Spoilers What's the point of an android with...

[Angry Fanboy]

...a human body?

What's the point? Why would Starfleet want to create beings with positronic brains and human bodies in the first place?

Take all the physical durability, strength, speed, no need to sleep or eat and do away with that in favour of a comparatively frail human body as the vessel for this incredible computerised intelligence.

Why?

 

[Longinus]

What's the point? Why would Starfleet want to create beings with positronic brains and human bodies in the first place?

Take all the physical durability, strength, speed, no need to sleep or eat and do away with that in favour of a comparatively frail human body as the vessel for this incredible computerised intelligence.

Why?

Yeah I really don't get that either.

 

[thribs]

The idea is that, at the end, to put out minds into these androids. Hence why they look human.

 

[Hythlodeus]

edit

 

[The Old Mixer]

Edited the thread title to be less spoilery to anyone who sees it, which would include people out on the forums list page.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

...a human body?

What's the point? Why would Starfleet want to create beings with positronic brains and human bodies in the first place?

Take all the physical durability, strength, speed, no need to sleep or eat and do away with that in favour of a comparatively frail human body as the vessel for this incredible computerised intelligence.

Why?

They didn't take the speed away. Her fingers moved way too fast on the computer for a regular human. Who knows what else she'll be able to do in the end.

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

Well, Dahj definitely displayed having the speed, and probably strength of Data, but just showed as human. The advantage in this case is that she wouldn't be instantly recognized and detained/killed for being a synth. Or, at least, that's probably the idea.

 

[rahullak]

Sentient synths that look like humans are probably the first step. If they succeed, they could create sentient life forms of all different shapes and sizes. We're most familiar with humanoids as sentient, even in the Trek universe, so that's where they're choosing to begin. Seems like a logical step.

Also, we'd be more comfortable with synths that have at least some of our limitations. The issues with racial dominance we've seen in popular culture (Khan, X-Men etc.) spring to mind.

 

[Longinus]

Well, Dahj definitely displayed having the speed, and probably strength of Data, but just showed as human. The advantage in this case is that she wouldn't be instantly recognized and detained/killed for being a synth. Or, at least, that's probably the idea.

But how is that possible? Certainly Data has those qualities exactly because he is not made out of same stuff than humans? Or is this some sort of Terminator-style arrangement with biological outer layer?

 

[Qonundrum]

The idea is that, at the end, to put out minds into these androids. Hence why they look human.

Usually it's plopping a mind inside a complete android frame where there's no question about the efficacy of being stronger and more durable. So they're making a limited flesh and blood body with synthetic chips to lob inside, which contain minds? Ignoring numerous passages into the convoluted pointlessness of such an idea (which is why every other combination has been done in sci-fi except that*).

They seem to want it both ways - apart from the convoluted design, there's raw incredulity that even saying "the techobabble thingy induces a rush of adrenaline to give super-dee-duper strength"... forget it. Let's then pander to any notion her body was a genetic experiment on top of everything else (why not). Data would still pummel the likes of Khan just as easily as Data would knock over a rhino or jaguar. And if the premiere goes off the deep end contriving the 6502 CPU in her head it would have mentioned her body being the product of some experiments too.

* Let's say if they want to infiltrate and make super spies/killers with that are connected 24/7 like what BSG 2004/.Galactica 1980 had done, there's probably some limited potential in this frankensteiny venture. Especially if she is ultimately assimilated by the Borg. But they want it both ways, which doesn't work in this configuration. Human bodies aren't that super fast and super strong without the help of mechanics and electronics, period.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

Why make an emotion chip for Data? Why give him skin? Why give him programs related to sexuality? These questions about Dahj are just an extension of what the intentions were for Data, and I think our answers regarding Data apply to her, too.

 

[Qonundrum]

Why make an emotion chip for Data? Why give him skin? Why give him programs related to sexuality? These questions about Dahj are just an extension of what the intentions were for Data, and I think our answers regarding Data apply to her, too.

Good point. Why did the Borg give him skin? It's nice to see them experiment. Dr Soong, after creating Data to appease the colonists, would still want to make an expansion module- but without incurring the issues Lore had.

Why let Data perform sex acts? well, Dr Soong was alone and every mad scientist has neeeeeeeeeeeeeds... that and Gene Roddenberry, by the 1980s when he demanded Data being fully functional (along with Troi's triple feature cliche and other things that thankfully got vetoed) and remembered the androids of "I, Mudd" were also suggested (to Chekov) to do anything... doesn't mean those occasions were still anything less than embarrassing and heckle-worthy...

It's still impressive that so much strength from a biological critter can still be made - not merely twice the normal people a la Khan but super-duper strength. But she would be an interesting killing machine.

 

[ITDUDE]

“These are all very important questions, and perhaps I will find answers to them” - Picard

Name this episode! It was valid then and it’s valid on Picard

 

[The Old Mixer]

I wasn't under the impression that she necessarily had superhuman physical attributes (though I'm also not ruling it out at this point)...just that being activated gave her access to crazy fighting skills. "I know kung fu!" The aforementioned speed might be more about enhanced reaction time.

 

[BillJ]

I wasn't under the impression that she necessarily had superhuman physical attributes (though I'm also not ruling it out at this point)...just that being activated gave her access to crazy fighting skills. "I know kung fu!" The aforementioned speed might be more about enhanced reaction time.

Dahj made a crazy jump up multiple flights of stairs during the firefight on the roof.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Oh yeah.

 

[BillJ]

Oh yeah.

It does seem like a conflict. She has these crazy physical abilities, yet is supposedly human with a positronic brain. If I'm understanding what is going on correctly.

 

[The Old Mixer]

She knows Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon kung fu.

 

[WarpFactorZ]

...a human body?

What's the point? Why would Starfleet want to create beings with positronic brains and human bodies in the first place?

Take all the physical durability, strength, speed, no need to sleep or eat and do away with that in favour of a comparatively frail human body as the vessel for this incredible computerised intelligence.

Why?

Did you watch the episode? Did you see her jump about 50m to the stairs and beat the crap out of several armed assailants?

 

[Dukhat]

...a human body?

What's the point? Why would Starfleet want to create beings with positronic brains and human bodies in the first place?

Take all the physical durability, strength, speed, no need to sleep or eat and do away with that in favour of a comparatively frail human body as the vessel for this incredible computerised intelligence.

Why?

To play God?