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It's been nearly a decade since "The Matrix" (1999) was released. Despite two disappointing sequels, the film stands at the top of the list of movies that deal with technological paranoia. Although the concept of machines using human beings as batteries may seem a bit extreme, we have undoubtedly become reliant on technology in our daily lives.

Most people see the integration of technology in our lives as a beneficial, if not necessary. As a species, we have become reliant on technology for necessary daily tasks such as transportation and communication. But we also allow technology can fill countless hours of our free time: movies, cell phones, music, the Internet, video games ? the list goes on. If one considers how much of our lives we have given over to technology, it?s no wonder some see it as a threat to human existence.

"The Matrix" is by no means the only film to deal with a fear of technology. In fact, the Terminator film series, as well as its companion television series "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," are founded on the same concept. John Connor must fight the machines that threaten our existence.

In ?The Terminator? canon, the machines are a clearly identifiable enemy completely detached from the humans. The terminators emulate humans in order to infiltrate their society and destroy them. The method in "The Matrix" is much more subtle: people have rolled over and played dead, allowing technology to seep so deeply into their lives that the concept of reality is solely defined by the technology that enslaves them. As scary as it would be to have Arnold Schwarzenegger chase you around with an Uzi, oddly enough, the technological menace in ?The Matrix? is much more frightening.

One of my professional fields of study is folklore; one of my hobbies is following apocalyptic prophecy. Both paths have led me to hear rumors over the last 30 years of super computers poised to take over the world. Even as a child, before computers found their way into our homes, I heard of the frightening implications of computes taking over the world: computers so powerful they would know everything about you.

As a child, the notion of machines knowing everything about me was frightening. Who would have thought then that as an adult, I would be using computers daily in my job, for shopping and entertainment? I consider myself cautious, yet I freely give personal information to computers all the time.

While the concept was new to me then, films like ?2001: A Space Odyssey? (1968) had already dealt with the concept of thinking computers in conflict with humans nearly a decade earlier. Earlier in the 1960s, Rod Serling penned an episode for the second season "Twilight Zone" called "A Thing About Machines" in which household gadgets revolted against their human adversaries. The image of an electric shaver chasing a man stands out as simultaneously ridiculous and frightening.

The 1997 film low budget film "Cube" is worthy of mention as well. In this bizarre film, seven characters find themselves imprisoned in a cube-shaped room, which lead to other rooms. Some are safe to occupy ? others are outfitted with deadly traps. Six of the prisoners ultimately meet up and try to figure out how to escape.

Heavily laced with mathematical theory and philosophical questions as to the meaning of existence, the film is much smarter than it initially seems. The characters are at the mercy of the technology that enslaves them. Despite a low budget and some poor performances, the film is intriguing, plus it features a very young Nicole deBoer (?The Dead Zone?) in a prime role (pun intended) as a mathematical genius.

The technological paranoia films, unfortunately, are not always worthy of praise. Stephen King?s short story ?Trucks? was made into the theatrical disaster that was ?Maximum Overdrive? (1986). The film is not without some appeal: the AC/DC music throughout is a saving grace, as is a humorous cameo by King himself.

On the literary front, Harlan Ellison?s Hugo Award winning short story ?I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream? stands alone in its dismal portrayal of man?s enslavement by a computer. First published in 1967, this story details the imprisonment of five individuals by the master computer called AM, who tortures them out of a deep hatred for his creators. Ellison?s story serves as a cautionary tale, indicating the potential for danger between man and computers.

We have not tamed the technological beast. Rather, we have welcomed it into our lives willingly. This world has no need of terminators ? our embrace of technology has made us enablers of technology, not enemies. Technology has not had to come in with deadly force to conquer us?all it had to do was offer convenience, instant gratification, and entertainment.

Somehow, that is much more frightening.

Homework

?I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream? by Harlan Ellison

Dan Compora is an associate professor at the University of Toledo, and contributes SciFi 101 twice monthly for Airlock Alpha. He can be reached at drdan@airlockalpha.com.