The Quest for Cinema Authenticity

Fabien Sanglard, a software engineer at Google, has dedicated his efforts to documenting every piece of computing hardware featured in the iconic 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. His comprehensive research provides a roadmap for enthusiasts looking to replicate the legendary control room setup seen in the film.


The inventory includes six distinct, functional computers, a PDA, several large CRT displays, and the iconic mechanical keyboards of the era. Sanglard even identified the specific meteorology software used to track the film's fictional hurricane—a program that was standard in real-world newsrooms during the early 90s.


A Multi-Million Dollar Set

The equipment seen on screen was not just a collection of props; it was a high-end, operational computing environment. According to Cory Faucher, the film's special effects coordinator, the production team avoided using fake tech because they recognized that modern audiences were becoming increasingly tech-savvy.


"Everything in the set was real. We couldn't fake any of it, because audiences are so sophisticated now in their knowledge of computers," Faucher noted in The Making of Jurassic Park.


The investment in realism was substantial. The production utilized:

  • $875,000 in hardware loaned by Silicon Graphics (SGI).
  • $350,000 worth of equipment from Apple.
  • Approximately $500,000 in additional hardware and software.

Inflation and Technical Details

When adjusted for inflation, the total cost of the gear used for the film's control room exceeded $4 million. The setup featured specialized hardware, including:

  • Silicon Graphics workstations (rebranded Mitsubishi HL7965 monitors).
  • SGI Granite Keyboards (Indigo style).

While most of the technology was functional, there were minor exceptions. The Thinking Machines CM-5, for instance, was merely a set of front panels equipped with red LEDs. Additionally, tech-savvy fans have long pointed out a quirk in the scene where Dennis Nedry communicates with his contact; the 'video feed' was actually a pre-recorded QuickTime file, evidenced by a visible mouse cursor hovering over a pause button.


Beyond Hollywood Nonsense

Unlike many modern films that depict unrealistic hacking scenes involving rapid-fire typing and arbitrary power cord pulling, Jurassic Park stands out for its commitment to using genuine, working equipment. Sanglard's detailed findings serve as a tribute to the era of 'big iron' computing and the meticulous attention to detail that defined the production of the Spielberg classic.