#trek tech

[stra-tek]

Schematics, cutaways and behind the scenes stuff on the U.S.S. Stargazer NCC-82893 from David Blass on Twitter and by Doug Drexler and others. Including bio-neural gel packs!

[macaronistarship]

I saw this post by @protectspock about a theory that 90s trek technology is actually indicative of the future because people will get tired of the constant stress of smart phones/social media etc. It was really cool and gave some examples of new tech that is similar to the star trek tech.

I was inspired so I decided to make a list of products you can actually buy right now if you're rich and want to live like it's 2399.

1. (Mentioned in the post) this line of typewriters connect to the cloud and your computer if you need. They allow you to avoid distractions while you write. ($500-$800 USD)

2. Remarkable. A tablet that feels and looks like paper. No social media, no back lighting. ($400 USD)

3. The Light Phone (also mentioned in the post). Stripped of most things smart phones offer/force upon us. You can call, text, listen to podcasts and music, tell the time, use a calculator, and set alarms. But not much else.( pre-order for $299 USD. Both US and International versions)

4. The Paper Shoot. It's a digital camera without a screen. You use interchangeable lenses and SD cards to take pictures on this tiny camera. It's supposed to mimic the disposable camera experience so you stay in the moment. You can buy different skins to go on top of the hardware. (Their camera sets, which include everything you need including the SD card, are between $150 and $250 USD)

5. Hybrid smartwatches that look like normal watches, AND/OR This cool smartwatch called The Moment with no screen that uses vibrations to communicate with you. (ranges from $50 to a couple hundred USD)

6. Alexa or other things like Echo. I would argue that the concept of Alexa is very “slow tech” and trekkie because there’s no screen and you have to communicate by thinking more deeply about your questions and needs, and teach Alexa how to communicate with you. Definitely reminds me of the ship’s computer on trek. You could even program her to respond to “computer, lights.” 

6. Slow Games. This one is cheating because I don't think these are for sale. Slow Games is a series of research/art projects done by Ishac Bertran and continued by Will Odom (and many others). The idea is that you work with games that are both physical and digital. And you can only make one move per day. It stops you from feeling instant gratification and keeps you thinking. Obviously the researchers explain it better. So go support them!

I love all of Will Odom's portfolio and would definitely recommend checking out his website (linked on his name above).

7. Philips Somneo Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light. This thing looks like it belongs in someone’s personal quarters on the Enterprise. ($170-$200 USD)

8. Kasina deep vision bundle / Muse Brain Sensing Headband-- the concept reminds me of what the captain of the Equinox uses to escape from his awful reality. It’s focused only on meditation and relaxation. ($300- 400 USD)

If anyone knows of any other slow technology/ trek tech let me know!! I love this whole concept.

[stra-tek]

The shuttlebay of the Strange New Worlds U.S.S. Enterprise EDIT: This might actually be an alien ship, per Anson Mount's comments

Has very similar struts to that on the Kelvin Universe version of the ship

[stra-tek]

A key location cutaway of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701

[themirrortribble]

From Science & Fantasy Film Classics (1978)  

[themirrortribble]

From Science & Fantasy Film Classics (1978)  

[plaidshirtjimkirk]

Hey, I've come across something i'm a bit confused by while writing a TOS oneshot, and I was wondering if you might know the answer? Basically, it's transporters - if the Enterprise was to dock on earth, would members of the crew be able to use the transporters to be 'dropped off' in different countries, or would they have to use other methods of transportation? I assume that the latter might be the case, but i'm not sure, and as TOS queen, I'm hoping you know? :D

omg okay lol i’m really excited about this question because i just finished writing something where transporter mechanics are a big driving factor in a subplot and because i’m a geek, i want to yell about beaming around. lol

in canon, we see people being beamed into places without transporter pads...they can rematerialize on planets or go site-to-site. technically, this means it’s possible for people to be beamed down to any place on earth capable of being scanned, and then back up.

from memory alpha:

A typical transport sequence began with a lock to coordinates, during which the destination was verified and programmed, via the targeting scanners. Obtaining or maintaining a transporter lock enables the transporter operator to know the subject's location, even in motion, allowing the beaming process to start more quickly. This is an essential safety precaution when a starship away team enters a potentially dangerous situation that would require an emergency beam-out.

A transporter lock was usually maintained by tracing the homing signal of a communicator or combadge. When there was a risk that such devices would be lost in the field or are otherwise unavailable, personnel could be implanted with a subcutaneous transponder before an away mission, to still provide a means to maintain a transporter lock. Alternatively, sensors could be used to scan for the bio-sign or energy signature of a subject, which could then be fed into the transporter's targeting scanner for a lock. [x]

detecting bio-signs was shaky business in ENT and the technology wasn’t used (if memory serves me correctly) in TOS episodes or the movies. in TOS, in order to be beamed from somewhere to the Enterprise, a crewmember needs to have a communicator, transponder, or homing beacon.

so, while the technology should make it possible by that definition, there are reasons why the transporter might not work. in TMP, they were having technical issues in the middle of being rectified, so Scotty took Jim over via shuttlecraft. in TFF, the crew is brought back to the ship via shuttlecraft because the Enterprise was once again under heavy maintenance.

ultimately, it’s up to you. lol if you want the characters to use a shuttlecraft, just blame the ship undergoing maintenance. it would make perfect sense if they’re docked at home.

sidenote! from a real world perspective, the transporter as we know it seems to be impossible physics. beaming from one place to an open environment somewhere and vice versa is tricky business because you need a frick ton of available particles to rematerialize at your destination--and a way to break down at the source without a transporter pad. that’s not to say that transporters are impossible technology because a photon has already been successfully beamed between two islands! If you’re interested in the quantum mechanics behind it, check out this part of this awesome video.

hope this helps!

[plaidshirtjimkirk]

It’s presented as very morbid, but it’s really not morbid at all. If that left you upset and uncomfortable, check this video out.