'Jump In!' director shares 9 things fans probably never knew about the classic Disney movie

11 famous actors who got their start in Disney Channel original movies

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"Smart House" depicts a computer system that turns against the family it's supposed to assist.</li><li>Giants like Google and Amazon have since brought that smart tech to life with products like Alexa.</li></ul><p>Disney's "Smart House" debuted in 1999, well before the ubiquity of computers and smartphones (the phrase "electronic mail" and dial-up internet are actually referenced in the film), and became another <keyword id="11897679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="disney-channel" source="Orion">Disney Channel</keyword> movie cemented in the hearts of Millennials.</p><p>Pat - short for Personal Applied Technology - is the computer running the home. She can disappear debris on the ground through "floor absorbers" and project anything the occupants wish in a virtual reality room, a nod to the short story "The Veldt," a 1950 cautionary tale about <keyword id="12278812" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="smart-technology" source="Orion">smart technology</keyword> upon which the movie is loosely based.</p><div type="image" title="smart house" height="1392" width="1856" msid="86893427" hostid="261"></div><p>Two decades later, and that generation is well into adulthood, inundated with real-life smart technology that's ours for the taking.</p><p>Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri, Google Assistant, and other 21st century giants have brought much of the technology depicted in "Smart House" to life. But that same technology and the companies that create it have also posed new issues, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-lawsuit-contact-tracing-technology-apple-2021-4">such as privacy problems</a> - and developing tech without anticipating the monster it can become.</p><p>"Smart House" co-writer <a href="https://profiles.ucr.edu/app/home/profile/skrieger">Stu Krieger</a> worked on 11 Disney Channel movies, including "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century. He's now a professor in the theater department at the University of California Riverside. He spoke to Insider about how he helped write then-futuristic tech into the beloved DCOM.</p><p>"What were those things as a kid that would have been absolutely amazing, so the screens in the bedrooms and voice commands and all those things," Krieger said. He had to "get back into my 10-year-old, 12-year-old head and what would I have wanted and then start to think about what might be a technological or iteration of that fantasy."</p><h2>'I'm sorry. I can't do that, Nick'</h2><div type="image" title="smart house" height="1498" width="1998" msid="86893430" hostid="261"></div><p>Pat can track the family constantly<em>,</em> which the father, Nick, is hesitant about from the get-go.</p><p>"That's kinda creepy, isn't it? I mean, it's like Big Brother is watching you," he says to the home's creator.</p><p>But the problems really start when Pat taps into her artificial intelligence capability. </p><p>Ben, the son mourning his late mother, sneakily feeds traditional, 50s-era material into Pat's system, and she ditches her smart assistant role for an overbearing, increasingly controlling presence. Krieger said he wrote that in with 50s sitcoms of his childhood, which depicted stereotypical motherly figures, in mind.</p><p>"If you Googled how to become a mom, where would you go?" Krieger said.</p><p>We see those capabilities modern-day, like with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-gpt-3-language-generation-model-important-breakthrough-2020-7">Elon Musk-backed OpenAI's GPT-3 model</a> or an <keyword id="11899182" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ai" source="Orion">AI</keyword> model that <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/david-attenborough-fake-ai-voice-reads-reddit-posts-2020-8">studied recordings of English broadcaster David Attenborough's voice</a> and mimicked it.</p><p>Once Pat overrides her system being shut down, she traps the family inside the house, refusing to open the door as Nick requests.</p><p>"I'm sorry. I can't do that, Nick," Pat answers, a nod to HAL 9000's infamous line in "2001: A Space Odyssey," another beloved Sci-Fi movie about a computer system gone rogue. It's only after Ben feeds Pat a new data point, that she could never truly be his mother given her virtual nature, that she stands down.</p><p>The movie has a much happier ending (the house doesn't team up with the children to kill the parents like what's implied in "The Veldt") but it poses an interesting question: can we tame the technology we create?</p><p>Krieger, a self-described "technophobe" who said he has reluctantly come to own smart TVs and an Amazon Alexa, still said there's hope.</p><p>"I do think that evolution will have its glitches and will have its bumps, but I do ultimately believe in its ability to work things out and become more positive than negative," Krieger said.</p>

22 years after Disney's 'Smart House' premiered, the movie's co-writer says the tech will always have 'glitches' and 'bumps' but won't be a total disaster

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57471151dd089538578b4a16-1440-810/mgid-ao-image-mtv (1).jpeg" alt="zenon disney channel" data-mce-source="Disney Channel" /><p class="source"><span>Disney Channel</span></p><p class="caption">Raven-Symoné in "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century."</p></div><p></p></div></div>Bryan Cranston, most famous for his role as a meth dealer on "Breaking Bad," may not seem like a likely Disney star, but the actor played the lead character in a 2001 Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM).</p><p>He wasn't the first big name to pop up on the channel.</p><p>With the premiere of "Under Wraps" in 1997, Disney Channel began its era of original movies. Nearly 20 years later, 99 DCOMs have aired, including "Brink!," "Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century," and "Halloweentown."</p><p>In honor of "Adventures in Babysitting," which will be the 100th DCOM when it premieres on June 24, Disney Channel is going to air all of its original movies, starting with a four-day marathon of the 51 most popular ones over <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/20/disney-channel-memorial-day-schedule-dcom" target="_blank">Memorial Day weekend</a>.</p><p>Disney movies have been the launching block for many A-list celebrities, though not all of them made it big right away. And in some cases, actors already had prolific careers before starring in a DCOM.</p><p>Here are 21 celebs (and a bonus one!) that appeared in DCOMs over the years:</p>

From Bryan Cranston to Brie Larson - here are 21 celebrities that were in Disney Channel Original Movies

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/563749189dd7ccfc418bb51c-3264-2448/5857709536_478abb025e_o.jpg" alt="cut in hallf" data-mce-source="FlickrCC/TaxRebate.org.uk" data-link="https://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/5857709536/in/photolist-9VChY1-9vkJvd-9tPvRJ-88iq3F-9vhENR-bENErm-9tPcWQ-bTHpVg-9vh4zv-erfdyW-9tP3uq-bTHqDz-dMUU7F-awymaV-8QqGG-9tPzmo-3K1M3f-yhN2zz-29hYMw-9tPe6j-9vkbB7-9vhPmn-8g5TPN-e4dUhA-9tNXHC-3P1Ser-au3iUA-kNHY-eYKTD5-tSM7v-9vh9er-9vkbLQ-9vkaof-9vkFZE-9vh9ZV-9vkL1Y-9vkKzh-9vhoMD-7xEgz8-9UPLf9-9vkEZ7-9vhGii-9vkFTY-9vkKhy-9vh6tt-9vhQhP-9tPMob-7GLbNG-9uwFdD-9uwF8v" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/59937401@N07/5857709536/in/photolist-9VChY1-9vkJvd-9tPvRJ-88iq3F-9vhENR-bENErm-9tPcWQ-bTHpVg-9vh4zv-erfdyW-9tP3uq-bTHqDz-dMUU7F-awymaV-8QqGG-9tPzmo-3K1M3f-yhN2zz-29hYMw-9tPe6j-9vkbB7-9vhPmn-8g5TPN-e4dUhA-9tNXHC-3P1Ser-au3iUA-kNHY-eYKTD5-tSM7v-9vh9er-9vkbLQ-9vkaof-9vkFZE-9vh9ZV-9vkL1Y-9vkKzh-9vhoMD-7xEgz8-9UPLf9-9vkEZ7-9vhGii-9vkFTY-9vkKhy-9vh6tt-9vhQhP-9tPMob-7GLbNG-9uwFdD-9uwF8v">FlickrCC/TaxRebate.org.uk</a></span></p><p class="caption">The editor of one tech website says ad blocking has sliced its revenue in half.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The editor of <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/">Guru3D.com</a>, a Netherlands-based tech news and reviews website focused on interactive entertainment and PC hardware, has urged readers to turn off ad blockers after discovering that ad blocking has sliced its ad revenue by 50%.</p><p>In <a href="http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/the-devastating-effect-of-ad-blockers-for-guru3d-com.html">a post entitled "The Devastating Effect [sic] of Ad-blockers for Guru3D.com,"</a> editor Hilbert Hagedoom said while its internal data shows traffic to the website remains the same year-on-year (~4.5 million page views,) there is a "huge discrepancy" in its Google Analytics and DoubleClick for Publishers analytics.</p><p>Whereas a year ago, Google Analytics/DoubleClick showed the site was serving up to 400,000 page views per day, one year later it is registering just over 200,000 daily page views. </p><p>Hagedoom writes: "After some further investigation, the direct effect [sic] of the on-going trend of ad-blockers is resulting into halving our revenues / registered pageviews. Over the past year we have seen our income literally halfed [sic] as a direct result of active ad-blocking. Everybody can understand that long term this is not sustainable anymore, right now ad-blockers are a true danger for our existence."</p><p>The number of consumers using ad blocking software worldwide increased 41% year-on-year to 198 million monthly active users, <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/pagefair-and-adobe-2015-ad-blocking-report-2015-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">according to a report published in August from PageFair and Adobe.</a> Ad blocking has become a growing problem and many publications are trying to tackle the issue using methods ranging from <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/former-google-exec-launches-sourcepoint-with-10-million-series-a-funding-2015-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">employing "ad blocker blocker"</a> software, to <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewzeitlin/the-washington-post-begins-blocking-ad-blockers#.ajqyR4l8RN">preventing visitors from viewing content if they have an ad blocker switched on</a>.</p><p>Guru3D.com, meanwhile, is encouraging users to start white-listing its domain within their ad blockers. It pledges not to serve "intrusive" ads like "popdowns/popups and takeovers," and will instead only serve "common ads," targeted to readers' interests around PC gaming and hardware.</p><p>Hagedoom writes: "Please, seriously please start white-listing the Guru3D.com domain in your ad-blockers as slowly but steadily the effect of ad-blocking is choking and killing us. If you like to read Guru3D.com now and in the future, please give this serious request consideration."</p><p>A number of comments below the post suggest many users have followed the request and white-listed the website.</p><p>Hagedoom adds that if ad blocker users "absolutely, unequivocally" refuse to disable their blocking software, they might consider donating to the site to help support its costs, which include covering the bills for staff, workspace, inventory, electricity, test equipment, servers, bandwidth, and other costs associated with hosting the website. He suggests an appropriate price might be "50 cents to 1 buck a month."</p><p>Much of the discussion around the rise of ad blocking has suggested that while websites with huge scale and cash reserves might be able to ride out the storm, <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/pinknews-founder-warns-ad-blockers-could-kill-off-niche-sites-a3092356.html">it might be the smaller, niche sites that suffer the most.</a></p><p>But even the web's biggest players are not immune from the ad blockers. The world's most popular YouTube star (in terms of subscribers) <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/pewdiepie-says-ad-blockers-led-to-youtube-red-2015-10">PewDiePie said last week he was losing 40% of his potential revenue to ad blocker users and that ad blockers forced YouTube to launch its new paid-for service, YouTube Red.</a> </p><p>YouTube owner Google is among the tech giants that <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/google-microsoft-amazon-taboola-pay-adblock-plus-to-stop-blocking-their-ads-2015-2?r=US&amp;IR=T">pays the owner of Adblock Plus huge, multi-million dollar fees, to get on the ad blocker's "Acceptable Ads List"</a> and have its ads unblocked.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-people-love-pewdiepie-2015-10">Teens tell us why they love PewDiePie - the biggest YouTube star in the world</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="JjMmhoeDpJVnmXPX7DbJOmmEGg5X-aRB" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'JjMmhoeDpJVnmXPX7DbJOmmEGg5X-aRB',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

The editor of one tech site says ad blocking has 'halved' its advertising revenue

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5630d8519dd7cc1a008c53b4-2667-2000/gettyimages-459681640 (1).jpg" alt="black friday" data-mce-source="Rob Stothard/Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Rob Stothard/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Amazon has kicked off its Black Friday sales three weeks early.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Good morning. Here's everything you need to know in the world of <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword> today.</p><p><strong>1. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/zeta-interactive-acquires-ebay-enterprise-crm-division-2015-11">Zeta Interactive, which was cofounded by former Apple CEO John Sculley, has acquired eBay Enterprise's CRM business.</a></strong> The deal was worth in the region of $80 million to $90 million, people familiar with the matter told Business Insider.</p><p><strong>2. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/copa90-on-taking-on-espn-and-why-tv-rights-are-the-least-valuable-part-of-soccer-2015-11">The CEO of the soccer-focused YouTube channel Copa90 told us how it's planning to take on ESPN to become "the next global football network."</a> </strong>Copa90 plans to have a bigger presence at the World Cup than the BBC or ESPN thanks to its global network of correspondents.</p><p><strong>3. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-reportedly-cancels-plans-to-open-retail-store-in-new-york-city-2015-11">Google has canceled plans to open its first store in New York City.</a></strong> It had spent $6 million on renovations.</p><p><strong>4. <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/groupm-in-talks-to-acquire-essence-digital-1446492533">WPP's GroupM is in talks to acquire London-based agency Essence Digital, The Wall Street Journal reports.</a></strong> Essence's clients include Google, Visa, and The Financial Times.</p><p><strong>5. <a href="http://adexchanger.com/ad-exchange-news/google-is-beta-testing-its-answer-to-header-bidding-called-dfp-first-look/">Google is beta testing its answer to header bidding, AdExchanger reports.</a></strong> DoubleClick for Publishers First Look will allow publishers to acquire high-value ad impressions before reserved inventory in their ad server.</p><p><strong>6. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/editor-of-guru3dcom-says-ad-blocking-is-halving-the-sites-digital-revenue-2015-11">The editor of one tech site says ad blocking has cut its advertising revenue in half.</a></strong> Guru3D.com, a tech news and reviews website, has urged readers to turn off their ad blockers or start paying a subscription.</p><p><strong>7. <a href="http://digiday.com/platforms/snapchat-discover-publishers-ask-ad-sale-flexibility-sources-say/">Snapchat is in talks with publishers to ramp up ads on its Discover section, Digiday reports.</a></strong> One person with knowledge of the conversations taking place said Snapchat has shown a willingness to expand the number of sponsorships it allows on media channels.</p><p><strong>8. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/grantland-chris-connelly-why-grantland-was-shut-down-2015-11">ESPN killed off its sports and pop culture website Grantland on Friday.</a></strong> Chris Connelly, the site's interim editor-in-chief, said the site wasn't making any money at a time when ESPN was tightening its budget.</p><p><strong>9. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-starts-black-friday-early-2015-11">Amazon has kicked off its Black Friday sales three weeks in advance.</a></strong> The retailer launched an online store showcasing its deals, which includes promotions like 30% off a 55-inch Sony flat screen TV.</p><p><strong>10. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/snapchat-privacy-policy-private-photos-stories-2015-11">Snapchat is trying to clear up a major "misunderstanding" about its new privacy policy.</a></strong> The company published a blog post denying that it is storing users' private photos indefinitely, after a change to its privacy policy last week caused people to freak out over its alleged implications.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-new-c919-passenger-plane-boeing-airbus-comac-travel-2015-11">China's first large passenger plane aims to compete with Airbus and Boeing</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="tlNG9reDqr401cF4O9OtLD_cJuQaHdAn" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'tlNG9reDqr401cF4O9OtLD_cJuQaHdAn',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "dcom" and got 6 results

'Jump In!' director shares 9 things fans probably never knew about the classic Disney movie

Rachael Ellenbogen

11 famous actors who got their start in Disney Channel original movies

Madison Vanderberg

22 years after Disney's 'Smart House' premiered, the movie's co-writer says the tech will always have 'glitches' and 'bumps' but won't be a total disaster

Katie Canales

From Bryan Cranston to Brie Larson - here are 21 celebrities that were in Disney Channel Original Movies

Anjelica Oswald

The editor of one tech site says ad blocking has 'halved' its advertising revenue

Lara O'Reilly

The 10 things in advertising you need to know today

Lara O'Reilly