So way off topic, but since it was on Encore the other day and I couldn’t resist watching it again (yes, it is a horrible movie) I noticed a few things that were predicted correctly in a movie from 1995. For one, the need for more storage (and data) is written in as Johnny’s need to store the PharamaKom data, which ends up being the cure for “the shakes” or NAS. He doubles his capacity to a whopping 160GB by using a memory doubler, but is somehow able to get 320GB into his head….odd, I tried this with a flash drive once and it didn’t work. Maybe because it wasn’t implanted in my brain, who knows? Also, did you notice the rate at which he can transfer data is about 1000 times faster than USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt? Ironic considering the data is being fed from an optical reader and a small CD-ROM disc. Anyway, larger data sets requires faster transfer mechanisms to removable media. There is also part of the plot centered on the internet and his ability to break into systems to get information, such as the location of the copy shop where the encryption key for the data in his head was sent. Yes, it also covered protection of data at rest with encryption as well. I know this is a stretch, but listen closely when he’s in the computer shop with the bodyguard for the first time. He asked her to get a bunch of stuff, apparently so he can connect to the internet. One of the items is an iPhone…that’s right, although he called it a Thompson iPhone he says it nonetheless. And yes, also that large corporations aren’t happy when they lose control of data, especially competitive data which could be used to ruin revenue streams. Also, since NAS is related to too much technology (as told to us by Henry Rollins), isn’t that the same as ADHD today?
The only part that doesn’t seem to be correctly predicted is the resistance. The “LoTeks”, who live in Newark on an abandoned bridge and are led by Ice-T, are the resistance against the evil corporations. The part that isn’t correct, and I’m drawing a line to Anonymous/LulzSec here, is that the resistance despises technology…their resistance is based on the fact that they refuse to use it. Given that resistance today seems to be very technology heavy my opinion is that this part was incorrectly predicted. Or is this change in resistance from heavy technology to no technology yet to come? You decide. If you’re hedging your bets that the movie is correct start buying land to create a technolgy-less hippy commune today in Montana (sorry Montana). All of that aside, the resistance still does get the data in the end, so they needed to rely on technology, which seems to go against their principals…so maybe you should hold off on that land grab. Then again the movie is set 10 years from now (2021)…so I’m back on the land grab wagon.
Final note, someone find me the laser lasso thumb thingy the Yakuza guy has and I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a laser lasso thingy today…that is all.