Execute... the computer thing...

[WobblePot]

Does anyone have any theories what the computer thing with the green blinking things might be? Because he clicked the execute button... desmond I mean... and what happened then?? and when Jack was going to push it... Locked said I wouldnt do that.... so... whats up with the button and computer?

[WithTheDawn]

Controlling the island in some way...the word "execute" made me think it was a little weird at the time. It didn't seem to do anything particular...but Im sure it did.

[WobblePot]

i wanna push that button lol :D

but he pushed the button when it started beeping... did they open the hatch then? when the beeping started... but didnt he start to do the morning routines after that? or was it before?

[tommerp]

If you look closely while he is pushing buttons, he is entering 4 (space) 8 (space) 15 (space) 16 (space) 23 (space) 42 (space) then Execute. You can tell by where his fingers are hitting the keyboard. I also cannot remember a keyboard with "execute" in the enter or return key. Might be a hidden clue about something? Also, did anyone notice the noise that started right after Desmond hit execute? Something started up. The magnet or a generator or ???

[Sparkstalker]

The "security system"...

[WobblePot]

yeah I noticed the topic... but i cant hear any particular sound... the scratching kind of sound yeah... right after he pushed execute... but after that its quiet again...
maybe its the generator that he puts on to get water and stuff... but hy would Locke tell Jack not to push it if it would be just a generator...

[tommerp]

Also why would he have to "start" the security system every morning? With all the computer systems in there, that could be automated. A command prompt dosen't mean that thisgs have stopped working on the server.

[WobblePot]

yeah thats true... i dont think its the security system...
it has to be sumtin else...

[Lewisarich]

It could be a dayly passwod that has to be entered to keep something from happening. If it is not entered the security system is shut down or some such.

[AmyMac]

What if the beeping was some sort of alarm? Like the people topside stepped inside some sort of perimeter and it set the beeping off. And he entered the numbers to activate what we saw, the monster thing in the forest.

Ok, thoughts are coming fast now, so just bare with me. In the finale, Danielle said that if they were to make it to the Black Rock and back by nightfall they would have to leave within the hour. Now this doesn't exactly pinpoint the amount of time that passed between then and them blowing the hatch, but....we know it wasn't very early in the morning when they left because of all the things that occurred with the raft before they left. The attempted launch, Sawyer sawing in the jungle, them showing Danielle the hatch and so forth.

Now, the beeping happened right when that guy woke up, it's what woke him up. He goes to the computer, types in some stuff, hits the execute button, then we hear some sound of a machine or something starting up. Then he goes about his day, showering, excercising on two different machines and then pull-ups, eating, doing laundry and some other things. Now I don't know about you guys, but to me that I would think would take a couple of hours at least.

So, if you put these two "timelines" together, it's feasible that what he typed into the computer started the monster that we and the survivors saw in the jungle. Let's all remember, we heard a machine starting after the execute button was hit, and heard a machine when Locke was being dragged down the hole. I think that beeping was an alarm being tripped when the stepped into the "Dark Territory".

[WobblePot]

yeah... but I was thinking that maybe the Desmond dude has a different like schedule... ya know...cuz it was light when he woke up... and it was dark when Locke and Kate entered... so maybe Desmond stays up at night and sleeps during the day...

[sugar_slayer]

or maybe he's just logging onto the computer system and thats his code.

doesn't do anything specific, looks like a routine thing

[WobblePot]

yeah but why would Locke tell Jack not to push the button then? if it would be just somekinda log in system thing?

[philotech]

It actually sounded like an old printer.

[sugar_slayer]

cos a wrong code could set something off

sorry i haven't seen it so didn't realise we were talking bout the same button

who knows then

[WobblePot]

It actually sounded like an old printer.
yeah kinda did... but it was really short the sound... it didnt last long..

[lost in youreyes]

didn't the french woman say that they were drawn to the island by the numbers... thinking that it was a distress call or something like that?

[polyphenus]

I was thinking along AmyMac's line of thought as I watched the episode last night.

I have to add that I could have sworn I saw what appeared to be a broken pipe and scorch mark that might indicate the dynamite damage Kate did during Exodus to save Locke.

[Chimo]

Jack never typed anything in the computer, if you hit enter on a computer without giving it a prompt nothing will happen, Locke might just have been warning him about touching anything in the hatch just to be safe, also Locke could see the screen it was facing away from him.

[WobblePot]

I was thinking along AmyMac's line of thought as I watched the episode last night.

I have to add that I could have sworn I saw what appeared to be a broken pipe and scorch mark that might indicate the dynamite damage Kate did during Exodus to save Locke.
the place where Jacks key was drawn to the magnet... that place looked burn to me... and i was wonderin why it looked burn... but that would make sense if that was the spot where Kate dropped the dynamite... but i dont know... it didnt look like there would be a hole on the roof... but there was a hole looking thing on the wall...

[Passion]

Jack never typed anything in the computer, if you hit enter on a computer without giving it a prompt nothing will happen, Locke might just have been warning him about touching anything in the hatch just to be safe, also Locke could see the screen it was facing away from him.
Great point, took the words out of my mouth.

Locke looked 'lost' for the first time in that episode, he doesnt know what the hell is going on just like Jack doesnt know what is going on.

[WobblePot]

Great point, took the words out of my mouth.

Locke looked 'lost' for the first time in that episode, he doesnt know what the hell is going on just like Jack doesnt know what is going on.
yeah thats true... Locke really did look lost... all confused...
but still i think that the execute thing is something bigger... i dont know... its just weird that the the button says execute in the first place... execute sounds so like final... you know... like im gona ignite a bomb... and then theres a button which says execute and then the bomb explodes... if you get me...

[Passion]

yeah thats true... Locke really did look lost... all confused...
but still i think that the execute thing is something bigger... i dont know... its just weird that the the button says execute in the first place... execute sounds so like final... you know... like im gona ignite a bomb... and then theres a button which says execute and then the bomb explodes... if you get me...
Interesting...I get what you mean.

But, I tend to think that 'execute' is just a computer command. He is executing the code which he put into the computer.

Nothing more then an 'Enter' key.

[WobblePot]

Interesting...I get what you mean.

But, I tend to think that 'execute' is just a computer command. He is executing the code which he put into the computer.

Nothing more then an 'Enter' key.
but why would they put the execute there then? they coulve just put enter there... plus the comp looked like a lab or military computer... you know... not normal keyboard but smaller... and maybe there was different buttons als... i dont know... the execute just really bugs me lol :D

[arnezami]

I think this belongs here (I created a separate thread at almost the same time)

----

After looking at Desmons fingers its clear he types the Numbers into his Apple computer. Each number is followed by a space the last one with "Execute".

Here are the screenshots. (although when the video is moving it is easier to see)

4

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/4655/42ls.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=42ls.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/9872/41jv.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=41jv.png)

8

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/652/87vb1.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=87vb1.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/6746/87ob.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=87ob.png)

15

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/7545/1511qk.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1511qk.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/2535/1521fh.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1521fh.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/8004/159vw.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=159vw.png)

16

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/9702/1614fy.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1614fy.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/8029/1620gc.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1620gc.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/481/166mc.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=166mc.png)

23

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/4834/2313fv.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2313fv.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/2311/2322ry.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=2322ry.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/113/231fk.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=231fk.png)

42

http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/9314/4213ol.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4213ol.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/2090/4222qe.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=4222qe.png) http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/4703/execute1ov.th.png (http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=execute1ov.png)

So he "executes" the Numbers...

[Passion]

Thanks for that post arnezami, with the pics.

I immediately thought that what he was putting in the computer were 'the numbers' because he kept going up top to the numbers row, then a space, and again and again.

[jimcom]

The execute key has got to be the button Walt warned Shannon about, just my 2 cents.

[tommerp]

Maybe Locke's " Don't touch that" was a "Hey, I got a guy with a gun over here, pay attention!!"

[Nozoki]

So, if you put these two "timelines" together, it's feasible that what he typed into the computer started the monster that we and the survivors saw in the jungle. Let's all remember, we heard a machine starting after the execute button was hit, and heard a machine when Locke was being dragged down the hole. I think that beeping was an alarm being tripped when the stepped into the "Dark Territory".

Yeah, I think the timeline should be about right. The only thing is when the "monster" chases Arzt earlier, Desmond would have been still sleeping. Unless there's another hatch somewhere with another person inside to set off another security system closer to the Black Rock.

[mz4230]

I think that Desmond entering his code first thing every morning, it confirms to someone or to his home that he is there. If he doesn't enter the code it means he is dead or has been killed and his "home" might self destruct to protect vital information. If the wrong code is entered or nothing is entered at all in some amount of time, the dwelling will self destruct. Locke may have already tried and Desmond may have warned him not to touch it for that reason.

[WobblePot]

The execute key has got to be the button Walt warned Shannon about, just my 2 cents.
that might be!

[Dark_Lilly]

Is there a reference to Lenny in the sanitarium? Lenny said to Hurley: "You opened the box!" Maybe the numbers releases something like the black smoke? Knowed Lenny more, than we know?

[kawichick]

I think the numbers are just his ID. They are on the outside of 'his' hatch, his meds and he used them to "log in". Leads me to belive there are other hatches around the world. Just my 2 cents.

[elleesa]

It think it's a password.

[arnezami]

I think that Desmond entering his code first thing every morning, it confirms to someone or to his home that he is there. If he doesn't enter the code it means he is dead or has been killed and his "home" might self destruct to protect vital information. If the wrong code is entered or nothing is entered at all in some amount of time, the dwelling will self destruct. Locke may have already tried and Desmond may have warned him not to touch it for that reason.
I think you're right. The computer first starts bleeping. Almost as if it "wants" something. When the code is entered it gives one bleep of a different tone and then it stops. A sort of "I'm still alive code".

[Lost_Mommy]

I think Locke saying "I wouldn't do that" might have been because he almost did the same thing when he went down, now he has a gun to his head. It might have been like saying, "Hey, this psycho with the gun at my head, he really doesn't want us to touch him stuff." It may not have had anything to do with what the button does. Especially since with no commands typed in, pushing execute would do basically, nothing.

[bibwis tolstarx]

What do you make of the sideways smiley face on the computer screen? Perhaps that is a destruct command and if you press execute without entering another command first, it may send the monster off to kill.

[beachcomberjim]

I posted this on another similiar thread but i think it fits here too, to me what the guy (im not quite comfortable with calling him desmond yet, because all things in his hatch makes it seem like hes been there a very long time, so would be difficult to be half way around the world 5 to 10 years ago) so what the guy is doing in the hatch seems very routine and he doesnt seem to act if anything is out of the ordinary, so i dont anything is being triggered, or hes sending the monster after these new arrivals on his island. I believe he may not even have known they are there, if he was worried about people getting in i would have gone to end of the tunnel and looked up or used a light or something to try to tell the people who have been banging on my door i dont want opened that hey you dont want to do that. But if he thought they were coming after him would he perform his daily routine? I dont think he knew or was monitoring what they were doing. Ohhh i have visitors i better do my luandry, clean up, eat some healhty shakes and clean up in the shower so i smell good for them....doesnt seem likely.

[Soxgirl]

What do you make of the sideways smiley face on the computer screen? Perhaps that is a destruct command and if you press execute without entering another command first, it may send the monster off to kill.

wasn't it a frowny face?? >:

[n1gmacfan]

I posted this on another similiar thread but i think it fits here too, to me what the guy (im not quite comfortable with calling him desmond yet, because all things in his hatch makes it seem like hes been there a very long time, so would be difficult to be half way around the world 5 to 10 years ago) so what the guy is doing in the hatch seems very routine and he doesnt seem to act if anything is out of the ordinary, so i dont anything is being triggered, or hes sending the monster after these new arrivals on his island. I believe he may not even have known they are there, if he was worried about people getting in i would have gone to end of the tunnel and looked up or used a light or something to try to tell the people who have been banging on my door i dont want opened that hey you dont want to do that. But if he thought they were coming after him would he perform his daily routine? I dont think he knew or was monitoring what they were doing. Ohhh i have visitors i better do my luandry, clean up, eat some healhty shakes and clean up in the shower so i smell good for them....doesnt seem likely.


Good point, I don't think Desmond knew they were there... maybe though.

[Elbatcho]

he also typed in numbers when he was typing, he was using the top row the whole time. Hurleys numbers?

[WobblePot]

wasn't it a frowny face?? >:
yeah it was like that but there was | blinking....
like >:| wasnt it?

[dhvyse]

yeah but why would Locke tell Jack not to push the button then? if it would be just somekinda log in system thing?

Because I figured it out. Locke is a friend of Desmond. They are in this together. The question is for what? (Sorry I just have a thing about these things... I can tell).

Locke knows what the button/computer does.

[Soxgirl]

yeah it was like that but there was | blinking....
like >:| wasnt it?

the blinking | could be a halo j/k

[bibwis tolstarx]

Okay, maybe it was a frowny face, but the question remains--do you think it was a destruct command--someone's gonna have a bad day when you hit the execute button?

[murbot]

Quote: (Originally Posted by jimcom)The execute key has got to be the button Walt warned Shannon about, just my 2 cents.

that might be!


The execute has to be the button Walt to Shannon not to press. The tie between Locke telling Jack not to do that, when Jack was about to press it and Walt telling Shannin the same thing is too strong.

[Rez]

I dont think he is doing anything than myabe trying to find an answer about the numbers in relation to the island. Like the computer is compiling different mathematical calculations to figure out a patter and what they might mean.

[the virtual taco]

I posted this on another similiar thread but i think it fits here too, to me what the guy (im not quite comfortable with calling him desmond yet, because all things in his hatch makes it seem like hes been there a very long time, so would be difficult to be half way around the world 5 to 10 years ago) so what the guy is doing in the hatch seems very routine and he doesnt seem to act if anything is out of the ordinary, so i dont anything is being triggered, or hes sending the monster after these new arrivals on his island. I believe he may not even have known they are there, if he was worried about people getting in i would have gone to end of the tunnel and looked up or used a light or something to try to tell the people who have been banging on my door i dont want opened that hey you dont want to do that. But if he thought they were coming after him would he perform his daily routine? I dont think he knew or was monitoring what they were doing. Ohhh i have visitors i better do my luandry, clean up, eat some healhty shakes and clean up in the shower so i smell good for them....doesnt seem likely.

I feel like he knew they were there. At the end, Desmond doesn't seem the least bit surprised to see Jack. He seems to have expected Jack to show up; this hearkens back to the flashback of Jack and Desmond and the comment about seeing each other in another life.

[bibwis tolstarx]

Des had to know they knew about the hatch. When Locke banged on it after Boone was injured, a light came on--obviously Des turned the light on--just like after Kate fell in--he turned it on again.

[dustin]

The "Execute" button is nothing more than an old "Enter" key. Execute was common on older computers, and is tied to the reasoning behind programs having the extension .exe

As for the >:, it is a command prompt. Him entering the code would only have an effect if he was already running some sort of program. The large tape drives in the background give the impression he was recording data. What data that could be, I don't even know.

[Snuffkin]

I think different variations of the Numbers will "execute" different things.

Desmond types: 4 8 15 21 41 16 and then something happens in the hatch or on the Island

[murbot]

Did the keyboard also have an "Enter" key? I thought it did. If so then one would think the execute key has a different meaning. Maybe there was no "Enter" key and I was just dreaming about it last night.

[sier]

The "Execute" button is nothing more than an old "Enter" key. Execute was common on older computers, and is tied to the reasoning behind programs having the extension .exe

As for the >:, it is a command prompt. Him entering the code would only have an effect if he was already running some sort of program. The large tape drives in the background give the impression he was recording data. What data that could be, I don't even know.

Completely agreed. It's just a command prompt and the keyboard is proprietay (no escape key, no shift, no "F" keys, etc) so the word "execute" would simply represent Enter to me.

And just to clarify a few other people's remarks, this is not an Apple II. Just look at the keyboard:

http://www.digibarn.com/collections/parts/swyft-card/apple-swyft.jpg

[Jenna_G]

A lot of people ask why Locke would say "don't push the button" or "I wouldn't do that" or whatever. My guess is because that's the first thing HE tried to do when he got down there, and that's when the guy with the gun confronted him. Locke knows that there's a dude with a gun in the shadows, so he's trying to warn Jack about him, right before the dude puts the gun to Locke's head.

Jenn :)
a newbie

[tutorbell]

Completely agreed. It's just a command prompt and the keyboard is proprietay (no escape key, no shift, no "F" keys, etc) so the word "execute" would simply represent Enter to me.

And just to clarify a few other people's remarks, this is not an Apple II. Just look at the keyboard:

http://www.digibarn.com/collections/parts/swyft-card/apple-swyft.jpg

Uhh...actually it is an Apple II keyboard...

http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/appleII/DSC04266.JPG

[topher]

Uhh...actually it is an Apple II keyboard...

http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/appleII/DSC04266.JPG

Guys?

The PROP used in the scene was built with and Apple II computer. The rest of the PROPS around the room were other 70's computer parts.

'Execute' probably screened more dramatic that 'Return', so they changed the key text on the PROP.

This is TV. They NEVER get computers right in TV (or movies for that matter) - just not interesting enough.

[bibwis tolstarx]

Exactly--see how many conversations are going on just about the button "Execute" and what it means? We played right into their hands on that one!

[mz4230]

I think that Desmond entering his code first thing every morning, it confirms to someone or to his home that he is there. If he doesn't enter the code it means he is dead or has been killed and his "home" might self destruct to protect vital information. If the wrong code is entered or nothing is entered at all in some amount of time, the dwelling will self destruct. Locke may have already tried and Desmond may have warned him not to touch it for that reason.

And to expand on it, I think it will happen. For some reason, Desmond will not be able to enter his code one morning, he will be captured by the survivors or die or whatever. Before this time, he will inform them that if he doesn't enter the code every morning, his dwelling will explode, destroying all of its contents (Maybe the backup tapes are confidential information) and every one in it. Hurley will be put to the test as Jack tells him to enter the numbers as the password; OR Jack will want to enter the numbers but can't remember them and finds them on the medicine bottle...

[mz4230]

I am referring to the above here...My own post.

[Carrie123]

I think that Desmond entering his code first thing every morning, it confirms to someone or to his home that he is there. If he doesn't enter the code it means he is dead or has been killed and his "home" might self destruct to protect vital information. If the wrong code is entered or nothing is entered at all in some amount of time, the dwelling will self destruct.

I'm not sure - but remember that in Hurleys upcoming episode ** 'Hurley struggles with an assigned task inside the hatch' - maybe he inputs the numbers wrong and something to do with the security system or hatch's biosystens goes wrong? **

[Carrie123]

Also remember that the numbers were imprinted on the concrete outer of the hatch casing - maybe he is just logging on to show that the hatch location is 'active' everyday.

[L-O-S-T]

I think different variations of the Numbers will "execute" different things.

Desmond types: 4 8 15 21 41 16 and then something happens in the hatch or on the Island

On the picture he drew in the hatch there is a 42...
about 42 survivors on the island
maybe each one has a number and he called person number 4 = "jack" number 8 ="Locke" and so on to him well these numbers must be the main characters though not those dudes in the background that never talk......

just speculating maybe some new ideas though ..DAmn your puzzled after that show

[SlayerVixen]

This may sound really crazy but did anyone notice the little cursor type thing on the computer looked ANGRY?? LOL sorry but i tend to notice silly insignificant things like that.

[WobblePot]

lol yeh it did look angry :D

[mysterious]

i noticed that too!! it kinda freaked me out actually....

[jigsawyer]

This guy obviously spend a lot of time there. And from his reaction after the explosion, he was not aware of the incoming guests. He typed the numbers right after awaking, therefore it must be very important. And he warned not to push any buttons freely - I guess, it either activates

- Lostzilla
- self-destruction
- or a nuclear attack

[Lost_Mommy]

This may sound really crazy but did anyone notice the little cursor type thing on the computer looked ANGRY?? LOL sorry but i tend to notice silly insignificant things like that.

We must have some very young people on this board because I am starting to feel very old. Have you ever used an apple 2e computer? It ran on DOS. The little "angry face" was simply a command prompt, nothing more. it was not an emoticon or anything like that.

We used to use similar computers when I was in school, and yes, I know that is telling everyone about how old I am, but I just want you all to know i have used these and I know that is what it is.

[mipac]

who knows what jack may have discovered if he was able to venture further down the tunnel

[buzmeg]

yeah but why would Locke tell Jack not to push the button then? if it would be just somekinda log in system thing?

How would Locke even know about the "execute key"? This system is not state-of-art for 2005, what with tape drives, DOS command prompts on a terminal that looks like a TRS-80, a stereo system that plays LPs.

Perhaps they are in a time warp? And, what happened to Kate?

[WobblePot]

oo tha time warp might be a good one...

and yeah the comps definitely didnt look too new...

just pisses me off lol that i dont know what the execute thing means... cuz i know theres a meanin to it... grr grr lol :D

[Cine]

And from his reaction after the explosion, he was not aware of the incoming guests.

What freaks me out is that he had all those mirrors positioned against the opening of the hatch. Why have that if you don't expect anyone to be entering? The hatch is as good as impossible to open from the outside - why is he then so prepared?

I'm really really curious how Desmond got all that stuff from the SEVENTIES down there. He must have met Jack in the nineties at latest, so it can't have been he who brought it there.

I'm going to support the enter-code-or-hatch-blows-up theory.

[Mahub]

You are assuming that Desmond built the bunker, or was there from the beginning. He can clearly have arrived long after it was built.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Since we don't really know the timing of the opening scene, could it be that pressing "EXECUTE" does exactly that...

If the timing was right, perhaps Desmond pressed EXECUTE at exactly the moment Artz exploded.

Hence Locke's warning about not pressing it - every time it's pressed, someone on the island is executed.

[bibwis tolstarx]

We must have some very young people on this board because I am starting to feel very old. Have you ever used an apple 2e computer? It ran on DOS. The little "angry face" was simply a command prompt, nothing more. it was not an emoticon or anything like that.

We used to use similar computers when I was in school, and yes, I know that is telling everyone about how old I am, but I just want you all to know i have used these and I know that is what it is.

Do you remember Radio Shack computers? I used them in 9th grade--how old am I?

[Lost_Mommy]

bibwis, ummm.. I don't think I ever used one of those, we had Apple II's in high school. I just remember learning how to program those. Computer programing class...It's funny how at the time they thought we would need to know how to program DOS! Now look at where we are! What I learned in that class means absolutely nothing now! LOL

[TheRutz]

- self-destruction

That's a good thaught: Every n hours (that's when he wakes up) he has to type in the password to tell the computer he is still alive, otherwise the whole hatch will self-destruct!

[LOST_the_plot]

You people are looking into this too deeply!!! The 'execute" key is the version of an "enter" key on older model computers!! It was before "return" and before the "enter" key we know now! Nothing more than that!

Yes, it may trigger something, but it's also the button that is just
the
same
as
doing
this!

Sorry, but that was just annoying me.

[jigsawyer]

This reminds me of an episode of, I think, "Outer Limits". It was about a bunch of guys living in underground facilities all over the world. Cut away from the outer world, they (european, asian, russian, african soldiers) spent all the time down there alone for a very special reason: aliens threatened to attack the world, and each and everyday one of them had to stop a worldwide nuclear attack program by using a computer routine, just like Desmond did.

And just like him, they had their daily routines, worked out a lot, created art and controlled their exits.

The end of the story? One after another, the american lost contact to all his camera mates, and in the end he was contacted by his former general to open the hatch. He did so, not knowing that aliens had overrun the earth and used the general as a puppet...

I know, doesn't fit in here, but an interesting read, wasn't it?

[Raven O'Reilly]

*Kicks so no more people make computer threads.*

[Milesy]

Completely agreed. It's just a command prompt and the keyboard is proprietay (no escape key, no shift, no "F" keys, etc) so the word "execute" would simply represent Enter to me.

And just to clarify a few other people's remarks, this is not an Apple II. Just look at the keyboard:

http://www.digibarn.com/collections/parts/swyft-card/apple-swyft.jpg

i wouldnt say so much because its propiatery.. most likely just because its
really a old terminal looking machine

[Sithjedikiller]

The execute button stops time on the surface of the island.

[Ian]

maybe the button starts the electro magnetic power that powers up the place?

[bigmouse64]

I was thinking it could mean that he was controlling the curse with the input of these numbers, but who knows?

[jacobsteel]

Here's a pic of that terminal btw.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/DocBrown2005/computer.jpg

The tech stuff is sort of mixed, the oscilloscopes look a bit older than seventies stuff, where the turntable looks more late seventies... then again.. who's counting. ;)

Sure looks like they used an old Apple ii (http://park10.wakwak.com/~pinevill/image/etc/AppleII_j_plus.jpg) to make the terminal though. (with the logo changed, naturally)

We have to remember, this is movie science, different rules apply...


Another idea, what are your thoughts on whether all this tech stuff is military or not? Doesn't look too military to me. Or?

[Noetic]

The execute button stops time on the surface of the island.
That's an interesting idea :cool:

[Vegeta]

This may sound really crazy but did anyone notice the little cursor type thing on the computer looked ANGRY?? LOL sorry but i tend to notice silly insignificant things like that.

Maybe they're chatters and it's all an elaborate system to house an IRC server :P

[BiggestLostfan]

dunno if someone already said this but I think it controls the "monster"

[DreamForDistance]

You people are looking into this too deeply!!! The 'execute" key is the version of an "enter" key on older model computers!! It was before "return" and before the "enter" key we know now! Nothing more than that!

Yes, it may trigger something, but it's also the button that is just
the
same
as
doing
this!

Sorry, but that was just annoying me.

Just to clarify, this isn't entirely true and neither are the comments posted about it being a proprietary keyboard or a mocked up studio one that never existed necessarily...

Computers keyboards did in fact have Execute keys on some models for a while and the were not the same as a "Return" key... the keyboard here has both. A Return key was like a CR or new line button (to get to the next line for instance) while the Execute key was generally used to actually Execute commands or programs after they were fully typed in.

As for whether it's an Apple II or not, I have to say that it could be a real Apple II or it could be an Apple II clone since there were countless companies that ripped off Apple's technology (or reverse engineered it) and marketed their own systems sometimes barely bothering to even change the looks of the case/keyboard. Some Apple II systems did have an Execute key I'm fairly positive. I'm not saying the one actually used as a prop wasn't mocked up for effect, just that these things did exist as such.

That said, none of this really has any bearing on anything, I just wanted to get the record straight on the geek facts, lol.

d4d

[InvasionFan]

I don't think its fair to say "you are looking too deeply into this" here. That is the main reason why most of us are here.

Personally I believe that there is significance to the "Execute" key. Whether it is an actual keyboard, a prop keyboard, or a combination there of. I think we all know that painstaking attention is paid to little details on this show. I find it hard to believe that they would feature a button so prominently in a scene and not put thought into the text on it (ie. Execute vs. Enter or something else).

[Quiet Tempest]

My guess is that the computers in the hatch control the outside -- the island. I'm still running with my space colony theory (http://www.lost-forum.com/showthread.php?t=14617) so I think that Desmond is programming the weather and whatnot into the system each day.. ;)

[Firebreak]

I wonder if whatever program is run on the computer explains what is happening on the island. Him waking up entering the code may actually be him turning *off* the system. They may run it at night when people won't see it. I think most, if not all of the weird stuff that happens on the island, happens at night too.

[Cooter]

Desmond entering the things at the computer seems routine. It almost seems like it is some form of maintenance, like his exercising and injecting the meds.

Maybe he has to log in everyday, or type something everyday to prevent something from happening. If you had to type that string of numbers everyday for a period of time you would have them memorized, kind of like the guy in the mental institute.

It is something routine. It isn't a control for a monster or anything like that. It is something he needs to do as part of his being in those quarters. If he doesn't do it, or if he enters the wrong thing, maybe the experiment goes totally wrong.

[coffee_annan]

its strange if the magic numbers are some kind of passport, since the numbers are everywhere, on the hatch, on the medicine and so on, so it cant be a secret password at least. i mean, if our group killed desmond and the computer wanted input what do you thnik they would enter ?

[Firebreak]

Desmond entering the things at the computer seems routine. It almost seems like it is some form of maintenance, like his exercising and injecting the meds.

Maybe he has to log in everyday, or type something everyday to prevent something from happening. If you had to type that string of numbers everyday for a period of time you would have them memorized, kind of like the guy in the mental institute.

It is something routine. It isn't a control for a monster or anything like that. It is something he needs to do as part of his being in those quarters. If he doesn't do it, or if he enters the wrong thing, maybe the experiment goes totally wrong.

See that's what I'm saying. Perhaps the "monster" is the experiment.

[1lostlover]

Because I figured it out. Locke is a friend of Desmond. They are in this together. The question is for what? (Sorry I just have a thing about these things... I can tell).

Locke knows what the button/computer does.

I don't believe that Locke & Desmond know each other, but I do agree with you that Locke knows what the button does. I think either he figured it out, or he attempted to push the button himself when he first got in the hatch and discovered it. I think that's when Desmond appeared with his gun and stopped him. I think that Locke telling Jack 'I wouldn't do that' was a 'I've already tried that and look what happened to me' (a warning).

[Cooter]

I don't believe that Locke & Desmond know each other, but I do agree with you that Locke knows what the button does. I think either he figured it out, or he attempted to push the button himself when he first got in the hatch and discovered it. I think that's when Desmond appeared with his gun and stopped him. I think that Locke telling Jack 'I wouldn't do that' was a 'I've already tried that and look what happened to me' (a warning).

No, Locke and Desmond don't know each other. Yes Locke knows what the button does because Desmond has already explained it to him. There was a long period of time from when Kate and Locke went down the hatch to the point where Jack finally went down. Locke knows everything about it, we unfortunately have to wait until episode 3.

[Firebreak]

On an unrelated note: I just noticed this, but I am realizing that locke went from being one of my favorite characters to one I don't care much for. I think it's the faith vs science thing. I would call myself a man of science mostly. Even considering this, I still would not want to see him killed off. Same goes for any of the others.

[radicalistic]

My theory about the computer brings us back to the quarantine thing. I must have some signifcance! Maybe there is a box that holds the sickness in it or something like that and the box is what keeps it from releasing? Like those Nazi showers, whe the pressed the button.. Well, yes. Kind of an odd theory, but hey, Lost is like the pinnacle of odd.