Talk:Cyberpathy

Scope

Hm, I wonder if her power allows her to automatically break cifers, or if she can only read plaintext messages. Unfortunately, I guess the writers don't have a clue and couldn't care less, but being able to read an electronic signal IRL only helps you to do stuff against the cripplingly incompetent. Well, we'll see. -- Cuardin 11:14, 17 January 2007 (EST)

• Well, if she has the ability to read email, that assumes she has the capability to (1) sense electronic transmissions (EM waves) (2) sample the AC to digital in her brain (3) convert all that binary information to 8-bit bytes, and (4) decode the message protocols and/or de-encrypt the content on the fly (boy would the NSA love that). Oh yeah, and be able to do it in reverse, since she can "send text messages". Almost all modern programs have at least some sort of encryption (run-length encoding at the minimum), not to mention the cell phone system itself has quite a few levels. Plus, if she can understand any message in the world, that means she's doing ASCII code value translations (to written language) in her head. After all that, she can still de-obfuscate the language of "leet speak". Maybe it's better if we don't look behind the curtain  :) --Orne 12:04, 17 January 2007 (EST)
  • I agree, this discussion belongs here, and not in the article space, since it's speculation. But still, spec is fun -- I think it's all automatic, kind of like the way we catch a ball, and do all the trajectory and velocity computations automatically in our head. It's not conscious thought. In addition, Hana is apparently able to read understand other languages (some messages are in Greek, Russian, and Latin), though she probably doesn't have training in all of those languages. It seems to be a very automatic thing that she just "understands" in a non-conscious way ... - RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 12:14, 17 January 2007 (EST)
    • Oh.. my god.. I just read about this character and her power from this site after seeing Godsend the other night. Having been a CS major, my mind is hurting. I wonder if this is what my bio/genetics/chem friends feel like whenever they watch stuff like CSI (or any show using the field of genetics for story or technobabble). Regarding protocols, let's not forget this girl snatches data packets and resequences them in the correct order.. >_< The problem is that the mere portrayal of what her powers do demonstrates a complete misperception of how such technology works and how electronic data is stored and transmitted. Appropriate suspension of disbelief for this requires the viewer to have a sufficient level of ignorance of <some field> (although I suppose in many senses, that's par for entertainment). The bigger problem I see is that, being about superheroes, the show targets some portion of geeks who may be knowledgeable enough to find themselves really turned off. I know I'm quite worried now about whether this char is gonna totally throw off my ability to ignore and enjoy the show for its real merits. For me at least, this is many orders of magnitude worse than Sylar's "intuitive aptitude" for understanding the mechanics of a complex system when he can neither see, hear, touch, or observe the system. Glue 09:07, 28 January 2007 (EST)
    • Sounds like she has a lot in common with the Marvel character Cypher, who could intuitively translate languages, with the added bonus of being able receive and transmit in the EM spectrum. --Ted C 12:46, 17 January 2007 (EST)
  • Well, there is a big difference between transcoding encoding-schemes and decrypting cyphers. Translation is not trivial, though. As for the SMS, I have reason to believe that they are sent unencrypted. If she intercepts a phonecall though, that is another matter. They are at least slightly encrypted.
• A photo of Hana has been leaked -> here. I suspect it's similar to what they plan to show us during DEAL OR NO DEAL.--Yoshie 10:01, 22 January 2007 (EST)
  • It wasn't really "leaked". It's from a teaser commercial that aired during last week's 'Deal or No Deal'. The commercial referred to her as a "new hero, hell-bent on revenge". The main discussion so far is here.--Hardvice (talk) 11:14, 22 January 2007 (EST)