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Did Knight Rider Influence Your Career Choice?

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:10 am
by FuzzieDice
For those that have jobs (or even those who are still in school but decided what they'll want to do in life), has Knight Rider influenced your career choice? Are you planning on or are you already doing something that is similar to one of the jobs in Knight Rider (ie. police work, law, computer programming, automotive, etc.)?

Before I even got into Knight Rider I was into cars and computers. Now I'm doing web design and programming. But I think Knight Rider kinda spurred me on in the computer dept. :)

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:18 am
by KnightCrusader99
Actually I can say that Knight Rider did have a role on what I wanted to do with my life, and writing an essay about Wilton Knight got me into Transylvania University. I wanted to go to school for Computer Science, and if I went on to graduate school, I would do Artificial Intellegence. I was really focused on this for a long time, but I came to the realization that I couldn't do it by myself, so I went on to my current passion... business information systems.

But I am sure KR did have an effect on me to get invloved in the computer field, and I do want to put a fully functional computer in my car and make it practical for anyone, but I don't think I would ever get to create an AI for it.

-Steve

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:30 am
by HondaSiR
When I was in 2nd or 3rd year high school, I remember painting a picture of KITT (using craypas and crayons) on a large piece of white cardboard paper and entering it in a school library display contest. When I entered college, I took up Fine Arts for one semester but shifted to Sports Education after that. I wouldn't say that Knight Rider influenced my choice for higher learning but it was still a big interest for me as a hobbyist/collector of toys.

In my opinion, no matter what course in college a person takes now, it always has something to do with computers. From nurses...doctors...to engineers as well as IT specialists. During the early 80's when Knight Rider debuted, computer classes were rare in my country because only big offices had personal computers (IBM, Commodore and Apple were the dominant brands then). But things have changed significantly since then, probably all schools nowadays have classes related to computer use. Not to mention that almost every household now has a personal computer or two.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:32 am
by Army_F_Body
I was in miltary intelligence like Michael :)

However, KR had no role in that.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:43 am
by Michael Pajaro
It had a very direct impact on me. While Knight Rider was on the air, I would go to the library trying to find articles about the show. It started out just looking for celebrity profiles in People Magazine for example, but then I started researching the business and behind-the-scenes side of things. The more I knew about what was going on at NBC, the better I could understand what was happening with my favorite show.

I stayed interested in the business and behind-the-scenes aspects of television production, and became a Broadcast Systems Engineer. I basically design TV studios, theaters, editing suites, etc. It may not sound like a job related to the plots of Knight Rider, but it was absolutely that show that put me on my career path.

I shoulda been a dentist instead. :)

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:18 am
by sarfraz
Definitely had an impact on my career path. I've spent the last five years reading for a degree in Mechanical Engineering with Automotive design. My thesis also cheekly was about the aerodynamics of KITT's front nose....though I doubt my professors realised it was KITT and just assumed it was a Trans AM :lol: I am currently in the mechanical engineering feild and working towards getting a role within a car company.

Sarfraz

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:33 am
by Knight Girl
I became a first grade teacher so I don't think KR had a influence but it has in other areas not just my occupation.









Becky

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:00 pm
by FuzzieDice
This is all really neat how KR had an affect on people's lives. :)

HondaSiR: I remember before KR was on TV, when I was like 15 I was already typing in Eliza (a simple so-called "Artificial Intelligence" program which wasn't really all that AI, but interesting) and modifying it. I had got a book on AI from Radio Shack and was laughed out of my computer class in high school (yes, I took computers but missed most classes, came back and passed the test anyway :) because I believed computers COULD think! They stopped laughing when I actually diagnosed a problem with their computer (they laughed at me again, they always do that) and then when the computer came back the teacher announced to the whole class I was RIGHT about the problem with the computer (video chip was blown). The stares I got from the class right after the announcement was priceless. ;)

Originally I aspired to be a musician but the music teacher thought I was more suited for computers. I guess I got a reputation back then but wasn't one of the "Wiz Kids" though.

Maybe it was my background that got me stuck on Knight Rider and just further anchored things.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:45 pm
by Michael Pajaro
Oh, one other thing... I've had to design a few integrated control systems for theaters and screening rooms. The main control panel has a series of red LEDs that give the status of all the devices for the room. In every system I design, I put in an Easter Egg where if you punch in the right sequence of buttons, 8 LEDs will strobe back and forth like KITT's scanner. :)

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 3:05 pm
by KRAvengerII
Michael Pajaro wrote:It had a very direct impact on me. While Knight Rider was on the air, I would go to the library trying to find articles about the show. It started out just looking for celebrity profiles in People Magazine for example, but then I started researching the business and behind-the-scenes side of things. The more I knew about what was going on at NBC, the better I could understand what was happening with my favorite show.

I stayed interested in the business and behind-the-scenes aspects of television production, and became a Broadcast Systems Engineer. I basically design TV studios, theaters, editing suites, etc. It may not sound like a job related to the plots of Knight Rider, but it was absolutely that show that put me on my career path.

I shoulda been a dentist instead. :)
You know, i always wondered what You did Mike; ever since i've "known" you, You seemed really tied into the industry.

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 6:27 pm
by FuzzieDice
Michael Pajaro wrote:Oh, one other thing... I've had to design a few integrated control systems for theaters and screening rooms. The main control panel has a series of red LEDs that give the status of all the devices for the room. In every system I design, I put in an Easter Egg where if you punch in the right sequence of buttons, 8 LEDs will strobe back and forth like KITT's scanner. :)
Cool! :) Now all you got to do is make the sound effect to go with it. :)

Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 5:29 am
by kywolverine708
Never really thought about it, untill this thread. But, in my job in Law Enforcement the cruiser i drive is alot like KITT it has computer screens, buttons for RED?BLUE lights and sirens. It has a PA system. I guess the radio I talk into from the car and my walkie is kind of like the comlink LOL. The only thing I need now is a few hundred more mph from the engine, T-tops and of course william daniels voice coming from the dash.

I knew I always wanted to be a cop even though Michael was not. Knight Rider was the only "Law Enforcement " show I watched untill In the Heat of the Night. So I guess it was a basis for my decision

Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:28 pm
by FuzzieDice
Michael WAS a cop, until he got shot by Tonya then rescued by Wilton Knight. So you did follow in Michael's footsteps at the least. :)

Yeah, come to think of it, police cruisers around here have a lot of that stuff too, but the cops still write on paper and do "paperwork" in the car nonetheless. :) I am on good terms with our local police and have needed them a couple of times for things (unfortunately) so that is how I know. They are a good crew here right now. And cool to see they have laptop computers and such for their cars. Now if their cars could be computer-navigated so they would be safer in traffic. Luckily I'm in a small town so that's not too big a concern. :)

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 12:56 am
by rusti_knight
Well...seeing as how I'm a vet tech, which doesn't really have much to do with cars, computers or anything, I can't say that KR influenced my career choice all that much.

Oh, and Mike? if you want to try your hand at dentistry, the next bad dog mouth I have to clean, you can come pull the teeth for me. :)

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:41 am
by HondaSiR
rusti_knight wrote:Well...seeing as how I'm a vet tech, which doesn't really have much to do with cars, computers or anything, I can't say that KR influenced my career choice all that much.
I remember the episodes wherein KITT was parked somewhere and a dog would come out from nowhere and try to pee at KITT's tires. On more than one occasion, KITT was able to scare the dog away by growling or making a monstrous sound. But in one instance, the dog couldn't be intimidated and he continued peeing on KITT's tire. KITT could have left the area, or tried to run over the hapless mutt. But no, even KITT had a soft heart for animals...he let the dog pee away...and I kind of liked that. Perhaps the writer or producers of the show wanted to show a soft side for KITT and Knight Rider. Or probably the episode was for the animal lovers out there...or future veterinarians among the viewers. :)

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 2:44 pm
by Michael Pajaro
rusti_knight wrote:Oh, and Mike? if you want to try your hand at dentistry, the next bad dog mouth I have to clean, you can come pull the teeth for me. :)

Hmmm... I just wanted to play around with the X-ray machine! Hadn't thought about the rest of it. (On behalf of my cat, thank you for having a noble job like that!)

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:13 pm
by FuzzieDice
It would be impossible for KITT to run a living creature over on purpose because he is supposed to not be able to use lethal force. :)

Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:25 pm
by CB2001
Well, I'm not really sure if "Knight Rider" has influenced my choices in a career. But, I tend to think that if I hadn't had seen "Knight Rider" that some of the stuff I've come up with (for my original stories) may have never come to mind (for example, shooting a movie with identical twins playing the same character and cutting filming time down).

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 5:01 pm
by brownblazer77
In my fourth grade classroom, back in 1983, our assignment was to stand up in front of class and explain what we were going to be when we grew up.

I wanted to be Michael Knight so bad, that I'd wear my black wind breaker year round under the California Sun, despite adult attempts to get me to take it off at times...

So, there I was, standing in front of the class in my black wind breaker...

"I'm going to work for FLAG!" I said. The response was laughter from the class.
"Well," The teacher said. "That is a very... Noble job."

Ultimately, I attended college as a journalism major... 30 years old, and I'm still not there... But, I've always had a black car!

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 5:55 pm
by rusti_knight
Michael Pajaro wrote:Hmmm... I just wanted to play around with the X-ray machine! Hadn't thought about the rest of it. (On behalf of my cat, thank you for having a noble job like that!)
We have one of those dental x-ray units now. It's quite interesting, though I'm not sure our insurance would let you piddle with it. And while I'm not sure I'd call my job noble, thanks anyhow!

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 5:58 pm
by rusti_knight
HondaSiR wrote:
rusti_knight wrote:Well...seeing as how I'm a vet tech, which doesn't really have much to do with cars, computers or anything, I can't say that KR influenced my career choice all that much.
I remember the episodes wherein KITT was parked somewhere and a dog would come out from nowhere and try to pee at KITT's tires. On more than one occasion, KITT was able to scare the dog away by growling or making a monstrous sound. But in one instance, the dog couldn't be intimidated and he continued peeing on KITT's tire. KITT could have left the area, or tried to run over the hapless mutt. But no, even KITT had a soft heart for animals...he let the dog pee away...and I kind of liked that. Perhaps the writer or producers of the show wanted to show a soft side for KITT and Knight Rider. Or probably the episode was for the animal lovers out there...or future veterinarians among the viewers. :)
I dunno, if I see a dog peeing on my truck tires I tend to go out and fuss up a storm at the person letting them do it, or chase them off with a good stomp in their direction. There are trees for that. ;P

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:51 pm
by knightshade
FuzzieDice wrote:It would be impossible for KITT to run a living creature over on purpose because he is supposed to not be able to use lethal force. :)
I think he specifically couldn't harm a human. I don't know that it specifically prohibited harming animals (because then you'd have to get into what animals -- I'm sure he killed a lot of bugs in his windshield :D ). But then again, in KR2K, Devon was a bit put off by the fact that KIFT was ready to mow down a deer because he wouldn't be damaged by it.

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 9:48 pm
by TurbomanKnight
knightshade wrote: But then again, in KR2K, Devon was a bit put off by the fact that KIFT was ready to mow down a deer because he wouldn't be damaged by it.

I thought that was really funny, because its a way to remember KARR 10 years later.

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:14 pm
by FuzzieDice
brownblazer77 wrote:
So, there I was, standing in front of the class in my black wind breaker...

"I'm going to work for FLAG!" I said. The response was laughter from the class.
"Well," The teacher said. "That is a very... Noble job."

Ultimately, I attended college as a journalism major... 30 years old, and I'm still not there... But, I've always had a black car!
Hey, I was into computers for years and years and nearly gave up until this past summer when I finally got self-employed doing computer work. I'm 38 already. You're never too old...

As for a black car, I've always wanted a black car. So this summer I painted my car black and got it officially changed as such on the title and registration. The first black car I owned (it used to be Dark Navy Blue). I even named the car "Kitt".

Who knows, you could have even founded a F.L.A.G. yourself. People laugh at things but then they stop laughing when that person excells despite all the put-downs and laughter. 8)

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 10:17 pm
by FuzzieDice
rusti_knight wrote:We have one of those dental x-ray units now. It's quite interesting, though I'm not sure our insurance would let you piddle with it. And while I'm not sure I'd call my job noble, thanks anyhow!
I have a question... how do you get the x-ray film in an animal's mouth without them eating it? :lol: Or do they do it differently than they do with people? :)