The ethical challenges and triumphs of TRON

The movie, TRON, was a 1982 Walt Disney cult classic. TRON was one of the first movies of that era to introduce us to computer graphic imaging, or CGI. Its movie enthusiasts are not only fascinated with the special effects. They realize there are distinct elements of corruption such as plagiarism and heroic selfless acts of giving one's life to save friends, or programs in this instance. TRON shall continue to be a timeless Walt Disney cult classic. Follow me as on this fantastic science fiction journey in which good triumphs over evil.

Flynn's Arcade Kevin Flynn as played by Jeff Bridges was a former software engineer for ENCOM. He now operates a video arcade called Flynn's. Flynn attempted to hack into the ENCOM mainframe computer. His efforts were foiled by the Master Control Program, or the MCP. Flynn's motive hacking into ENCOM was another software engineer within the organization stealing from him. Ed Dillinger as played by David Warner stole Flynn's video game ideas. Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) and Dr. Lora Baines (Cindy Morgan) are ENCOM employees and friends of Flynn, decided to visit Flynn's Arcade. They wanted to warn Flynn that Dillinger and the MCP were on to him. Once Flynn broke his own record on one of his games, he greets Alan and Lora. They retreated upstairs to Flynn's apartment. Alan and Lora informed Flynn the MCP and Dillinger knew it was Flynn attempting to break into the ENCOM mainframe computer. He was noticeably angry because of his denied system clearances and stolen work from Dillinger. Allan suggested his security program, TRON, would completely shutdown the ENCOM system. This would provide Flynn access to the system and expose Dillinger as a fraud. Flynn did not require much convincing since he wanted justice. He decided to accompany his friends and risk it all by breaking into ENCOM.

Breaking into ENCOM Alan and Lora accompanied with Flynn arrived at the ENCOM corporation. Flynn did not need to break an entry into a large corporation, but something was stirring inside Flynn. He knew Dillinger stole from him, and, Flynn wanted to reclaim his intellectual property. They arrived at the huge stainless steel side door with a sophisticated digital lock. Flynn comes prepared for any occasion. He copied the digital code and played it back. The intimidating barrier opened to grant access into ENCOM. They were in like Flynn. Alan went to his workstation to activate TRON and shut the system down for Flynn. Lora took Flynn to her computer laser terminal in order for him to hack the ENCOM system from the inside and obtain his stolen property. Lora left Flynn alone to concentrate. Flynn was making progress. All of a sudden, the MCP emerges onto the computer screen. The MCP commanded Flynn to stop hacking into the ENCOM mainframe computer. With a smirk, Flynn defiantly continued his hacking exercises. The MCP was infuriated by Flynn's disobedience. This prompted the MCP to use a laser on Flynn. The laser systematically digitized Flynn's body, he was downloaded into the ENCOM system.

Inside the ENCOM System The ENCOM system is a chaotic digital world ruled by the MCP and Sark (Dillinger, in the real world). A disoriented Flynn arrives inside ENCOM. Flynn examines his glowing light blue neon arms. He knew the MCP downloaded him into the ENCOM system and trouble was near. Imperial guards of the MCP appeared before Flynn. The guards forced Flynn into the holding area with the other User believing programs. MCP with Sark's forced coercion places demands on the good programs to renounce the belief of the Users, or programmers, from the "Real World." Good programs are forced to believe the MCP along with Sark created the system. If these programs did not believe in the MCP, programs such as TRON, the security program, were forced to play video games to the virtual death. While several good programs died or derezzed in video game combat, they were firm in their belief in the existence of the Users. These principle based programs were willing to "Derezz" for their Users.

The Deadly Light Cycle Battle Light cycle battles are usually between two opposing teams. Both teams battle one another to the death on the light cycle grid. An angry Sark pitted Flynn and his two new virtual friends, Tron and Ram to square off against Sark's highly skilled light cycle video game warriors. It was an intense battle of speed, skill, and, wit. In the end, Flynn with the help of Tron and Ram defeated the MCP's light cycling corrupt programs. What made these User believing program triumph over evil? They placed their egos aside, and, they worked together as one team. This is a very important lesson throughout the movie, TRON.

Tron and Yori meet Dumond, the Tower Guardian Tron and a sympathetic program, Yori, desperately needed the help from Dumond, the Tower Guardian. Dumond is an input output, I / O tower for Users to the outside world connecting programs within the ENCOM system. This wise guardian serves as a portal to the outside world for programs such as Tron. Dumond stopped Tron and Yori with a digital barrier as they were approaching the I / O tower. He wanted to know the purpose of their visit. Tron told Dumond the need to communicate with his User from the Real World. Dumond replied by stating he could be derezzed for permitting entry into the I / O tower. Yori quickly step forwards. Yori, with urgency in her voice stated, "Please, Dumond, the guards are coming." The tower guardian had a change of heart, or, should we say change of digital insight. Dumond asked Tron the name of his User. Tron replies, "Alan-1, he calls me. May I pass?" Dumond responds, "All that is visible must grow beyond itself, and extend into the realm of the invisible. You may pass, my friend." Tron went inside the I / O tower, and, he communicated with his User, Alan-1. Alan-1 provided Tron with the instructions and the code disk to defeat the MCP. Dumond knew the MCP would thoroughly punish him permitting Tron into the I / O tower, but Dumond also realized the system must become orderly once again.

Flynn, the Program Gives Up his Life Tron was losing his battle with Sark on the game grid. The power hungry MCP was acquiring the capabilities of User believing programs. Programs , such as Dumond, were going to be soon merged with the MCP. Flynn, a program in the ENCOM system but a User in the Real World, was compelled to intervene. He threw himself into the core of the MCP. This allowed Tron enough time to insert the code disk provided by Alan-1 into the MCP. Flynn's selfless act enabled the destruction of the MCP while making the system orderly once again. Kevin Flynn resurfaced at Lora's computer laser terminal in the Real World. The printer next to the terminal was rapidly outputting information. Flynn retrieved the information from the printer. The printout confirmed he was the true creator of those video games not Ed Dillingr. He became the new CEO of ENCOM, Kevin Flynn with the help of his User believing friends made the system pure in both the digital world and In Real Life.

What are the takeaways? Any type of crime including stealing another person's intellectual property is illegal and unethical. Perhaps, Kevin Flynn did not need to break into the ENCOM corporation. However, Flynn knew it was wrong Dillinger was plagiarizing work as though they were his original creations. Justice was rendered to Flynn and all entities from the Real World as well as the Digital World alike due to working together. Anything is possible when good people or programs work together as one complete unit. We eliminate problems while simultaneously create solutions. Tron, this 1982 Walt Disney movie, shall be a forever cult classic depicting the ethical challenges and triumphs of TRON. Enjoy the song, Only Solutions, by Journey, that corresponded with the end credits of this Walt Disney masterpiece.