At the start of the chess game we hear a commentator saying:
"Gentlemen, if you take your places, the tournament can begin.
Pawn to Queen's four."
In algebraic chess notation 'Queen's four' is referred to as square D4 - but on the green computer screen, as this move is announced, a 'P'(for Pawn) is shown at E4 which is on the King's file.
In algebraic chess notation 'Queen's four' is referred to as square D4 - but on the green computer screen, as this move is announced, a 'P'(for Pawn) is shown at E4 which is on the King's file.
There are many chess-related errors. One was the large display chess board when we meet the computer, Jason. The Black Queen and King are on the wrong coloured squares. The Queen goes on her own colour.
The previous error on the display board was rectified during the match with the Soviet player, but the shot of the live pieces still had the error. Black castles to the left if he is castelling Kingside, not to the right as in the movie.
The opening chess move is P-Q4, clearly evident on the actual chess board and the repeater board on the wall. It is also said aloud by the computer operator. The computer screen text also shows the first move as P-Q4. However, the computer's board layout shows P-K4 (e2-e4).
When entering the parameters into JCN to search for names starting with AS we see on the screen the programmer has entered *AS*. This is wrong, there should not have been an asterisk at the beginning of the parameter as it will now search for names containing AS anywhere in the name. The correct parameter would have been AS*, searching only for variables after the first given 2 letters.
The tape drives associated with the JASON computer have bright seven segment red LED displays showing a four digit value. Such displays were not available at the time.
Max says that the water in the lungs of the victim found in the swimming pool was not chlorinated, but contained fluoride. Fred Thursday immediately exclaims "tap water!"
Two problems with this. Fluoridation in the UK was first piloted in the mid-60s, around the time that this is set, but only by certain water authorities, and Oxfordshire was not one of them. Also, the swimming pool would in any case have been filled with water from the mains supply, with or without fluoride.