Reference to 'Elmer' in Contact

[Michael Mel]

In the scene in the movie Contact where Ellie has just discovered the
message, she kisses the screen and says "Thank you, Elmer". Later, when the
machine is being tested, Dr. Drummond is giving an interview and in
reference to the dummy they strap into the chair inside the machine, he says
"who we lovingly call Elmer".

What is the significance of Elmer???

Thanks

[a...@execulink.com]

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Elmer was the nickname given one of the computers by Ellie. Later on,
Drummond used the name for the 'crash test dummy' they were using for
the trial run of the machine. Typically, Drummond took everything out of
the hands of Ellie and acted as though the entire project was his, right
down the using the name 'Elmer'.
Angela--in sweltering and humid Ontario, Canada!

[Michael Mel]

I know that. In fact, my post says that. My real question is whether or not
there is some significance to the name 'Elmer' that I missed? Like, is it
the name of some famous astronomer, physicist, or ???

<a...@execulink.com> wrote in message news:37A46A...@execulink.com...

> Michael Mel wrote:
> >
> > In the scene in the movie Contact where Ellie has just discovered the
> > message, she kisses the screen and says "Thank you, Elmer". Later, when
the
> > machine is being tested, Dr. Drummond is giving an interview and in
> > reference to the dummy they strap into the chair inside the machine, he
says
> > "who we lovingly call Elmer".
> >
> > What is the significance of Elmer???

[Robert Dickinson]

Actually Elmer is a sort of acronym (can't remember exactly what it stands
for) but it is a system used by radio astronomers to verify the source of a
signal, therefore discounting fakes etc.

Hope this helps

Robert
Michael Mel <mm...@iname.com> wrote in message
news:Qy1p3.8448$xv3....@news.rdc2.occa.home.com...

[Robert Dickinson]

Opps made a mistake.

Elmer is not the acronym but its FUDD (as in Elmer Fudd the cartoon
character). The FUDD is the important bit. So that's why its called Elmer.

Robert

Robert Dickinson <rob...@turin29.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7o29kp$33v$1...@news8.svr.pol.co.uk...

[brad....@gmail.com]

It's called a Follow Up Detection Device.

[Dale Chatham]

On Sunday, February 14, 2016 at 6:15:10 PM UTC-6, brad....@gmail.com wrote:
> It's called a Follow Up Detection Device.

Ellie Arroway was a Ham Radio operator. Ann Druyan was an Amateur Radio operator. In the Amateur Radio world "Elmer" is a nickname for the person who mentored into Amateur radio. "Elmer" shows up a number of times in the movie. It is highly unlikely that Ann Druyan was referring to the more esoteric explanations given.