Technology is growing at a rapidly-increasing rate, allowing computations to be finished quicker, helping family and friends to stay better connected, and making daily chores less of a hassle. While most consumers are thrilled by the leaps in technology that seem to be changing exponentially, most people fail to realize how many semi-sentient devices get lost in the past.
Every day, more and more computers and robots are forgotten. Their achievements are overshadowed and overlooked when the new and better technology comes out on the market and completely negates their worth. Thankfully, they will always be remembered by their deeds and accomplishments.
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer)
Claim to fame: World War II U.S. Military laboratories, where it was used as a relatively high-speed calculation device in order to improve target-site missile hits, i.e., it helped blow up stuff better.
Downfall: While the actual build process of the supercomputer started in 1943, it was only put to use for about nine months in 1946. The ENIAC was upgraded in 1947 and was finally shut down in 1955.
Where is it now? Parts of the ENIAC are on display at the University of Pennsylvania, the National Museum of American History, The Computer History Museum, The University of Michigan, and The U.S. Army Ordnance Museum.
Little known fact: The developers of the ENIAC were granted a patent in 1963 that was removed in 1973, moving the digital computer into the public domain.
WOPR (War Operation Plan Response)
Claim to fame: This military mainframe starred alongside David Lightman (Matthew Broderick) in the 1983 blockbuster movie War Games. Suffice to say, just like armchair generals today, it played strategy and war games for hours at a time.
Downfall: When Lightman randomly dialed the military base that housed WOPR, he started a game of Global Thermonuclear War that created a World War III scare. After Lightman convinced it to take a break from gaming, WOPR was fired for negligence.
Where is it now? After several bit parts in other movies such as Conan: The Destroyer, Batman & Robin, and, most recently, The Matrix Reloaded, WOPR retired and is now counting ones and zeroes in Idaho. He is also an avid RTS player, enjoying Dawn of War, Company of Heroes and, of course, Defcon.
Little Known Fact: In 2006, WOPR appeared in an AT&T commercial with contemporaries Robb the Robot, KITT, and Rosie the Robot Maid.
T-800
Claim to fame: These machines were great at killing people and repeating awkward Spanish quotes in thick, Austrian accents.
Downfall: After being sent back into time to kill off Sarah Connor, a T-800 nicknamed the Terminator gets stopped by Kyle Reese once, kills itself another time, and makes a terrible movie the third time. Plus, it revealed itself three times, even though nobody thought it was necessary to see the T-800 naked.
Where is it now? There are rumors going around that the T-800 is now Governor of California, under the unlikely alias of that guy who played John Kimble in Kindergarten Cop.
Little Known Fact: In its prime, the T-800 could kill over 18,000 humans in one hour.
Johnny Five (S-A-I-N-T Prototype 5)
Claim to fame: Johnny Five was in a movie with Steve Gutenberg. Steve Gutenberg is a famous actor.
Downfall: When Johnny Five received an honorary gold-plated body, he pawned it for crystal meth and dirty circuit diagrams.
Where is it now? Johnny Five has retired with longtime lover Robb the Robot. On a side note, Johnny Five may or may not be the father of the robot from Destructoid (both Johnny and Destructoid refuse to comment). As far as paternity tests go, only Maury has the power to bring the two together.
Little Known Fact: To this day, Johnny Five still holds the world record for most pages read in a minute: 12,000.
February 26th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
EDIT: Steve Gutenberg WAS a famous actor.
February 27th, 2007 at 7:07 am
wopr FTW
February 27th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
…..You have a picture of the T800, not the T1000. Arnold was a T800…..
February 27th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people’s medicine for fuel.
February 27th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Cool history
February 27th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
They will all be destroyed by NOMAD.
“Must eliminate imperfection”
February 27th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Where is HAL9000? Or SAL9000 for that matter?
February 27th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
Johnny-5 is a gentleman.
Need Input!
February 27th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
HAL’s dead dude.
February 27th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I think what would have been nice is to add a bit of real trivia such as in real life where are these devices.
Forgot about Colossus from Colossus, The Forbin Project.
February 27th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
HAL isn’t really forgotten, people still know it’s unique “red eye”- that’s why I didn’t include it. My bad about the T-1000/T-800 mix-up.