Calc Reset By Government X-ray Machine

DigiTan · Posted: 16 Mar 2004 10:22:34 pm Post subject:

The Crime:

I just came back from a plane trip to Washington D.C. recently. As an avid programmer, I decided to take my calculator along on the trip for development reasons. On the way back, I passed through airport security ahead of schedule, and decided to make the most of my time and write a short prog. That's when I decovered by calc had been reset!

:evil: The Setting:

The calculator was in my sight the whole time and was just fine the same morning. Plus, I'm still using the Expansion Device, so it had 2 independent battery sources running, in addition to the miniature 'button cell'. I tested this device extensively but I was never able to reproduce this effect.

:evil: Theory:

I suspect an X-ray machine cleared by RAM. Or an EMI field within these machines to be precise. My backpack went though a number of these devices during that time. Luckily nothing of importance was in RAM when this happened. But I'm curious to know if anyone else has witnessed this.

Any theories? I'm donning my foil hat as I speak. Evil or Very Mad

Jedd · Posted: 16 Mar 2004 10:45:46 pm Post subject:

Hmmmmmmm very interesting. I might ask my physics teacher about that. And next time anyone goes on a plane trip, bring your calc to test it out!

Btw was the calc on or off when you put it through?

DigiTan · Posted: 16 Mar 2004 10:56:27 pm Post subject:

It was off when it happend. And it had some pretty fresh batteries too. I should also mention it went though the smaller "carry-ons" X-ray with the conveyor belt, not the cargo type that ruins your film.

:: Readjusts foil hat :: Evil or Very Mad

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 17 Mar 2004 04:41:06 am Post subject:

Could have been static, my math teacher's calc keeps resetting sometimes when he picks it up and he's wearing a wollen sweater. (and happens to touch the link port thing)

DarkerLine · Posted: 17 Mar 2004 09:42:47 am Post subject:

I have traveled on airplanes many times and have not had my calc reset. (0 resets after over 30 X-rays). Could there be another problem? Maybe the expansion device caused it to function differently?

Iambian · Advanced Member Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 423

DigiTan · Posted: 17 Mar 2004 04:39:38 pm Post subject:

I suppose it's possible the expander might've "sensitized" the calculator to radio/magnetic interference. I'll try testing for it this weekend. But something still puzzles me: How did the government get plans for the expander device? Evil or Very Mad

Adm.Wiggin · Posted: 17 Mar 2004 05:13:11 pm Post subject:

About the foil hats, and x-rays, and airplanes, I wonder if they would arrest you for wearing a tinfoil hat on an airplane... :lol:

ok, back on topic... I would expect it was the x-rays + the expander, but i don't know...

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 18 Mar 2004 09:15:49 am Post subject:

Nobody willing to think it might have been static?

Iambian · Advanced Member Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 423

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 18 Mar 2004 03:49:23 pm Post subject:

Why would it have to be caused by the x-ray machine? Static can come from practially anything.

And it's probably in the same area as normal electricity.

Newbie · Bandwidth Hog Joined: 23 Jan 2004 Posts: 2247

X-Ray machines cause radiation of Alpha particles I think if it would be at the airport so the radiation would be a lot less tense. If it does exist in the x-ray machines at the airport like the one the check your luggage does when you have to take it to that gigantic a thing when bags are checked, or sometimes they ask you to.

DigiTan · Posted: 18 Mar 2004 10:07:11 pm Post subject:

I did more some research on the topic. From the looks of things, its highly unlikley the Xray machine could've produced a feild strong enough to affect the calc. It looks like I'll have to find another conspiracy!

Now foil hats in airports? That's an interesting question--I've been thinking about this one all day. I think a foil hat might actually be allowable (they don't mention it in the FAA rules). I wonder what they'd say if they stopped you. Very Happy

Arcane Wizard · Posted: 19 Mar 2004 11:13:45 am Post subject:

Arg! It be static I say!

Iambian · Advanced Member Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Posts: 423

Bzzzt-chaaakchazzzzz.

Ooops. Dead calc.

Could it be that TI has hidden special hardware in all these calcs so that whenever they want, they can beam information from their sattelite to your calc to cause it to reset? It's a global conspiracy, I tell ya! GLOBAL! Neutral

~Ahem... it's just static.

EEDOK · Member Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 117

Or it could be one of those resets that happen for no apparent reason. That or murphys law..

DigiTan · Posted: 20 Mar 2004 01:17:14 am Post subject:

I changed my mind! I'm not giving up on my conspiracy theory! Laughing

About static electricity.. I used to have a problem with a particular type of treadmill, where touching the display--even a plastic part--would cause the whole thing to reset! Anyway, here are theories I counted so far...
-------------------
Static: **
Magnetic Field: *
Alpha Particles: *
Spy Satellite: *
Expander Problem: **
Random Reset: *
-------------------
Any other theories? Evil or Very Mad

Notepad_Gamer · Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 36

An unnaturally pointy air molecule entered the link port and hit an important wire. Then another slammed into the broken wire to put it back into place.

OR

Quantum mechanics caused the calculator to pop out into an alternate universe in which batteries cannot function, resetting the RAM, then popped back into our universe, right at the same spot.

EDIT: Shall we move this thread to the Humor forum?

Jeremiah Walgren · Posted: 20 Mar 2004 11:46:51 pm Post subject:

I vote for static... Confused

DarkerLine · Posted: 21 Mar 2004 01:27:18 pm Post subject:

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