Best references to electronic engineering in film or TV?

2 Mar 2015

Hi Guys.

I was watching The Conversation starring Gene Hackman a few nights ago and came across a nice exchange between two of the main characters discussing the design of (then) advanced surveillance equipment:

Bernie: That's very nice, Harry. What did you use?

Harry: A three-stage directional microphone. MOSFET amplifier of my own design.

It's always nice when a serious attempt is made by filmmakers to include accurate depictions of technology. It made me wonder: what other cool references to electronic engineering have you come across in popular film or TV? Post them below in the comments!

And if you haven't seen The Conversation, it's an amazing film that's just as timely today as when it first came out in 1974.

Top Comments

bluescreen over 10 years ago

Anyone happen to catch last week's episode of The Walking Dead? Spotted a Hackaday sticker in one of the scenes.
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jw0752 over 10 years ago

There is a new program on US TV now called Cyber CSI. Last night they had a bad guy using micro computer boards to hack roller coasters and subway trains. Of course the boards all had the prerequisite bright LED. Amazingly the LED stays lit even when the board is unplugged. The spy bugs, and other questionable electronics devices in movies and TV shows always have a large red flashing LED attached. I have given up with expecting to see any honesty in the technology portrayed in TV shows and Movies.
John
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clem57 over 10 years ago

I just saw an old movie with Gene Hackman in The Conversation using electronics to eavesdrop and then having the tables turned:

Or how about a more recent one called "21" which shows an Arduino in one scene having a "plugged in the chip" with wrong number of bits!

You pick which one you like(d).
Clem
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Workshopshed over 10 years ago in reply to D_Hersey

And "the man with two brains"
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clem57 over 10 years ago

OMG! lest we forget the one and only Mr Spock.

May he RIP!
Clem
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