# "Dune" technology questions... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dune-technology-questions/161925 "2003-03-17T03:49:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RawkStah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@RawkStah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RawkStah)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dune-technology-questions/161925/1 "2003-03-17T03:49:10Z")
Now, I’ve googled this several times, and have never been satisfied with what I’ve found. The Butlerian Jihad has banned the use of computers – specifically, thinking machines. OK, I accept that. They’ve been replaced by Mentats and by spice-enhanced Guild navigators. But what about things like video monitors (like the kind that would be used with the shigawire spools) and personal shields? How are things like this done without some sort of computer? Did the Jihad ban things like microchips and microprocessors? Would my PC be banned by the Jihad? It clearly doesn’t think… Slight aside – according to the Official Dune Website – [www.dunenovels.com](http://www.dunenovels.com) – the Dune encyclopedia is NOT canon, but the Herbert/Anderson novels are. ---
**Author:** ![owlofcreamcheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@owlofcreamcheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlofcreamcheese)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dune-technology-questions/161925/2 "2003-03-17T04:07:08Z")
why do you need a computer to make a sheild? maybe it was constructed with purely mechanical controls. think like this: its far easyer to make a radio useing microchips but one can be made without them. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dune-technology-questions/161925/3 "2003-03-17T08:33:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RawkStah \* > \*\*…The Butlerian Jihad has banned the use of computers – specifically, thinking machines. OK, I accept that. They’ve been replaced by Mentats and by spice-enhanced Guild navigators. But what about things like video monitors (like the kind that would be used with the shigawire spools) > \*\* It is of course possible that the whole spool reader contraption is just a sophisticated clockwork and lens arrangement, but I think you’ll find it gets mentioned that that sort of thing usually originates on IX…which has a sort of “don’t ask, don’t tell” arrangement with the arbiters of Butlerian ethics, whomever they may be. People would say “Damn Ixians and their machines”, but use them anyway, because what choice did they have? Of course, a video monitor can be a completely analog, no-computer-neccessary device, too. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RawkStah \* > \*\*… and personal shields? > \*\* I get this from the _Encyclopedia_, so it might not be “canon” (but see below), but shields are very simple devices once manufactured - it’s all a question of adjusting the current flows to tiny lasers which keep the Holtzmann point effect in check, or somesuch - a matter of switches, wires and solder, not high-level computing. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RawkStah \* > Slight aside – according to the Official Dune Website – [www.dunenovels.com](http://www.dunenovels.com) – the Dune encyclopedia is NOT canon, but the Herbert/Anderson novels are. \*\* But they would say that, wouldn’t they, since they are the ones who own the rights, as it were? Bah, I’m sick of the retcon Herbert’s son has been doing on the whole Dune universe - the Encyclopedia _was_ written in consultation with, and with the approval of, Frank Herbert. Sure, they do say in the foreword that it’s all to be taken with a pinch of salt, but I’ll stick with the DE for my details on tech and datelines, thank you very much… that way there’s no malevolent AI at the edge of the known universe waiting to do a Saberhagen on the Imperium’s keister ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dune-technology-questions/161925/4 "2003-03-17T13:35:21Z")
Herbert _fils_ can claim canonicity for his farmed-out hackjobs all he wants. Despite his legal claim to the intellectual rights to his father’s works, everything written after Frank’s death is complete and utter shit. The _DE_ has more legitimacy than I’m ever giving the Herbert/Anderson creative writing exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Rib\_Eye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rib\_Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rib_Eye)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dune-technology-questions/161925/5 "2003-03-17T19:09:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > …everything written after Frank’s death is complete and utter shit. I can’t speak to that, but I can say that everything beginning with “Messiah” and culminating in “Chapterhouse” becomes more and more obtuse and boring. “Chapterhouse” is indeed pretty shitty. Minor hijack, but I would love for someone to make sense for me out of the end of that book. What is up with the couple in the garden talking about capturing the escaping Idaho and crew in a net? It seems it veers into St. Elsewhere snowglobe territory.