Skip to main content

star trek - Where did Scotty learn to type?


In Star Trek 4 'The Voyage Home', in probably the funniest scene in the movie, Scotty tries using a 1980s computer. After a bit of trouble (see below), he realizes he needs to use the keyboard and manages to type out a formula exceptionally quickly (again, see below). My question is, considering his unfamiliarity with that sort of computer, and the fact that (as far as I can recall) there aren't any 'keyboards', or at least QWERTY keyboards, in the 23rd century, where did Scotty learn to type so fast?






Answer



The far bigger question to me always has been the question how Scotty knows how to write the formula into the computer. I.e. if you're able to write and format a letter with Microsoft Word, you might still not know how to do all the proper steps in a program such as LibreOffice Writer (without trial and error). And we're not just talking about some UI differences here.


But besides that, once Scotty knew he'd be forced to use the keyboard, he could just use that. Don't forget that it's not like keys or buttons are obsolete in Star Trek, and especially during TOS there are still tons of panels with buttons and keyboard like attachments (even LCARS just mimics panels and stuff, but doing it in a far more dynamic way). Actually, I'm rather sure there are at least a few instances of keyboard like panels in some of the episodes, I jut don't remember any specific one. But remembering the annoying computer sounds in TOS, I could understand them trying not to use them. :)


Don't forget that he's still an engineering genius, so it shouldn't take long for him to figure out that buttons with letters on them are meant to be used for typing. They probably have similar things in the future, especially during TOS. Just don't expect any classic IBM/PC compatible keyboard sitting around. Him using the mouse as some kind of microphone clearly has been a gag for the audience, but at the same time it shows that he knows that older hardware might have been wired and that he'd have to use some of the devices attached through cables.




Oh, and if you'd like a different real life example: Take some kid of today who grew up with touch screen devices and modern PC keyboards only. Put them in front of a 18xx typewriter and let them figure out how to write a letter. There might be a few starting issues (feeding the paper... "Hello, Computer!"), but once those hurdles are taken, actually using the "device" is pretty straight forward, even if you haven't used such "ancient" technology before.






One last note: If you're set to complete a job estimated to take 5 hours within 5 minutes you'll have to have quick fingers, no matter what. Slow fingers won't impress your captain!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

futurama - How much time is lost in 'Time Keeps on Slippin''

In time Keeps on Slippin' , Farnsworth creates a basketball team which he matures by abusing Chronitons. This leads to time skipping forward by random, but ever increasing amounts. How much time was skipped in this way? Answer Unfortunately, I don't think a good estimate can be made for this, for two reasons: Many of the time skips move forward by an indeterminate amount of time. At one point, the Professor mentions localized regions of space skipping forward much more than others. We then see two young boys on the street below complaining about having to pay social security, only to suddenly become senior citizens and start complaining about wanting their money. Thus, each individual could have experienced a different amount of time skippage.
Post a Comment
Read more

harry potter - Did Dolores Umbridge Have Any Association with Voldemort (or Death Eaters) before His Return?

I noticed that Dolores Umbridge was born during the first Wizarding War, so it's very likely she wasn't a Death Eater then (but she is pretty evil -- who knows?). After that Voldemort was not around in a way that could affect many people, and most wouldn't know he was planning to rise again. During that time, and up through Voldemort's return (in Goblet of Fire ), did Umbridge have any connection with the Death Eaters or with Voldemort? Was she doing what she did on her own, or was it because of an association with Voldemort or his allies? Answer Dolores Umbridge was definitely not a good person. However, as Sirius points out, "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters". Remember that he also says that he doesn't believe Umbridge to be a Death Eater, but that she's evil enough (or something like that). I think there are two strong reasons to believe that: Umbridge was proud to do everything according to the law, except when she trie...
Post a Comment
Read more

aliens - Interstellar Zoo story

I vaguely remember this story from my childhood: it was about an interstellar zoo that came to Earth with lots of bizarre and unusual species, and humans would file through and gape at all the crazy looking creatures from other planets. The twist came at the end when the perspective shifted to the other side of the bars and we discovered that the "creatures" were traveling through space on a kind of safari. They thought they were the visitors and we were the animals. Neither side knew that the other side thought they were the zoo creatures. Answer Got it. Zoo, by Edward D. Hoch. Published in 1958. Link to Publication History Link to PDF
Post a Comment
Read more

Could one of Voldemort's Death Eaters have killed or harmed Harry at Privet Drive?

In Order of the Phoenix , Dumbledore explains to Harry the protection that the Dursleys' home provides: While you can still call home the place where your mother's blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort. He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her sister. Her blood became your refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, there he cannot hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I had done in the letter I left, with you, on her doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen years. Dumbledore says that he cannot be "touched or harmed by Voldemort". Does this mean that he could have sent a Death Eater to just bust down the door and kill Harry, assuming that Voldemort would allow them to? And even if he didn't want them to kill him, could they have harmed him in some other way (e.g. the Cruciatus Curse)? Answer No. Harry was protect...
Post a Comment
Read more