The Fatal Flaw in Every Techno Show on TV

  • Thread starter Thread starter FredGarvin
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the portrayal of technology in television shows, particularly the unrealistic depiction of image enhancement techniques. Participants explore various examples from popular media, including movies like Bladerunner and TV shows like CSI, and express skepticism about the feasibility of these techniques in real life.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants find humor in the exaggerated image enhancement techniques shown in media, such as rotating images in three dimensions or enhancing details from low-resolution images.
  • There are repeated mentions of specific examples from Bladerunner, with some participants agreeing that the image enhancement scenes are a low point in the film.
  • One participant humorously notes the absurdity of DNA matches being completed in minutes, reflecting on the unrealistic speed of forensic analysis depicted in shows.
  • Several participants question the plausibility of obtaining detailed images from angles that would not be possible with standard camera setups, such as capturing the front of an eye from above.
  • Some contributions discuss real-world techniques for image enhancement and information retrieval, suggesting that while some methods are possible, they are not as flashy as depicted in shows.
  • There are references to concepts like Van Eck phreaking, which theoretically allows for the retrieval of information from electronic devices, but participants express skepticism about the practicality of such techniques.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the portrayal of technology in shows like CSI and Bladerunner is unrealistic, but there is no consensus on the specifics of how these techniques could or could not work in reality. Multiple competing views on the feasibility of certain methods remain present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of detailed technical explanations for the methods discussed, as well as the dependence on fictional portrayals that may not accurately represent real-world technology.

  • #31
I was processing a picture from a wind tunnel test I did last year. I saw an image of a reflection in the picture. I zoomed in on it and I could see myself talking to the tunnel engineer. I kid you not. It was hilarious.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
  • #32
Just yesterday I read a sci-am article about stealing information without internet. Its not very hard too, and some are very shocking.

It is possible to get pictures reflected off your eye(glass, white board... round and shiny objects) from a very far distance. (Though small telescopes are used.)

They can get information for your modem flashing.

They can get information from your printer printing sound.

They can see you type into your keyboard just by looking at your wrist.

Also is very easy to get to your webcam and see everything...

I don't know about the shows since I don't watch them.
 
  • #33
Bright Wang said:
Just yesterday I read a sci-am article about stealing information without internet. Its not very hard too, and some are very shocking.

It is possible to get pictures reflected off your eye(glass, white board... round and shiny objects) from a very far distance. (Though small telescopes are used.)

They can get information for your modem flashing.

They can get information from your printer printing sound.

They can see you type into your keyboard just by looking at your wrist.

Also is very easy to get to your webcam and see everything...

I don't know about the shows since I don't watch them.
Also, sound of keyboard keys being tapped.
 
  • #34
There's always http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Eck_phreaking" which allows you to (in principle) see the image present on a computer monitor or TV just by picking up the interfere the monitor sends off.

Very cool, but probably very difficult in practice.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #35
Gotta love the holographic computer displays in 'Bones' and 'CSI Miami'. Me want...
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
4K
Replies
12
Views
6K
  • · Replies 43 ·
2
Replies
43
Views
9K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
6K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
6K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
6K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K