Batcomputer
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The Batcomputer, the computer system used by comic book superhero Batman and housed in his underground headquarters, the Batcave. It was introduced in 1964.
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[edit] Specifications
The Batcomputer specifications are on par with any of those used by leading national security agencies. It permits global surveillance and also connects to a massive information network. In addition, it can store vast amounts of information, both on Batman's foes and his allies. A series of satellite link-ups allows easy access to Batman's information network anywhere on the globe. There are smart-systems that are protected against unauthorized access. Any attempts to breach this security immediately sends an alert to Batman or Barbara Gordon.
[edit] Difficulty with specifications and technical jargon in TV, movies, and comics
Over the years, the Batcomputer has been portrayed as a large box that outputs punchcards (Batman TV series, 1966), a home computer running a never-released version of the Mac OS (Batman Forever, 1995), and a revolutionary supercomputer in which Quantum Computing and Neural Nets work in parallel (Batman Confidential #8, 2007)[1] These are fictional incarnations to drive the story.
[edit] Location
The Batcompter is situated atop a rock ledge on the main level of the Batcave, the island platform has been upgraded to permit speedy access to Batman's copious criminal files. Holographic displays provide three-dimensional imaging of various rogues, while a retractable glass map features detailed diagrams of Gotham City, as well as archival maps of the ruined city beneath (following the events of Cataclysm).
[edit] The Batcomputer vs. other computers in the DC universe
Despite the power of Batman's computers, the Justice League Watchtower is known to have more powerful computers (composed of Kryptonian, Thanagarian and Martian technology), and Batman does occasionally use them if he feels his computers are not up to the task; on occasion he also consults Oracle for assistance.
[edit] Usage in the comics
In the Death in the Family storyline, Jason Todd, while looking for the identity of his biological mother, uses his father's address book that gives the name of three women whose first name starts with "S" and he tracks their whereabouts using the Batcomputer; but all three are based in the Middle East and Africa. Jason therefore runs away from home to find them.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Batman (TV series)
The 1966 Adam West TV series featured the Batcave[2] extensively, and portrayed it as a large but well lit cavern filled with all sorts of computers and devices.
William Dozier and Howard Horowitz, who served as producers on the show, also play cameo roles in the final episode ("Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires"). Both Dozier and Horowitz also had a cameo part in "Fine Finny Fiends/Batman makes the scenes" when brainwashed Alfred Pennyworth looks at a computer file of "Mug Shots" - and comments on "two Criminal types" {Dozier & Horowitz}.
[edit] Specifications
- Bat-diamond (power source for the Batcomputer, must be far more pure then a natural diamond, it's well over 10,000 karats)
- Accelerated Concentration Switch (increases computing power of Batcomputer when it's strained)
- Dual Identity Bat-sensor
- Bat-analyzing Gears
- Batcomputer Ingestor Switch
- Batcomputer Bat-resistance Signal (light comes on when the Batcomputer doesn't understand the question)
- Special Escaped Archcriminal Bat-locator
- Bat-correction Signal (alerts Batman or Robin when they say something incorrect)
- Anti-crime Voice Analyzer
- Special seismological attachment
- Batcomputer Input Slot (enter some information source, such as a phone book, so a search can be performed)
- Illustrated Bat-slides (Alfred created these to be more informative than the usual cue cards)
[edit] The New Adventures of Batman
On the Filmation produced animated series The New Adventures of Batman, Lou Scheimer provided the voice of the Batcomputer[3].
[edit] Challenge of the Super Friends
On the Challenge of the Super Friends episode "Wanted: The Super Friends"[4] Batman and Robin retreat to the Batcave to formulate a counter stratagem for the Legion of Doom's latest evil scheme, mutating everyone on earth to turn into analogs of Bizarro or Cheetah. Robin notes that the Batcomputer is low on power and calls for Alfred (whom unbeknowest to the Dynamic Duo, has himself been turned into a Bizarro clone) to bring "another nuclear power pack."
[edit] Batman (1989 film)
The Batcave is present in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman feature film[5], and is shown to house the Batmobile which is parked at the edge of a large chasm, the Batcomputer and a large vault for Batman's costume.
[edit] Batman: The Animated Series
Batman often utilises the Batcomputer[6], impressive technology during the time the series was produced (early to mid 1990s), to research information on villains, from an anti-venom to Poison Ivy's plant poison to newspaper articles on the origin of Killer Croc.
In the "The Laughing Fish" episode, it's revealed that Harvey Bullock knows the existence of the Batcomputer, but how Bullock learned of it is not revealed. It's possible though he just might have been referring to a computer used by Batman as a "Batcomputer" akin to the 1960s TV series habit of everything having a bat- prefix.
In the episode "His Silicon Soul," HARDAC created a duplicate of Batman that survived the computer's destruction, but lost its memory function and believed itself to be the Dark Knight (it had been implanted with information about both Batman and Bruce Wayne.) Using the duplicate, HARDAC planned to reform over the Internet, connected through the Batcomputer.
In the episode "Dreams in Darkness", Batman fights with a man drilling into the pipes of a Gotham Spa. Batman and the man are doused with the poison the man intended to pour into the system. Batman later develops concerns regarding the hallucinogenic effects of the gas. While Batman examines blueprints of the device the man was to use in his computer, he briefly sees the Joker reflected in the Batcomputer's screen. However when attacking in response, it turns out to be Alfred.
In the Adventures of Batman & Robin video game, Summer Gleeson only appears on the Batcomputer when there is a news item (usually at the beginning of each level).
[edit] Batman & Robin
There is an apparent parody of Max Headroom in the 1997 film Batman & Robin when Barbara encounters her uncle Alfred in the Batcave. He has programmed his brain algorithms into the Batcomputer[7] and created a virtual simulation. He appears and speaks (stutteringly) like Max Headroom.
[edit] The Batman
The Batman, the animated series that debuted in 2004, features a much more high-tech Batcave, with large computer displays and flashing blue lights. Among these displays are the "Bat-Wave" warning signals, an alternate way of calling upon the Caped Crusader before the Bat-Signal went into service.
In the "Team Penguin" episode, while at the Batcave, Batman and Alfred are looking on the Batcomputer. Batman deduces that Penguin is recruiting a gang while Robin trains against a battle robot in the background.
In the "Artifacts" episode, a team of archeologists from the year 3027, led by a man named Grey and a woman named Moria, manage to find the old Batcave and try to find answers about how to deal with Mr. Freeze, who had survived into that era. After discovering that the Batcomputer’s memory didn’t survive and failing to retrieve it, Grey slams his hand into a wall and Moira looks and they discovers that the Titanium has coding on it. Realizing it's binary code that Batman put there to preserve all the computer code that was on his computers they translate it, and an image of Batman appears on a screen, greeting them.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Quantum Neural Computing Study, by Li Weigang
- ^ 1966 Batcave
- ^ The Batcomputer (also voiced by Scheimer) gives our heroes the cryptic clue they need to figure out who the real culprit is.
- ^ Wanted: The Super Friends
- ^ 1989 Batcave
- ^ When Dick Grayson left Gotham City, Batman often called on Batgirl to assist him with special cases, granting her complete access to the Batcave and all of its technology. A quick study, Batgirl knows the Batcomputer inside-out, and even surpasses Batman, Robin and Nightwing in cyberspace expertise.
- ^ Use the Batcave's state-of-the-art Batcomputer to decipher clues and cross-reference with Gotham City's Police Criminal Files.
[edit] External links
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