Extreme Graphical Representation: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

[[File:laptop-skin-cyber-space-164-p_3172.jpg|frame|That's not a laptop skin. It's a WINDOW into CYBERSPACE!]]

This is due to the [[Rule of Perception]]: To humans, movement means activity. Lack of movement means it's inactive - dead. So if it doesn't ''look'' like the piece of gee-whiz technology is doing something, we don't believe it ''is'' doing anything. Thus, an [[Extreme Graphical Representation]] will almost always involve some kind of visible activity -- whether it's obvious or subtle. And since it's just a prop, the activity usually isn't related to anything at all.

* ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]''. In fact, you can find on Sourceforge.net the [http://lainos.sourceforge.net/ LainOS Project], a (apparently abandoned) project to create an operating system with as much pizzazz as the computers from ''Serial Experiments Lain''.

* An extreme example of this is Chisame's artifact in ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]''. She's a hacker to begin with, so her artifact lets her actually enter the computer system, Tron style, for super-hacking. Some of the extreme graphics include viruses that look like jellyfish, [[Magical Girl]] anti-virus programs (actually two of her classmates, dragged into the computer with her), and [[Clothing Damage]] to represent data being destroyed. [http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mahou_sensei_negima/v17/c154/7.html Observe.]

* Ed, of ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' fame utilizes some rather trippy fish decor on whatever terabyte, terahertz-chugging OS she uses. But [[Cloudcuckoolander|she's just like that.]]

* While the [[Neon Genesis Evangelion|original series]] had some flashy displays, ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' has super orgasmovision 5d parallax screens for everything, even the monitors that more or less say: "Power Switch: On" or the ones that show where the Evas and Angels are in relation to each other.

* In the ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' movie ''Lagann-hen'', {{spoiler|Lordgenome}} does some [[Hollywood Hacking|HAAKIIIIING]] into the {{spoiler|Anti-Spiral-controlled Cathedral Lazengann to find its blueprints}}. This is represented onscreen by him running through and annihilating a long series of brick walls in a corridor connecting the two ships, finding the space it was stored on, breaking a box holding it with his head and eating what was inside. [[Big Lipped Alligator Moment|Y]][[Crazy Awesome|e]][[Widget Series|s]].

** Apparently this was not just for the benefit and amusement of the audience either, as the other characters are also looking on with the same confused face as the viewers themselves.

** And he [[Genre Savvy|knew it would be Kaiba]].

** Additionally interesting example as this takes place when the 14.4 kbps modem was standard, although one computer is said to have a 28.8 kbps modem. This means all these cool graphics were streamed across a 14.4 kbps connection on computers with processors slower than 100 [[M Hz]] and with less than four MB of RAM.

* Used quite noticeably in the 2007 ''[[Transformers]]'' film--apparently, if you take a sound file of a signal broadcast by a Transformer, open in in Audacity, and zoom in really close to the waveform, you can see Cybertronian glyphs.

* ''[[District 9]]'' features alien vehicles controlled via a holographic panel, as demonstrated towards the end of the movie. But then, it's ''alien'' technology; you shouldn't expect them to be using any kind of real-world OS.

** The lead alien {{spoiler|uses a bunch of human computer components to build a temporary diagnostic system for his ship}}, but it also seems emulate the alien OS. With little apparent success, since it's actually supposed run its display as a hologram. But hey, he makes it work somehow.

* Hugh Jackman building his worm in ''[[Swordfish]]''. I mean, sure, watching 9 monitors worth of text in a C compiler (or more probably an assembler, seeing as how the data was supposed to be stored on a tape drive kept in a basement. See [[Everything Is Online]] and [[Computer Equals Tapedrive]]) while he compiles the various components would be boring, but [[wikipedia:Autocad|autocad]]? Really?! AUTO-FREAKING-CAD?! Yes, autocad technically has applications in programming languages like LISP and C++, but unless he's making a pretty, user-friendly interface for his CASH GRABBING SUPER VIRUS, I fail to see the point.

** Well folders, noticeboards and sheets of paper create clutter and can't be easily updated without some eraser marks.

* The Sandra Bullock film ''[[The Net]]''. Actually not as gratuituous as one might think, but the effects of a computer virus are shown as pixels slowly degenerating and floating away.

* In the new ''[[V-2009|V]]'' series, the Visitor holographic computers are like this.

* Computer screens on ''[[Andromeda]]'' are filled with scrolling text and rotating graphics, none of which appear to mean anything, and would seem to make it difficult or impossible to see what's really going on.

** The fact it's all in a [[Fictionary|fictional language]] instead of English doesn't help matters.

** The newer shows have smooth black panels, backlit with meaningless blinking lights. They do have labels, but close shots reveal most of them are just random numbers and letters. Some of the panels contain in-jokes or even easter eggs (e.g. the Enterprise-D Master Systems Display in engineering.)

*** [[Wil Wheaton]] says that he assigned meanings and functions to the buttons on his LCARS touchscreen. (He ''is'' [[One of Us]].) Years later, when the Enterprise-D set was on tour and open to the public, he was able to sit down at his (character's) console and remember most of the commands he'd invented.

* Parodied in [http://www.somethingawful.com/d/feature-articles/ditch-your-os.php this] ''[[Something Awful]]'' article about "MoFOS" (Movie Fake Operating System).

* Generally any crime drama on TV will show computers with a ludicrous unnecessary graphic interface. ''[[CSI]]'' especially seems to love it.

** Various supplimentary media (like the website) have stated that Torchwood's computer is some sort of alien being hooked into their system instead of having any kind of CPU. The spiralling tentacle-like screen saver running in the background is meant to represent the creature's new virtual body as it manipulates a VR environment. When they access the server outside the hub in ''Children of Earth'', the desktop appears. Still fits the trope though as there is no reason the characters would have to see what the creature sees.

* [[Profit]] has an overblown 3D/avatar system to navigate its corporate network, although it's unclear if this is the actual interface or just represents what the users are doing with it.

** Uplink's semi-sequal Subversion looks to be all over this.

* ''[[Mass Effect]]'', both in-game and its user interfaces. Starting a new game uses the in-game fiction of sending your name and a photo over a secure tunnel connections has a flashy loading screen.

* Averted in ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]'' as computer and mobile phone interfaces for most parts look pretty lifeless, like in real life. The PDA interface in ''[[Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars]]'' is closer to playing the trope straight, but is still rather modest against other examples of this trope.

* The [[Show Within a Show|fake TV]] you get to watch at the beginning of ''[[Metal Gear Solid]] 4'' is obscenely decorative. Markers with unreadable text pop up to accompany every little action.

* ''[[Ripper]]''`s vision of the 2040s has everyone have to go into a virtual reality world in order to access the internet, and access websites via huge floating icons.

** Lampshaded in the accompanying Aperture Science site; one of the workers complains about having to run an obsolete OS from the early 80s when the guys in charge get state-of-the-art graphics. (Note: said OS is GLaDOS.)

* ''[[Dwarf Fortress]]'', [[Retraux|of all things,]] has [[Extreme Graphical Representation]] when you create a new world. Rather than having you go grab a drink while the game silently goes through the lengthy worldgen process, you get to watch as rivers and lakes form, mountains erode, and civilizations rise and fall, and yes, you see the failed world generations too.

* The entirety of ''[[Ray Crisis]]'' is a hacker's attempt to subdue an evil AI, done in shmup form.

* The whole point of ''[[Rez]]''.

== Western Animation ==

** A real CM was used as the backdrop of the "control room" in [[Jurassic Park]].

*** They didn't use the whole thing, just the front panel.

* Modern computers are filled with things which don't actually indicate progress, but instead are just there to give users something to watch while they wait for the machine (this is considered bad GUI design):

** The "animated hourglass", "spinning beachball", "ticking watch", "running dog", and similar cursors on both Mac and Windows.