This is the 21st century, right? Where are the incredible computers that can do everything instantly and feature the Majel Barrett voice?
I am a sucker for the latest marketing ploys about computer speed. I remember back in the late 80s when Apple’s Mac IIfx came out with the slogan “wicked fast.” That computer, by the way, ran at 40MHz.
Years later, I have a dual-processor G5, which runs at 2000MHz. It’s still not even close to fast enough. One of the projects I am working on right now is a music video. Time is of the essence, I want to get it out into the world quickly; but I also tend to go overboard on imagery. I always come up with ideas that are just too difficult or time consuming. The computer has been rendering one 15-second scene in this video since Wednesday, and it is only halfway done. This is, of course, my fault because the scene in question, built in a 3D program, shows hundreds of mirrors, all reflecting each other and a haunting image of a girl looking into them. The worst thing is that when it is done, I might not even decide to use it in the finished video. Life is cruel that way.
What I really, really want is a computer that connects directly to my brain. Wearing a silly helmet, I want to think of the finished product, visualize it in my mind’s eye, then eliminate all the computer work. I just want to computer to translate my visualization into reality. Instantly.
Is that so much to ask?
