History Main / OperatorIncompatibility

* A painless execution method, invented by a shapeshifting race in ''{{Starslip}}'', requires 21 appendages, so humans can't use it. Female humans, anyway.
* Webcomic/{{Subnormality}}'s [[http://www.viruscomix.com/page432.html Sphinx]] can't watch movies in modern formats.

* Mentioned briefly in ''VideoGame/XCOMUFODefence'' with the Alien Grenades, which had some sort of weird psionically-activated arming mechanism that human engineers had to remove (with ''extreme'' care) and replace with a conventional timer. Alien firearms apparently have some sort of DNA scanner that locks out users not on the approved list, requiring a software hack to get around.

* ''{{Anime/Patlabor}}''" [[GentleGiant Hiromi]] is almost always seen in one of Section 2's trailers because he's simply too ''tall'' to operate one of their Labors. The one occasion we see him in one, his knees are up around his chest, preventing him from operating the controls.

* The ''MyTeacherIsAnAlien'' series involves thousands of alien species living peacefully on one massive space station. This leads to some rather complex issues--for example, when the human protagonist first needs to use a bathroom he has to answer a series of rather personal questions to the computer, causing serious discomfort before he finds a toilet that will actually work for his anatomy.

Sister trope to HumanFurntiureIsAPainInTheTail.

* One of the characters in Creator/HarryTurtledove's {{Worldwar}} books is Kassquit, a human woman raised by the alien, lizardlike Race. She must wear artificial "fingerclaws" to be able to use the Race's computers.

* Averted in the novelization of ''TheLastStarfighter'', since the Gunstar is capable of detecting the species of its pilot and modifying its cockpit and controls to match.

* In ''{{Exalted}}'' artifacts, manses, and demenses can, with a few exceptions allowing mortal use, be fully utilized by any essence wielder. Some have further restrictions on who can use them. For example, ''The Daiklave of Conquest'' can only be wielded by Dawn Caste Solars while ''The Hand of the Great Maker'' requires Chaos-Repelling Pattern (a Solar Charm) to attune and Wyld-Shaping Technique (another Solar Charm) plus either a five-dot Solar Hearthstone or a Protoshinmaic Vortex to be useful.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The titular ringwords and many other examples of [[{{Precursors}} Forerunner]] technology can only be activated by [[spoiler:humans]] because they were designated by the Forerunners as their successors. Oftentimes, the alien Covenant have had to resort to kidnapping humans to order to attain access to Forerunner tech.

* The Franchise/{{Halo}}s can only be activated by [[spoiler:humans]] because they were designated by the [[{{Precursors}} Forerunners]] as their successors.

* In ''The Colors of Space,'' by MarionZimmerBradley, humans need to be in stasis to use the FTL drive. [[spoiler:Or so the aliens who invented the drive claimed.]]
** In Bradley's ''The Heritage of Hastur'', the Sword of Hastur is protected by two force fields. Only a telepath (there are many on Literature/{{Darkover}}, where the story takes place) can pass through the first one, but only a ''non''telepath can pass through the second one.
** Noted in ''The Forbidden Tower'': Terrans, who are usually right-handed, often have trouble using implements designed by/for Darkovans, who are usually left-handed. (Note related entry in "Real Life" section.)

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_gun Smart guns]], which is essentially a {{Defictionalization}} of [[ComicBook/JudgeDredd the Lawgiver]] (Well, without the [[StuffBlowingUp explosive charge]]). There are various methods, such as RFID chips, fingerprint scanners and magnetic rings that will prevent a weapon from firing if used by an unauthorised user. Their potential introduction has caused controversy among gun rights groups, who feel that they would not be reliable enough to stake their lives on.

* Stairs were impossible for [[Series/DoctorWho Daleks]] to use until they gained levitation technology. ''{{QI}}'' speculates that ramps are a Dalek conspiracy.

-->''Difficulty? My dear, [[spoiler: his Ph.D. is in ''dance'']].''

* Minor issue in ''{{Anime/Patlabor}}''. GentleGiant Hiromi is almost always seen in one of Section 2's trailers because he's simply too ''tall'' to operate one of their Labors. The one occasion we see him in one, he's knees are up around his chest preventing him from operating the controls.

-->"Difficulty? My dear, [[spoiler: his Ph.D. is in ''dance'']]."

* The [[VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas Pimp Boy 3 Billion]] isn't designed to be used by [[DoubleStandard female Couriers]], and will always be held at an awkward angle. [[SarcasmMode Way to go, Obsidian]].

** The Givins' hat is mathematics. In one of the ''NewJediOrder'' books, Corran, Anakin, and Tahiri have some trouble starting a Givin-built starship until they figure out that the controls are arranged according to a bizarre math formula.

* The [[VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas Pimp Boy 3 Billion]] isn't designed to be used by [[DoubleStandard female Couriers]], and will always be held at an awkward angle. [[SarcasmMode Way to go, Bethesda]].

* Minor issue in ''Anime/Patlabor''. GentleGiant Hiromi is almost always seen in one of Section 2's trailers because he's simply too ''tall'' to operate one of their Labors. The one occasion we see him in one, he's knees are up around his chest preventing him from operating the controls.

* One ''ComicStrip/Nodwick'' strip featured a villain who dedicated his time searching for a tunic that gave godlike power ... without learning that it was designed for a being with six tentacles and a very narrow waist.

* Since he's a robot with non-human fingers in a world without a capacitive stylus, AtomicRobo can't operate a touch screen at all. In one scene, he's actually seen complaining to Steve Jobs about how useless the [=iPad=] is to him. Later, when Robo has to answer a call on a smartphone, he literally can't, for the same reason.

* One of the characters in HarryTurtledove's {{Worldwar}} books is Kassquit, a human woman raised by the alien, lizardlike Race. She must wear artificial "fingerclaws" to be able to use the Race's computers.

** As well the Goa'uld hand devices, healing and ribbon, only usable by someone who has or has had a Goa'uld symbiote.