W.O.P.R. // REAL-WOPR PROJECT
Each module makes a falsifiable claim about what 1983 could build.
| Module | Feasible in ~1983 | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1. WOPR game/sim core | Yes (engine); learning is dramatized | High |
| 2. Communications | Yes | High |
| 3. Execution/bridge contract | Yes (logically); process model modern | Medium |
| 4. Data storage | Yes (function); tech choice debatable | High |
| 5. Joshua conversation | No — modern substitution | High |
| 6. Surfaces | Yes (terminals); big board specialized | High / Medium |
HOW TO READ A CLAIM
Each module below uses the same structure:
- Claim — a one-sentence, falsifiable assertion about period feasibility.
- Period basis — the real hardware/software/standards it rests on.
- What was achievable then — what a 1980s engineer could actually have built.
- What we approximate — where real-wopr diverges from the period, and why.
- Confidence — High / Medium / Low, with the main uncertainty.
- Open questions for veterans — where we most want expert input.
The reference window is roughly 1979–1983 (WarGames released June 1983).