History Main / CyberGreen

Even though [[TechnologyMarchesOn we're far past the era of monochrome computers,]] usage of bright green (often joined by black) to represent computers isn't quite forgotten yet, thanks to this trope being used in works such as ''Franchise/TheMatrix''. (Another attribute of the IBM 5151 monitor and other "slow decay" computer monitors was the afterimage left behind when a pixel or character stopped being drawn on the screen -- it could take close to two seconds for the image to completely fade out. This was also used in ''The Matrix''.)

* The technologist emojis (👩‍💻 and it's variants) are pictures of a person using a computer while a large monochrome monitor looms behind them in the Windows and Google versions, with the Google version having generic green lines to stand in for text while the Windows version opts for binary code instead.

Even though [[TechnologyMarchesOn we're far past the era of monochrome computers,]] usage of bright green (often joined by black) to represent computers isn't quite forgotten yet, thanks to this trope being used in works such as ''Franchise/TheMatrix''.

The computer monitor you're using to look at this page right now is most likely capable of showing over 16 million different colors, but far in the past, the first computers were only capable of showing two colors, one of them black. The other color varies depending on the model and the kind of phosphor used in the monitor. However, there's one clear winner on what color defines old computers, a color still synonymous with older tech and {{Cyberspace}} and all that jazz to this day, [[OurGraphicsWillSuckInTheFuture even when portraying the far future]]. [[green:Bright green.]][[note]]Well, either that or amber, but that's not as common as bright green.[[/note]] This was because that was the phosphor color used by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_5151 IBM 5151 monitor]], supplied as standard with the original IBM Personal Computer in 1981.

* ''Film/RoboCop1987'': All the computer monitors are green and monochromatic. Even [=RoboCop's=] own HeadsUpDisplay uses exclusively shades of green on the overlays.

* ''Series/{{Community}}'': In the episode [[Recap/CommunityS2E07AerodynamicsOfGender "Aerodynamics of Gender"]], after the women of the study group notice how easily [[MetaGuy Abed]] can see someone's physical flaws, is seeing the world through a RoboCam that picks out insult-worthy flaws of his targets, like a cross between Franchise/RoboCop and a member of [[Film/MeanGirls the Plastics]]. This leads to multiple [[POVCam P.O.V. shots]] where everything is through a translucent dark filter with an overlay consisting primarily of bright shades of green.

* ''VideoGame/MarioParty'': The Mario Matrix minigame in ''Mario Party 8'' centers around the players being transported into cyberspace, represented as a dark green vortex covered in light green vector lines.

** In "Power Mad", the virtual reality game that Timmy, Chester, and AJ play features a bright green interface with a stereotypical computer font; the opening level is additionally vivid green and littered with bright green TronLines.
** Played with in "Information Stupor Highway". The episode's depiction of cyberspace mostly averts this by appearing as a series of dark blue tunnels with light blue vector lines. However, the tunnels that correspond to Crocker's computer feature a vivid green tint, and the Crocker Viruses feature bright green skin.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}}'': Upgrade, one of the first ten Aliens Ben can transform into, is a BlobMonster that sports green TronLines across its body. It also has the ability to [[{{Technopath}} merge with any machinery]] and then upgrade it (hence the name) to incredible levels.

* The opening sequence of ''Anime/GhostInTheShell1995'' portraying the creation of a cyborg is [[ColorWash tinted green]], with green computer screens, green computer simulations, and green numbers repeatedly filling the screen before the numbers turn into the opening credits. This what directly inspired ''Film/TheMatrix''.

* The computer in ''Series/{{Lost}}'' has a black screen with green text, despite the show being made and taking place in 2004.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': The [=PipBoys=], which are a series of [[SuperWristGadget Super Wrist Gadgets]] utilized by the player, have been shown to use a green and black interface. However, not all of them adhere to this trope. For instance, the Pimp-Boy 3 Billion uses an orange and black interface instead, referencing the amber monitors that were also common with old computers, and matching it's solid gold exterior. Newer games let you change the interface scheme to whatever color you want, with the Pip Boy's flashlight mode even taking on your chosen hue (although terminals you interact with will remain green).

* ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'': Season 1 Episode 5, [[Recap/SamAndMaxFreelancePoliceEpisode105Reality20 "Reality 2.0"]], uses this trope multiple times. The episode's monochromatic opening sequence is green and black, setting the tone[[labelnote:*]] but only in the original version. The remaster uses purple-and-black instead[[/labelnote]]. The personification of the internet is a cross between a green-skinned green-haired woman and a computer chip. The text adventure portion, "Reality 1.5", uses green text on a black background in it's starting location, switching to a different color whenever Sam and Max go somewhere else.
* ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'' makes heavy use of this trope, with green tinted monitors, holograms, and nearly any exotic "energy" technology used by the Terrans primarily featuring bright green, to contrast with the [[HigherTechSpecies more advanced Protoss]] who get to have ''blue'' holograms and energy fields.

* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': The 80s-era laptop [[spoiler:owned (and most likely made) by Old Man [=McGucket=]]] prominently uses a green-and-black color scheme on it's monitor, though it is capable of using red too when it's showing something important or foreboding.
* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuestTheRealAdventures'': Questworld is a virtual reality computer system created by Benton Quest, and primarily used by Jonny and Jesse to create and play video games. When logging in, the users would wear headphones which materialized green visors and the effects showed flashes of green light as the wearer's mind was transferred into cyberspace.

** Robostus is a black, red and bright green palette swap of his civilian form Markov, and sees with an interface that's mostly in bright green. He seizes control of technology with a bright green energy wave, and the lights of the cars or missiles he remotely controls glow bright green. In his second major appearance, he has the ability to trap people and objects in a cyberspace prison surrounded by MatrixRainingCode, and can create hologram projections that exclusively use a palette of black and bright green.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': Karen, Plankton's computer wife, has a (for the most part) monochrome monitor for a head, using either lime green or a bright yellowish green on her display.

* ''VideoGame/Starcraft'' makes heavy use of this trope, with green tinted monitors, holograms, and nearly any exotic "energy" technology used by the Terrans primarily featuring bright green, to contrast with the [[HigherTechSpecies more advanced Protoss]] who get to have ''blue'' holograms and energy fields.

The computer monitor you're using to look at this page right now is most likely capable of showing over 16 million different colors, but far in the past, the first computers were only capable of showing two colors, one of them black. The other color varies depending on the model and the kind of phosphor used in the monitor, however, there's one clear winner on what color defines old computers, a color still synonymous with older tech and {{Cyberspace}} and all that jazz to this day, [[OurGraphicsWillSuckInTheFuture even when portraying the far future]]. [[green: Bright green.]] [[note]]Well, either that or amber, but that's not as common as bright green.[[/note]] This was because that was the phosphor color used by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_5151 IBM 5151 monitor]], supplied as standard with the original IBM Personal Computer in 1981.

Supertrope to MatrixRainingCode.

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* ''Film/TheMatrix'' and [[Franchise/TheMatrix all of its sequels and spin-offs]] are one of the reasons this trope is still remembered today, from [[MatrixRainingCode the iconic raining code of the opening]] to how scenes set inside the computerized world of the titular Matrix [[ColorWash are tinted green]].

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* Music/{{Kraftwerk}}: The cover illustration for ''Music/ComputerWorld'' depicts a PC monitor displaying yellow-green outlines of the band members' heads.

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[[AC:Video Games]]

** ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddysSisterLocation'': [=HandUnit=]'s display screen has black-and-green interface.

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* ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': The [=PipBoys=], which are a series of [[SuperWristGadget Super Wrist Gadgets]] utilized by the player, have been shown to use a green and black interface. However, not all of them adhere to this trope. For instance, the Pimp-Boy 3 Billion uses an orange and black interface instead, referencing the amber monitors that were also common with old computers, and matching it's solid gold exterior.

Even though [[TechnologyMarchesOn we're far past the era of monochrome computers,]] usage of bright green to represent computers isn't quite forgotten yet, thanks to this trope being used in works such as ''Franchise/TheMatrix''.