Manual override: Difference between revisions

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A '''manual override''' is a procedure where an otherwise automatic system is taken under manual control, usually from [[computer]] control.

== Examples of manual overrides in Factreality ==

*[[Ink cartridgescartridge]]s "empty" signals can be overrided, as some [[printer (computing)|printer]]s refuse to print when they claim the ink is low <ref name=BBC> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3035500.stm 'Raw deal' on printer ink], ''[[BBC]]'', 3 July 2003 </ref>. One ''[[Which?]]'' researcher who over-rode the system found that in one case he could print up to 38% more good quality pages, even though the chip stated that the cartridge was empty <ref name=BBC> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3035500.stm 'Raw deal' on printer ink], ''[[BBC]]'', 3 July 2003 </ref>.

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*Most [[safe]]s have manual overrides so instead of calling a locksmith to [[safe-cracking|crack the safe]], they can insert the manual override key and open it.

== Examples in fiction ==

*[[Ink cartridges]] can be overrided, as some [[printer (computing)|printer]]s refuse to print when they claim the ink is low <ref name=BBC> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3035500.stm 'Raw deal' on printer ink], ''[[BBC]]'', 3 July 2003 </ref>. One ''[[Which?]]'' researcher who over-rode the system found that in one case he could print up to 38% more good quality pages, even though the chip stated that the cartridge was empty <ref name=BBC> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3035500.stm 'Raw deal' on printer ink], ''[[BBC]]'', 3 July 2003 </ref>.

As a plot device manual override is often used in [[Sci-Fi]] because of the usual prevalence of advanced technology./ electronic technology. For example;

*On [[United States|US]] [[Submarine]]s armed with [[nuclear weapon]]s it is rumoured that the captain has final choice on whether to 'go nuclear', as the access codes are stored in the [[Captain's Chest]] (but opening the chest triggers alarms and the [[Pentagon]] is informed) hence a manual, or human, intervention.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}

*In [[Star Trek]] many automatic systems, such as the automatic navigation, or the 'site-to-site transporter' can be overridden. A slightly different type of manual override is used in the film ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]'', when acting Captain of the [[Starship Enterprise]] (E) William Riker asks the computer for the 'manual command column', in effect a [[joystick]] which gives him [[pilotage]] control of the ship.

== Examples of manual overrides in Fiction ==

As a plot device manual override is often used in [[Sci-Fi]] because of the usual prevalence of advanced technology. For example;

*In [[Star Trek]] many automatic systems, such as the automatic navigation, or the 'site-to-site transporter' can be overridden. A slightly different type of manual override is used in the film ''[[Star Trek: Insurrection]]'', when acting Captain of the [[Starship Enterprise]] (E) William Riker asks the computer for the 'manual command column', in effect a [[joystick]] which gives him [[pilotage]] control of the ship.

*In ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (2006), a villan overrides the emergency [[fire sprinkler]]s at [[Miami airport]] and starts a distraction so that he can blow up a plane with a remote-controlled pipe bomb.