Word processors never display a cursor.
You never have to use the space-bar when typing long
sentences.
All monitors display inch-high letters.
High-tech computers, such as those used by NASA, the CIA, or
some such governmental institution, will have easy to understand graphical
interfaces. Those that don't, have incredibly powerful text-based command
shells that can correctly understand and execute commands typed in plain
English.
Corollary: you can gain access to any information you want
by simply typing "ACCESS ALL OF THE SECRET FILES" on any keyboard.
Likewise, you can infect a computer with a destructive virus
by simply typing "UPLOAD VIRUS" (see "Fortress").
All computers are connected. You can access the information
on the villain's desktop computer, even if it's turned off.
Powerful computers beep whenever you press a key or whenever
the screen changes. Some computers also slow down the output on the screen
so that it doesn't go faster than you can read. The *really* advanced ones
also emulate the sound of a dot-matrix printer.
All computer panels have thousands of volts and flash pots
just underneath the surface. Malfunctions are indicated by a bright flash, a
puff of smoke, a shower of sparks, and an explosion that forces you
backwards.
People typing away on a computer will turn it off without
saving the data.
A hacker can get into the most sensitive computer in the
world before intermission and guess the secret password in two tries.
Any PERMISSION DENIED has an OVERRIDE function (see
"Demolition Man" and >countless others).
Complex calculations and loading of huge amounts of data
will be accomplished in under three seconds. Movie modems usually appear to
transmit data at the speed of two gigabytes per second.
When the power plant/missile site/whatever overheats, all
the control panels will explode, as will the entire building.
If a disk has got encrypted files, you are automatically
asked for a password when you try to access it.
No matter what kind of computer disk it is, it'll be
readable by any system you put it into. All application software is usable
by all computer platforms The more high-tech the equipment, the more buttons
it has (Aliens). However, everyone must have been highly trained, because
the buttons aren't labeled.
Most computers, no matter how small, have reality-defying
three- dimensional, active animation, photo-realistic graphics capability.
Laptops, for some strange reason, always seem to have
amazing real-time video phone capabilities and the performance of a CRAY
Supercomputer .
Whenever a character looks at a VDU, the image is so bright
that it projects itself onto his/her face (see "Alien",
"2001").
