Tron AKA the Social Grid

 

A few weeks back I took my daughter and son to their first ever comic book convention. An auspicious occasion I’m sure you’ll agree. Being as we are a house full of nerds.

As we were wandering the stands and admiring the cosplay, something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.

These beauties!

I had to have them. I’ve been a Tron fan since as early as I can remember.

I would of been the ripe old age of 5 when this bad boy came out and my first interaction with it would have been on VHS. I think I may of worn the tape out!

For those unfamiliar with the plot I’ll summarise.

SPOILERS AHEAD

When talented computer engineer Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) finds out that Ed Dillinger (David Warner), an executive at his company, has been stealing his work, he tries to hack into the system. However, Flynn is transported into the digital world, where he has to face off against Dillinger's computerized likeness, Sark, and the imposing Master Control Program. Aided by Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) and Yori (Cindy Morgan), Flynn becomes a freedom fighter for the oppressed programs of the grid.

I find it incredible that the digital world that was depicted in the movie has been made flesh, VR, social platforms, web 3, blockchain and the metaverse itself.

The romantic in me has alway been fixated with the notion of being a rebel or freedom fighter.

"On the other side of the screen, it all looks so easy." - Kevin Flyn

And that’s the best thing I think about becoming social, is having the power in our networks to overthrow and topple even our biggest competitors, because the real power is in the players hands.

When Flynn (who owns an arcade btw, could he be any cooler) gets sucked into the Tron universe he finds himself stuck with his identity disc. This is faintly reminiscent of a frisbee and can be thrown as a weapon and contains everything about the player.

If the disc is destroyed the player gets derezzed (it’s not pretty).

"Whatever you do or whatever you learn will be imprinted on this disc. If you lose your disc or fail to follow commands, you will be subject to immediate de-resolution. That will be all."

- Sark

It’s a classic Heroes journey with Flynn making his way with the help of Tron through some games to the heart of the master control programme where he overthrows it.

Think of your digital presence like this.

You have a profile (your data disc).

You can engage with other users inside the game (other humans) and develop real life relationships with them outside of the grid.

And you can play games (this is your content, the ones with the most engagement that turn that into useful commercial interaction WIN).

My favourite addition in the movie was a tiny sidekick Flynn had called Bit (which could either say yes or no).

One of the biggest set pieces in the film was the light cycle sequence. In this competitor's race each other in bikes in a twisted version of snake. If someone else crosses the other players stream they crash and burn. 

The irony of the film is it was also one of the first films to use computer generated images (CGI). Fitting given the subject matter.

So your task user is to make it to the heart of social and bring as many other users with you. All the while growing your brand and delvoping relationships that you can take into the real world.

This film was lightyears ahead of it’s time and a fitting reminder of how far we’ve come and where we are headed with AI.

See you on the grid players!

Dr. Walter Gibbs: Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop." - Dr. Walter Gibbs