints for no more than 1 second I could tell you they were not the same print, heck they weren't even the same type of finger print. I could go on with all the stupid things they do with computers in that show.

    And remember kids if you don't like this post I watch CSI "I create a GUI interface using visual basic see if I can track an IP address."
  • 2 Hide
    Izuall , May 31, 2013 1:55 AM
    Im surprised SHODAN(SS2) isnt on the list.Gives me the creeps just by thinking about it.
  • 3 Hide
    Flying-Q , May 31, 2013 2:43 AM
    Some of the choices for a top 30 seem weird in that a bit of fake software is justified in making a laptop 'famous', and there are some glaring omissions as well.
    How about the female humaniform robot Futura from the black and white movie 'Metropolis' from the 1920's, GORT from 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' (the original 1950's), or the Library computer 'Prime Radient' from Azimov's 'Foundation' series.
    Still more: The Great Machine and Robby from 'Forbidden Planet', NDR-113 (Andrew) from 'Bicentennial Man', Zen and ORAC from 'Blakes 7', Twiki and Dr Theopolis from 'Buck Rogers...', Ziggy from 'Quantum Leap', Proteus IV from 'Demon Seed', Max (compliance!) from 'Flight of the Navigator', Huey, Louey and Dewey from 'Silent Running', Johnny-5 from 'Short Circuit', T-800 and T-1000 from 'Terminator' series, Sonny from 'I-Robot',
  • 4 Hide
    billafu , May 31, 2013 2:55 AM
    Colossus: The Forbin Project, Proteus from Demon Seed, the robot from Lost In Space, Robbie from Forbidden Planet, MULTIVAC and R. Daneel Olivaw from the works of Isaac Asimov. Data, Lore, B4. Huey, Dewey and Louie from Silent Running. Gort from The Day The Earth Stood Still/The Master. I think these all could be added to the list.
  • 3 Hide
    billafu , May 31, 2013 2:59 AM
    Not to mention the Cylons.
  • 0 Hide
    dalmvern , May 31, 2013 4:41 AM
    Im surprised Cortana of the Halo series didnt make it into the list...
    Also, C3PO? R2-D2 would have been a better choice...
  • 0 Hide
    The_Trutherizer , May 31, 2013 5:34 AM
    Oh come on! What about the AI from System Shock? Really... That's a gap as wide as a bus! rofl
  • 4 Hide
    Shawn Jetton , May 31, 2013 5:49 AM
    Not to be picky but the the picture you posted for "weird science" is from the TV from 1994 not the movie from 1985.

    Also, what no BORG?
  • 0 Hide
    jack1982 , May 31, 2013 6:00 AM
    Neat article, there are a few of those movies I haven't seen, I'll have to check them out. Hey how about "Voice" from Cleopatra 2525? Surely I can't be the only guy who watched that show :) 
  • 4 Hide
    scook9 , May 31, 2013 6:58 AM
    Cortana from Halo.....Johnny 5 from Short Circuit is a MUST. Siri from the iPhone maybe? By throwing in GladOS from Portal you open up the selection to the entire world of awesome video game computers. How about the Ship AI from Starcraft? The BORG from Star Trek does seem like a massive omission and I am not even a big Trekky. Auto from Wall-E I think also deserves a spot here.
  • 0 Hide
    dark_lord69 , May 31, 2013 7:16 AM
    I've got a couple...
    1. R2D2 - You had C2P0 and not the other robot/computer...
    2. Adjutant - From StarCraft (She is more of a talking computer than a robot)
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