Cellular technology in television and movies Mar07 '07

"Send it to my phone as soon as you find it!" - Television show 24

"Can I beam you an image?" - Television show Bones

If you watch any current TV shows or movies (I'm thinking along the lines of 24 and Bones), you may notice telecommunication is a huge aspect. If it weren't for cell phones, I don't think 24 would be as effective as it is. It's pretty much how they communicate in every realm.

Even more importantly, they use their cell devices as transmitters for media - such as images, documents, and much more.

Did you ever stop to think how they are doing this?

Is it even possible to transmit images as quickly as Jack Bauer receives them? Or is that some government-classified technology they are using? (It can't be, because the terrorists in 24 are using it too.)

Last time I checked, sending and receiving photos and documents from my Blackberry isn't as "easy" as it's portrayed on the big screen.

For the record, it's relatively easy to send photos between two phones, provided the cell carrier is the same - but that assumes that one end has a "camera phone," and we all know the resolution on those things is not great yet.

Jack Bauer, for example, sends and receives photos and documents to and from his tiny cellphone, to CTU's mainframe computers.

Is CTU emailing directly to Bauer's cell phone? If so, don't you think it would take a little longer for Bauer to retrieve those high-res images, especially over a cellular connection?

And Bauer using his phone to send pictures to CTU... specifically high-res pictures that CTU can ascertain poignant details from, is somewhat unbelievable.

It all just happens too fast. Sometimes I think I am watching a Sci-Fi/Drama, rather than just a Drama.

Categories: Cellular , Movies , Technology , Television

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