Engineer Compiles Definitive List of Computers in Jurassic Park
A Google engineer has cataloged every identifiable computer from the 1993 film Jurassic Park, revealing the production's attention to detail with machines like Thinking Machines CM-5 and SGI workstations.
The classic 1993 film Jurassic Park has long been a target of internet memes, particularly for a scene where a character famously declares "This is a Unix system, I know this!" while using a peculiar 3D file manager. Despite the jokes, the production team actually went to great lengths to source accurate period hardware, a fact highlighted by a recent investigation from Google software engineer Fabien Sanglard.
Sanglard meticulously scanned the film and identified every piece of visible hardware, providing context on specifications, costs, and how they ended up on set. While much of this information was known to dedicated fans, Sanglard's compilation presents it in a single, readable analysis that gained traction on Reddit and Hacker News this week.
The identified equipment includes five Thinking Machines CM-5 supercomputers, a Motorola Envoy PDA, and multiple Silicon Graphics (SGI) workstations, such as the IRIS Crimson and the R4000 Indigo. Sanglard also shared a quote from special effects coordinator Cory Faucher from the book The Making of Jurassic Park, adding background on the production's commitment to authenticity.
The renewed interest in the film's technology comes amid the recent passing of actor Sam Neill, a star of the film. Sanglard's work serves as a tribute to the technical accuracy that underpinned one of cinema's most groundbreaking visual effects films.
