Pulpsnoogans

Given the fact that all the people of Zion are running around in rags, and have rudimentary technology. Whats with the pristine uniforms and sterile environment in the Traffic Controller's room.

and even though the city of Zion had technology at some level, it was more of rust belt technology, whereas in the control room has stuff from Minority Report (without the gloves).

Mopower

They are in a computer simulation of a controller room. After you see the white room with the controls the next scene shows the same people sitting in chairs plugged into the system like when they are plugged into the Matrix.

nelsed

OK... so why are they in a 'construct' for controlling zion?? What's the point of that???

Mopower

Because it would be a cool looking scene to add to the movie.

trigun

I assume they were in the "Zion mainframe" that the Agents wanted access to so badly in M1. If the Agents could get into that control room, they could open the gates to Zion and flood in.

Spiky

Zion itself is close to the core of the Earth. It HAS to have some rudimentary-seeming machines to take care of the place. Did you look at the engineering room? We don't have technology like that today. The sophisticated water treatment pointed out by the Councilman, etc. It just looks rusty and archaic because of the reality of the situation.

Reminds me of Star Wars, where the whole population of the galaxy has access to high technology. But on a planet like Tatooine, your clothes and stuff look like crap and you have more basic technology just to survive the harsh climate and the lack of wealth inherent to such a place.

Also, they are at war in The Matrix. Military is where the money (or whatever) goes.

Surf Monkey

Bingo!