History Main / TinmanTypist

* In ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', a race of machines (the Asurans) are trying to emulate the Ancients and so operate a lot of their technology by hand.

** The same film features another robot, the appropriately named TYP-E, whose job seems to be typing on a keyboard.

* Yuki Nagato from ''LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya'' prefers to simply type on her keyboard, despite the fact that [[spoiler:she's a data-based alien lifeform]] and could literally just ''talk'' to the computer and get it to do what she wanted, . In this case, it's justified, as Kyon asked her not to cheat by [[spoiler:using her data manipulation abilities]]. And as we know, [[{{Kuudere}} Yuki always listens to Kyon.]]

** EDI lampshades this when she remarks that members of the crew [[spoiler: will go to her android when they want to talk with her, even though they can talk to her anywhere on the ship. She's decides to actively support the idea that she's a fellow crewmember by having the android act as human as possible, such as standing up and facing Shepard when they have a conversation even though she has no reason to]].

* The Engi from ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'' interact with computers by typing on terminals, despite being walking clusters of nanomachines who supposedly can assume many shapes. Same deal with the Lanius, who can meld with the systems to fix them yet still interact with them via typing on terminals.

You see this all the time; robots (usually the RobotBuddy) or [[HollywoodCyborg cyborgs]] using controls just like people do. That is; hitting buttons.

* Despite the fact that [[spoiler:she's a data-based alien lifeform]] and could literally just ''talk'' to the computer and get it to do what she wanted, [[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya Yuki Nagato]] prefers to simply type on her keyboard. In this case, it's justified, as Kyon asked her not to cheat by [[spoiler: using her data manipulation abilities]]. And as we know, [[{{Kuudere}} Yuki always listens to Kyon.]]

* Averted in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'', when Athena wires directly into the ship to stop the virus...which raises the question of [[VoodooShark how the hell the Cylons are identical to humans if they have COMPUTER PARTS INSIDE THEIR ARMS!]]

-->-- '''Jim Wright''' reviewing ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'', "[[Recap/StarTrekVoyagerS5E15DarkFrontier Dark Frontier]]"

[[quoteright:303:[[Anime/GhostInTheShell http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ghost_in_the_Shell_Type_MPost13506.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:303:When developers won't bother to do it right as long as the end user can live with it.]]

->''You would think that the marriage of biology and machinery would make it possible to do those things without lifting a finger. But instead, we see a drone amble over to a pylon, and do precisely that -- lift a finger. It presses a single button, then wanders off to push another button. So much for Borg efficiency.''
->-- '''[[Recap/StarTrekVoyager Jim Wright's]] ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' reviews, "Dark Frontier".'''

* WesternAnimation/{{WALL-E}} does this when he's trying to stop his runaway escape pod, especially slamming the BigRedButton. Justified because WALL-E does not have a clue about what he's doing, and is clearly just smacking the panel at random hoping one thing or another will save him. Played straight for the robots on the ship: despite in some cases being literally built into the walls, they still type on control panels.

* Multiple [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0DyYLLf3m8 robot bands]], instead of generating music electronically, use pistons and hydraulics to play real instruments, albeit ones custom-built to their specifications.

* Manga/KamenNoMaidGuy actually had Kogarashi with a cable sticking out of one ear to avert this.

* Manga/{{Chobits}} had Persocoms typing.

* Rommie on Series/{{Andromeda}}, which can be maddening since Rommie ''is'' the ship. The depiction of the levels of interconnectivity has varied at different times, and she has always been depicted as a different "consciousness" than the main computer so it may be justified. However you might still expect that an android specifically designed (by Harper) for the ship should be able to connect up in other ways. On the other hand, android Rommie may ''prefer'' to act in a more human manner. On at least one occasion android Rommie got into an argument with hologram-Rommie (which generally acted more "human" for interaction with the crew) and Andromeda the ship (which was generally the most computer-like of her incarnations), with Rommie deciding to act like a human would in the situation they were in, versus the hesitancy of hologram-Rommie, versus the full-blown "that isn't logical" of Andromeda. It wouldn't be out of character for her to refuse to use connections that the rest of the crew couldn't.
* Marvin on Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy.

* ''TheJetsons'' had a robots that had to type things into ''themselves''.

* Something similar in the ''GhostInTheShell'' film: There are at least two scenes in which we see cybernetically-enhanced individuals extend their fingers into some highly dexterous tentacle-things which they then use to type on keyboards. While it is established that people in the [=GitS=] 'verse can connect their minds directly, doing it that way opens up the user to mind-hacking.

* Chachamaru from ''MahouSenseiNegima'' has a few types of cords embedded in her finger for just this purpose. Never seen typing once.

* Averted in ''[[Series/BattlestarGalacticaReimagined Battlestar Galactica]]'', when Athena wires directly into the ship to stop the virus...which raises the question of [[VoodooShark how the hell the Cylons are identical to humans if they have COMPUTER PARTS INSIDE THEIR ARMS!]]

* In the ''JusticeLeague'' episode "Twilight" not only does Brainiac use a keypad, he ''uses a keypad that's built into his own body!''

* In the original ''StarWars'' trilogy, R2-D2 'talks' to various computers and electronic devices via his little hook-ups. but C-3P0 occasionally uses buttons and controls like a human even flying the ship in Episode 3. Interfacing ability apparently depends on the type of robot.

** Data is trying to be human and can already type much faster than the typical human so he likely won't use his capacity for an UnusualUserInterface to link with the ship... which he did use at least once.

* KamenNoMaidGuy actually had Kogarashi with a cable sticking out of one ear to avert this.

* Despite the fact that [[spoiler:she's a data-based alien lifeform]] and could literally just ''talk'' to the computer and get it to do what she wanted, [[HaruhiSuzumiya Yuki Nagato]] prefers to simply type on her keyboard. In this case, it's justified, as Kyon asked her not to cheat by [[spoiler: using her data manipulation abilities]]. And as we know, [[{{Kuudere}} Yuki always listens to Kyon.]]

* Something similar in the ''GhostInTheShell'' film: There are at least two scenes in which we see cybernetically enhanced individuals extend their fingers into some highly dexterous tentacle-things which they then use to type on keyboards. Mind-links have been shown to exist and be common, so there is no good reason for having them do this.
** Someone explained the [=GiTS=] example thusly: Mind Hacks. It happens often, it's disturbingly easy, and the only 100% sure defense is... to be offline. So the security secretaries were protecting themselves from being hacked so they wouldn't be put offline as a "living" firewall.
*** There was also Dr. Willis, a brown-haired suit-wearing fellow and an expert in AI, who hooked himself up to a computer with a cable to the neck port and then started typing with the same kind of fingers the secretaries had. No benefit was obvious on screen.

* Despite the fact that[[spoiler: , as a data-based alien lifeform,]] [[HaruhiSuzumiya Yuki Nagato]] could literally just ''talk'' to the computer and get it to do what she wanted. However, she prefers to simply type on her keyboard. In this case, it's justified, as Kyon asked her not to cheat by [[spoiler: using her data manipulation abilities]]. And as we know, [[{{Kuudere}} Yuki always listens to Kyon.]]

* Used but averted in the Devil's Due ''GIJoe vs. WesternAnimation/TheTransformers''. Optimus Prime is able to hack Cobra's communications system just from being plugged in, but when Wheeljack sees the signal on the Joe's computer, he extends a bunch of mini-fingers to use their computer to trace it back. Possibly justified in Wheeljack's case as he didn't have too much time to find a compatible port, and just jacking into a system watched over by armed soldiers ''is'' kinda rude.
* The first appearance of the Sentinels in ''Comicbook/XMen'' has them operating mechanical gunnery platforms with sized-up versions of human controls. Particularly egrigious, as clearly these mechanisms have been specifically designed for use by giant robots.

** This seems to be the sole (intended) purpose of AUTO. An explanation is that the builders of the ark ships may have wanted to make sure the captain knows what AUTO is doing. It also allows the current captain of the Axiom to physically wrassle with AUTO.

* In the scifi horror movie ''Film/{{Virus}}'', the title monstrosity uses a computer to issue commands, despite being an energy being that control electronics by possessing them.
* In ''Film/AlienResurrection''. One of the crew members of ''the Betty'' is actually an android, but as they are under-cover, they have to use regular interfaces on the computers. At least until TheReveal. Justified because, being a fugitive, of a sort, they "burned [their] modem" and thus their ability to wirelessly connect with machines.

** Data: he's trying to be human and can already type much faster than the typical human so he likely won't use his capacity for an UnusualUserInterface to link with the ship... which he did use at least once.
** Averted in early appearances of the Borg on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', where borg drones were shown accessing computers by jamming probes into them or by wireless voodoo (this was the late 80s/early 90s, it was voodoo). In "The Best of Both Worlds," Locutus is shown just looking at a viewer and it shows him what he wants to see. Possibly symptomatic of VillainDecay, later ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' episodes showed Borg manipulating input devices.

** The Cylons sometimes choose to play this straight, but usually in situations when they're pretending to be human [[spoiler: (such was the computers with keyboards on the hospital on Caprica where Starbuck was held by Simon)]].

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', the AI EDI literally becomes the Normandy, with full control over all of its systems. Despite that, when she [[spoiler:gains control of a robot body, her robot body will sit in the cockpit and use the controls there similarly to every other crewmember, even though she has absolutely no reason to do so. Possibly she's doing other things that she can't do even with control over the Normandy's internal systems, or maybe she just wishes to appear more human to the rest of the crew.]]

* More generally, the [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 original]] {{Transformers}} use manual controls for ''everything,'' up to and including transforming a city into a fortress in Transformers: The Movie. And almost none of them seemed to have built-in radios.

* In ''Film/AlienResurrection''. One of the crew members of ''the Betty'' ([[spoiler:Annalee, Wynona Ryder's character]]) is actually an android, but as they are under-cover, they have to use regular interfaces on the computers. At least until TheReveal.
** Justified because, being a fugitive, of a sort, they "burned [their] modem" and thus their ability to wirelessly connect with machines.
* Averted in the original ''StarWars'' trilogy; we never see C-3PO typing, only R2-D2 'talking' to various computers and electronic devices via his little hook-ups.
** Star Wars, interestingly enough, uses both. R2, as noted above, uses direct connections to interface with controls, but C-3P0 occasionally uses buttons and controls like a human even flying the ship in Episode 3. Interfacing ability apparently depends on the type of robot.
*** R2-D2 is designed to be plugged into a starship or whatever, so he has the interfacing. C-3PO is a protocol droid, built for translation, under normal circumstances he would never need to interface with anything.
*** He interfaces with ''people.'' Assuming he's intended to be diplomatic, it would be really bad if he started [[IncrediblyLamePun pushing peoples' buttons.]]

*** Could also be a feature meant as a convenience for anyone working around the robots who don't have a wireless connection (since the droids DO depend on some sort of connection with their mothership, at least in Episode One). If you work around military robots, it might be helpful for you to know when one of them is about to shoot at something in your direction.

** Worth noting is that even when computers entered mass production, the manufacturers of computer hardware and software stressed incompatibility with their competitors' products, and without the forces leading to the [=ARPAnet=] things could have progressed further in that direction. It's not unreasonable to have a sci-fi setting in which robots wouldn't be capable of direct machine-to-machine links with most systems in their environment.

* Data on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''.
** Possibly a character point, as Data is trying to be human and can already type much faster than the typical human so he likely won't use his capacity for an UnusualUserInterface to link with the ship... which he did use at least once.
** Averted in early appearances of the Borg on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', where I believe borg drones were shown accessing computers by jamming probes into them or by wireless voodoo (this was the late 80s/early 90s, it was voodoo). In "The Best of Both Worlds," Locutus is shown just looking at a viewer and it shows him what he wants to see. Possibly symptomatic of VillainDecay, later ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' episodes showed Borg manipulating input devices.
** Speaking of ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'', notice that the Doctor (not [[Series/DoctorWho that one]], this one's a hologram) is constantly talking to the computer or pressing buttons. {{Justified|Trope}} in that an emergency replacement doctor might well be designed not to directly interface with the main computer so that he remains fully functional in situations where the main computer is offline. Also, he ''does'' want to be a RealBoy.
* Rommie on Series/{{Andromeda}} which can be maddening since Rommie ''is'' the ship. The depiction of the levels of interconnectivity has varied at different times, and she has alway been depicted as a different "consciousness" than the main computer so it may be justified. However you might still expect that an android specifically designed (by Harper) for the ship should be able to connect up in other ways.
** On the other hand, android Rommie may ''prefer'' to act in a more human manner. On at least one occasion android Rommie got into an argument with hologram-Rommie (which generally acted more "human" for interaction with the crew) and Andromeda the ship (which was generally the most computer-like of her incarnations), with Rommie deciding to act like a human would in the situation they were in, versus the hesitancy of hologram-Rommie, versus the full-blown "that isn't logical" of Andromeda. It wouldn't be out of character for her to refuse to use connections that the rest of the crew couldn't.

*** These are optical/fiber optic interfaces rather than electrical. Cylons have some kind of bioluminescence (especially before glowing-spine-sex was {{Retcon}}ned out).

** Why would the AI on a technologically advanced ''purse'' have the ability to communicate wirelessly with an alien military computer?

** This continues long plast G1, and likely occurs in some form in ''every'' ''{{Transformers}}'' series, from ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' to ''[[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime Prime]]''

** Someone explained the GiTS example thusly: Mind Hacks. It happens often, it's disturbingly easy, and the only 100% sure defense is... to be offline. So the security secretaries were protecting themselves from being hacked so they wouldn't be put offline as a "living" firewall.

* WesternAnimation/{{WALL-E}} does this when he's trying to stop his runaway escape pod, especially slamming the BigRedButton. Justified because WALL-E does not have a clue about what he's doing, and is clearly just smacking the panel at random hoping one thing or another will save him. Played straight for the robots on the ship: despite in some cases being literally built into the walls, they still type on control panels. One might justify this as simply them simply adapting to formerly human-run systems, but still.