David Kano (Space: 1999)

David Kano
Space: 1999 character
Clifton Jones as Computer Operative David Kano
Portrayed by	Clifton Jones
Information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Moonbase Alpha
Rank	Computer Specialist, Third in Command
Section	Main Mission
Date of birth	1966
Date of death	2000?
Home planet	Earth

David Kano is a fictional character who regularly appeared during the first season of the science fiction television series Space: 1999. He is of Jamaican origin and in his mid-thirties. He was played by actor Clifton Jones.

As part of the Moonbase Alpha senior staff and head of the Technical Section, David Kano was the resident computer expert on Moonbase. It was said to owe his expertise to his parents, both of whom were computer programmers.

Prior to his position on Alpha, Kano was one of several volunteer test subjects on Earth to receive an experimental cybernetic implant that would enable the human brain to interface with a computer, taking advantage of its vast memory and calculating speed. Kano was the only subject not to be rendered permanently brain damaged by the experiment. He retains the access port from this programme in the right occipital area of his skull.

Kano had an almost symbiotic relationship with Alpha's Main Computer, which was curiously programmed with a female voice. He also referred to the computer as 'Computer' instead of "the computer" as though it were a name. He also habitually referred to Computer as 'she' or 'her'. Kano was invaluable to Commander Koenig as the person who had the ability to ask Computer the right questions and was privy to confidential computer output before everyone else. Kano's faith in computers in general was unshakable and he would tout human error over computer error every time.

Well liked among the Alphans, Kano was an easygoing person who got along well with fellow key staff. While typically addressed as 'Kano', Paul Morrow was one of the few to address him by given name, indicating that the two probably knew each other for some time. While not socially inept, Kano preferred to spend most of his time with Computer, often playing chess with her. He could occasionally be seen playing chess with his fellow Alphans when seeking 'a real game' as he beat Computer every time.

The episode "Missing Link" marks a notable instance where Kano lost his temper and harshly reprimands a junior staff member who accidentally spills coffee on him. Morrow also almost comes to blows with Kano over what he perceives as Kano's unnecessary harsh treatment of said junior staff member. However, everyone at this time is overly stressed due to Commander Koenig's being on the brink of death due to events in that episode. These harsh exchanges were promptly forgotten when Koenig recovered.