The Twilight Zone: The Brain Center at Whipple’s

Work Title: The Twilight Zone: The Brain Center at Whipple's
Medium: TV Episode
Episode Title: The Brain Center at Whipple's
Year: 1964
Writer(s): Rod Serling
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

from imdb.com Author: Christopher Mulrooney from Los Angeles *** This comment may contain spoilers *** "The Brain Center at Whipple's" describes a situation in which the entire staff of a very large manufacturing company is progressively excised until only machines are left in the plant and its offices. This is first carried out by the founder's son for the benefit of the stockholders, aiming to eliminate nearly one-fourth of costs incurred from employee pensions and profit-sharing. The board of directors completes it by replacing the son with a robot.

  • Self-Written?:
  • Source Name: IMDB
  • Source URL:
Era/Year of Portrayal: present_day
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

Present day 1964.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: machines, robots
  • Description of the technology: Machines are large and shaped like large boxes, around the size of refrigerators. They have lots of buttons, little screens, tapes and are stationary. In this case, the main user is Whipple, the man who runs the factory. He replaces the human workers with machines. They are machines, getting the work done, with no emotions. A robot is at the end of the show, acting as a human, running the factory.
  • Nature of task or activity: working at the factory.
  • Performance of the Technology: works well - too well. All the humans are replaced.
  • Description of creator(s): unknown.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): to accomplish work without human needs - for example, having to stop to take breaks, maternity leave.
  • Description of users of technology: The factory workers are mostly male and white, in the 30s to 50s. The computer/machine technician, however, is male, young and black. Whipple, the owner's son, is in his 30s, unmarried, and white.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: social_presence
  • Description of presence experience: Unpleasent. The machines/robots are taking the jobs of the humans. Those who are left working dislike working there - it is creepily quiet and empty. It is lonely.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: yes.
  • Valence of experience: unpleasant. No one likes working with the machines, or being replaced by them.
  • Specific responses: distorted memory and social judgments, anger, fear, confusion.
Long-term consequences:

the owner's son, who ran the factory, is replaced by the board of directors with a robot. Bittersweet ending. Whipple learns his lesson but no longer has a job.

Other:

Coder name: Amanda Scheiner
Coder email: amandags@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University