Changes: Swan computer

Revision as of 03:18, 13 May 2007

The Swan computer is located inside the DHARMA Initiative station the Swan and is used to enter the "Numbers". It is a composite of vintage computing devices, assumed to be about 30 years old.

On the Island

Station3 computer room — The computer room, including the extra hardware in the background

The Station 3, or Swan, Dharmatel terminal is very likely connected to other Stations. The instructions on the orientation film stated that the "Numbers", the core numerical values of the Valenzetti Equation, must be entered into the computer every 108 minutes.

The orientation film also stated that computer wasn't to be used for anything other than entering the code and pressing the button. A piece of film that Eko found, and Locke

Station 3 chat — The Swan Computer in Chat mode

spliced into the orientation movie, further warned that the computer must never be used to contact the outside world. Nonetheless, communication via the computer is possible, as Michael communicated with someone claiming to be his son Walt when he was on shift in the Hatch. ("What Kate Did").

It appears that he activated chat mode by simply banging on the keys until the computer started displaying them. That would mean the computer was in chat. Apparently, you can also hit a button (presumably execute) to clear the screen and end chat mode.

The mainframes appear to be inconsistent with the environment in which they are placed. If the tapes behind are magnetic, then it was a poor design choice. It is likely that the strong electromagnetic fields within the hatch would erase any data stored on the tapes.

Locke destroys the computer by throwing it to the floor in an attempt to prevent Desmond from pushing the button in "Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1".

Props

Execute — The keyboard with the execute button

The main unit appears to be an Apple II Plus running an Apple III monitor. The large lighted panel behind it is comprised of sections of the SAGE computer, built by IBM for the US Air Force in the late 1950s. This particular prop has been used in many other productions, most recently "Return to the Batcave", "Austin Powers: Goldmember", "Fail Safe" and "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me".
The Apple II was one of the more successful personal computers that were manufactured in the 1980s.
- The original came standard with 16K RAM, but most were upgraded to 48k. Later, the II Plus shipped natively with 48k. It could only run one program at a time.
- When the main unit is opened up for repair, it is said that the motherboard has been replaced.
- The Apple II Plus' keyboard has been modified for the show, with the right "SHIFT" button replaced by an "EXECUTE" button.
The other machines in the Hatch's computer room appear to be mainframe components, including IBM 3420 magnetic tape drives; their 9-track spools are visible on the input desk.
Appears to be usable for purposes other than number entry during certain times, as Michael desperately seems to be waiting for a certain time during episode 22.
- Michael simply could have been waiting for an agreed upon time to talk to the other person. This suggests nothing about time functions of the computer.
There is another computer cabinet, seen in "Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1", which seems to control other hatch systems such as the speakers and the blast doors. Perhaps this is also what operates the timer, the alarm and synthesizes the voice (played by Lynnanne Zager). Interestingly enough, from what can be seen in "Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1", this computer is far more modern than the other systems in the Hatch. The circuit boards inside make extensive use of Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) and Very Large Scale Integration chips (VLSI), both technologies which would not have been invented at the time the other parts of the Hatch were built.

Parts of the Swan computer

The other machines in the Hatch's computer room appear to be mainframes.
The Magnetic Tape Units are IBM 3420s.
The flat spools littering the input desk are 9-track tapes.
The Apple II Plus' keyboard has been modified for the show, with the right "SHIFT" button replaced by an "EXECUTE" one.

Apple2stdkbd — Apple II Standard Keyboard

Apple-IIep — Apple II Plus with monitor shelf enclosure

MonitorIII — An Apple III system, only the monitor of which is used on the show

Trivia

Technically, the Numbers are not entered every 108 minutes, because if the Numbers are entered 4 minutes early, than the Numbers have been entered after 104 minutes.
The command line for the computer " >: " when converted to Windows Wingdings font, gives characters of a Apple II-esque terminal and a tape reel.
A 1980s film used in some psychology classes today called "The Self" features an Apple-III computer monitor that is used to test the effect of positive personalities. Incidentally, the Numbers 4, 8, 16, and 23 appear frequently in these tests. This could be the reason for the choice of the kind of computer.

Unanswered Questions

Unanswered questions
Do not answer the questions here. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer. More details...

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Swan computer/Theories

Does the computer really have the ability to communicate with the outside world?
- Chances are that when Michael talked to "Walt", that it wasn't communicating with the outside world, just another part of the island. So does it really have the ability to talk to other parts of the island?
- Who is controlling it?
Wouldn't the electromagnetic force within the Swan destroy the magnetic tape?

@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 {{NavMinor-Unanswered}}
 * Does the computer really have the ability to communicate with the outside world?
+** Chances are that when Michael talked to "Walt", that it wasn't communicating with the outside world, just another part of the island.  So does it really have the ability to talk to other parts of the island?
+** Who is controlling it?
 * Wouldn't the electromagnetic force within the Swan destroy the magnetic tape?