Line #58 Main/Expositron9000


1	->'''Zim:''' Computer, give me all the information on the Eff Bee Eye!\
2	'''Computer:''' ''The FBI is a government law enforcement agency.''\
3	'''Zim:''' Continue.\
4	'''Computer:''' ''Insufficient data.''\
5	'''Zim:''' Insufficient data? Can't you just make an educated guess?\
6	'''Computer:''' ''Okay... umm... Founded in 1492 by... uh, demons? ... the FBI is a crack law enforcement agency designed to... uh... I dunno... fight aliens?''\
7	'''Zim:''' I knew it!
8	-->-- ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'', "[[Recap/InvaderZimS1E21FBIWarningOfDoom FBI Warning Of Doom]]"
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10	When in need of plot critical {{Exposition}}, characters will frequently find a computer and use it to fill the role of MrExposition. They may type their questions and read answers on a screen, but typically it's a [[ComputerVoice computer with a voice]], ([[CreepyMonotone monotone]] or not) and an ability to answer freeform questions in plain spoken English. Because of these traits the computer will frequently at least be a MagicalComputer and possibly even a true ArtificialIntelligence.
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12	The [[NameTron Expositron]] [[AdvancedTech2000 9000]] will give one of three answers to whatever question it's given: an [[{{Infodump}} accurate answer]] based on available data and number crunching, a BatDeduction that is unerringly accurate despite lack of data ... or admitting that it lacks the info needed to answer the question. That said, it may still make amazingly accurate predictions based on what limited data it ''does'' have. However it's often the case that the computer's sensors have already recorded all the relevant information needed or it already had files on the topic. This is done to avoid boring the audience and dragging the plot, though the character asking the computer may bring data they've recorded themselves to show some effort. Because of this accuracy, a computer giving a flat out wrong answer would be a subversion.
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14	Compare OmniscientDatabase.
15
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18
19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder: Film ]]
22
23	* HAL 9000 from ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey'' and the sequel ''Film/TwoThousandTenTheYearWeMakeContact'' can be considered a partial TropeNamer. Just don't assume he's telling you everything though.
24	* ''Film/{{Alien}}''.
25	** When Captain Dallas tried to get information out of Mother (the ''Nostromo'''s computer) about the title monster he got the "Insufficient Data" type response.
26	-->'''Dallas''': Request evaluation of current procedures to terminate alien
27	-->'''Mother''': Unable To Compute
28	-->'''Dallas''': Request options for possible procedure
29	-->'''Mother''': Available Data Insufficient
30	-->'''Dallas''': What are my chances?
31	-->'''Mother''': Does Not Compute
32	** When Ripley tried the same thing later, Mother's first response was just as unhelpful, but Ripley got lucky and got some Accurate Answers.
33	* In ''Film/TheThing1982'', Blair asks the base computer what The Thing would do if it escapes out of the Arctic, and it projects total global infection around two years.
34	* In ''Film/{{Sunshine}}'' the cast asked the computer, Icarus, whether their plan to dump a dark matter bomb into the sun to reignite it would work. Which it said would be impossible to compute as the variables increase too quickly the closer the simulation got to the sun. Because of this uncertainty they decide to make a detour and get the bomb from the GhostShip Icarus 1 and double their chances.
35	* In ''Film/TheFly1986'', once Dr. Brundle realizes he's not really 100% human any more he asks the computer what's going on, and it exposits that he's fused with fly DNA and will eventually mutate into a hideous creature.
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37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder: Literature ]]
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41	* Creator/IsaacAsimov's short story "The Last Question" is about humans building increasingly advanced computers and asking them whether the heat death of the universe can be reversed. The computers always say "There is insufficient data for a meaningful answer." After the universe has ended, when the only thing left existing is the single cosmic-scale computer with its circuitry in hyperspace, it discovers [[spoiler:how to become God and create the next universe.]]
42	* Hex, the ''[[SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic literal]]'' MagicalComputer from the Literature/{{Discworld}} books, occasionally serves this role in both the "completely accurate" and "insufficient data" forms so the Unseen University faculty don't have to do too much actual thinking. In the latter case, this is usually amid messages along the lines of "++DIVIDE BY CUCUMBER ERROR. PLEASE REINSTALL UNIVERSE AND REBOOT++." At one point Hex is asked to hypothesize, and while initially reluctant does so accurately under threat of being hit with a mallet.
43
44	[[/folder]]
45
46	[[folder: Live Action TV ]]
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48	* ''Series/BabylonFive'': Commander Sinclair did this once in an early episode. He started with a straightforward keyword search. The computer gives him some useful data. Eventually he accidentally asks a rhetorical question to which the computer gives the standard "Unknown" response.
49	* ''Series/QuantumLeap'' and its [[Series/QuantumLeap2022 sequel series]] have Ziggy, a "parallel hybrid computer" that is used to process historical data and project probabilities for what Sam or Ben need to do to solve the current leap. However, while said projections are often quite good, they are not always perfect, and from time to time the leaper's gut instinct wins out.
50	* ''Series/{{Star Trek\|The Original Series}}'' did this on a regular basis. One particularly good example was in "Wolf in the Fold", where a series of questions answered by the computer allowed the Enterprise crew to identify which person Jack the Ripper was masquerading as.
51	* Due to its longer run, ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' did this even more, though generally in inverse proportion to the technical ability of the asker. In other words, the worse your questions were, the smarter the computer got.
52	** Lampshaded a few times in "Remember Me", once Dr. Crusher has no one left to talk to but the ship's computer. The fact that it ''can'' answer one particular question says as much about her predicament as the actual response.
53	--->'''Crusher:''' Here's a question you shouldn't be able to answer: Computer, what is the nature of the universe?
54	--->'''Computer:''' ''The universe is a spheroid region 705 meters in diameter.''
55	* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'': This was practically Captain Janeway's catchphrase.
56	-->'''Janeway''': Computer, what's causing that NegativeSpaceWedgie?
57	-->'''Computer''': Insufficent data.
58	-->'''Janeway''': Computer, hypothesize.
59	-->'''Computer''': [Very detailed explanation, which was usually right.]
60	* Done often on ''Series/TimeTrax'' with Lambert asking SELMA, his credit-card-sized computer programmed with all knowledge of the 20th century, to extrapolate from known data into unknown territory. She is always reluctant to do this and gives percentages of how right she might be.
61	* In episode 43 of ''Series/TaiyouSentaiSunVulcan'', the villains create and hand out devices that can answer any question, with the hope of making local kids rely on them for all their knowledge and become too stupid to resist them as a result. They end up being HoistByTheirOwnPetard as Vul Eagle manages to get one of the devices and uses it to find where the villains are hiding. (However, when he tries it again later, it doesn't work because the villains have put up a shield around their van.)
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63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder: Tabletop RPG ]]
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67	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'', a character with the Data Analysis skill can ask Friend Computer to analyze the situation. He probably doesn't have a high enough clearance to be told the answer, but he can still ''ask''.
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69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder: Video Games ]]
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73	* ''Videogame/MassEffect2:'' In addition to being a [[DoAnythingRobot Do Anything AI]], EDI is this. Whenever anyone wants plot-relevant information, they just need to ask.
74	* Yes Man, the ever-helpful RobotBuddy of ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', can tell you all about the many factions of the Mojave... At least, as much as ''Benny'' told him, since he was off of the main information grid, locked in a closet, and only really made contact with either Benny and his hired assistant from the Followers of the Apocalypse. He'll still answer all of your questions to the best of his abilities, though. He's just programmed that way.
75	* The scan visor in the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' allows Samus to gleam a detailed analysis on just about anything she encounters, from bosses to items to the environment to friendly and enemy computer systems. It's only ever stumped a handful of times, usually to indicate that you're in deep doodoo.
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77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder: Western Animation ]]
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81	* Happens in ''WesternAnimation/MickeyMouseClubhouse'' of all places where a series of lights coming from Mars is deduced by the Mousekadoer to be a distress signal and/or invitation.
82	* ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'' would often have the title character look up the information needed to defeat every MonsterOfTheWeek on his sentient computer, though Courage would type in the questions, despite the fact that he would regularly speak to the audience. Ironically, said computer ended ''being'' the Monster of the Week in one episode.
83	* In ''WebAnimation/HomestarRunner'', Strong Bad's computers have a tendency for this, as do his printers, oddly enough.
84	* ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' expects his secret base's computer to be this, but as the page quote indicates, its information is not always complete (or accurate).
85	* This was Teletraan One's (and later, Teletraan Two's) job on ''[[Franchise/{{Transformers}} The Transformers.]]''
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder: Real Life ]]
89
90	* The internet is basically one giant Expositron 9000, able to give you whatever information you need or want with the right keywords and some careful digging.
91	[[/folder]]

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