I hadn't picked up that the addition of Donna was what overloaded it. I assumed it was just an "over time" thing. Hence why the Doctor was summoned to the library at that point to help.
The RAM/Hard-Drive thing I interpretted as being that while they were stored on the hard-drive, but in order to be restored to physical life, would had to be processed in RAM of which CAL didn't have enough.
Alternatively, the gods of flange may have been involved somewhere.
Going back a thread or so, I think you're right that this requires an awareness of parallel universe SF, whether the cyberpunk virtual realities of the late 80s/90s, or its precursors in Philip K. Dick or Alfred Bester. Dad, I sure, had neither on his shelves. Modern 'casual' viewers would be likely to be literate in this kind of set up through films like 'The Matrix' (which of course Mum will not have seen) or the various Gibson/Dick adaptations.
no subject
The RAM/Hard-Drive thing I interpretted as being that while they were stored on the hard-drive, but in order to be restored to physical life, would had to be processed in RAM of which CAL didn't have enough.
Alternatively, the gods of flange may have been involved somewhere.
Going back a thread or so, I think you're right that this requires an awareness of parallel universe SF, whether the cyberpunk virtual realities of the late 80s/90s, or its precursors in Philip K. Dick or Alfred Bester. Dad, I sure, had neither on his shelves. Modern 'casual' viewers would be likely to be literate in this kind of set up through films like 'The Matrix' (which of course Mum will not have seen) or the various Gibson/Dick adaptations.