I thought this list of “Things Computers Can Do in Movies” was pretty funny. Apparently, I’m not the only one–it’s number one in all categories on digg right now. (Digg is a user-powered content promotion site that allows people to virally push whatever they think is most interesting or entertaining on the web at the moment.)

The list of “computer tricks” in movies was published yesterday on the Programming Blog. Check out the comments, too. People left some funny examples and additions to the list.

What I find interesting about this phenomenon–that computers can do remarkable things in movies–is that filmmakers are still exaggerating the capabilities of computers today, even in non-science fiction, non-futuristic films. I was a kid in the 80s and I remember all the fascination generated around “what computers will someday be able to do.” Most people didn’t know the first thing about computers, so they were easy to fool. Their imaginations were pliable. But now that computers are such an everyday part of so many people’s lives, it seems like movie audiences would demand more accurate portrayals of technology and its capabilities. Computers in movies should be tools that allow us to relate to characters and situations, rather than tools that leave us saying “huh?” (This, of course, doesn’t apply to science fiction and futuristic films.)

Anyway, here are my favorites from the list. Check out the whole list for fun, if nothing else. Enjoy, and let us know which computer scenes in movies are your favorite.

Things Computers Can Do in Movies

2. You never have to use the space-bar when typing long sentences.

5. High-tech computers, such as those used by NASA, the CIA or some such governmental institution, will have easy to understand graphical interfaces.

6. Those that don’t have graphical interfaces will have incredibly powerful text-based command shells that can correctly understand and execute commands typed in plain English.

7. Note: Command line interfaces will give you access to any information you want by simply typing, “ACCESS THE SECRET FILES” on any nearby keyboard.

9. All computers are connected. You can access the information on the villain’s desktop computer even if it’s turned off.

11. All computer panels operate on thousands of volts and have explosive devices underneath their surface. Malfunctions are indicated by a bright flash of light, a puff of smoke, a shower of sparks and an explosion that causes you to jump backwards.

14. You may bypass “PERMISSION DENIED” message by using the “OVERRIDE” function. (See “Demolition Man”.)

15. Computers only take 2 seconds to boot up instead of the average minutes for desktop PCs and 30 minutes or more for larger systems that can run 24 hours, 365 days a year without a reset.

16. Complex calculations and loading of huge amounts of data will be accomplished in under three seconds. Movie modems usually appear to transmit data at the speed of two gigabytes per second.

24. Most computers, no matter how small, have reality-defying three-dimensional active animation, photo-realistic graphics capabilities.

25. Laptops always have amazing real-time video phone capabilities and performance similar to a CRAY Supercomputer.

26. Whenever a character looks at a monitor, the image is so bright that it projects itself onto their face. (See “Alien” or “2001″)

27. Searches on the internet will always return what you are looking for no matter how vague your keywords are. (See “Mission Impossible,” Tom Cruise searches with keywords like “file” and “computer” and 3 results are returned.)