It was Cabrera, who said that he did indeed develop particular sequences for particular tasks, so that it would be consistent. He also said that every time he saw those sequences on playback while doing ADR work, until right up close before the launch, the holograms had never been added yet, so he had no idea what the finished product was going to look like, it was always just tape of him jabbing away at thin air!
Or at least reduce the transparency enough to make them a bit more easily viewable. Why strain your eyes needlessly?? Not only that, but the displays ought to be fully 3d - not least because of Future Dax's comment in DS9 "The Visitor", but also simply because we've had decades of the productions trying to depict somewhat 3d viewscreen communications; so regressing to flat commpics on these interfaces is a bit... dumb. Plus, a more 3d interface could offer substantially better ergonomics easily tailored to a variety of species, and a lot more functionality - consider what Tony Stark does with his holo displays in the Marvel movies, for example.
They serve the dramatic purpose of letting us, the viewers, see the character's expressions in response to what they are looking at in the air, while also being able to see what they are looking at. Kor
This is the biggest reason why I dislike it in PIC. The MCU takes place in current times but they already have these floating transparent screens. PIC takes place way farther in the future but there using the same thing. Like you said, it just feels like generic sci-fi. If they have holodeck technology, and EMH, wouldn't data and info come in three dimensional, non-transparent tactile forms?
It also gave us that great scene where Picard pulls up the picture of Locutus and it lines up perfectly with his face. To him it’s like seeing his reflection and the audience got the same view and emotional impact as it did on him.
Opacity can usually be adjusted. I personally really like it. I want to work with displays like this.
Sigh...the image of Locutus is flopped from his perspective, so this shot is hampered by having a backwards image. Maybe they didn't think the audience would realize it was Locutus if the implants were on his left side. http://tng.trekcore.com/hd/albums/3x26/the_best_of_both_worlds_part1_hd_570.jpg
Looking back, the TOS films weren't very futuristic in terms of displays. They were very comparable to big screens, and regular TV screens. It wasn't a big deal back then because there was only so much sci-fi and fantasy out there on TV and in the cinema. Now though, fantasy is EVERYWHERE, from science fiction, to video games, to superhero films. So it's hard to one up the display situation. There's only so much futuristic stuff they can do till it becomes to unrelatable.
https://intl.startrek.com/article/a-day-on-the-discovery-sets Read a bit down the page, the screens on Discovery are actual transparent TV sets which are supposed to be going on market soon.
Which is why I like the holograms. I think it will become realty. And, I want Star Trek to frame within our future and not just some far off fantasy world.
That article is 3 years old, here is the latest form of the transparent screen technology: https://www.dezeen.com/2020/08/15/xiaomi-transparent-tv-mi-tv-lux/
transparent digital displays have been possible since nixie tubes came about in the 1950's but they were almost always given a backplane or housing, partly due to the nature of their use, and partly so they could be seen better. I like the hard coded buttons and levers on the Meyer ST filkms, where the controls looked like they did something and were build to withstand abuse. But considering how often consoles explode in Star Trek (they really need to talk to their capacitor supplier), maybe holographic displays aren't such a bad idea.
No to mention the people that also fill the ship with rocks.... I mean who puts all those rocks in the ceilings and walls?
Either: - Cheapo Contractors or - Enemies have weapons that launch projectiles at StarShips with ALOT of rocks filled in them as part of the War-head =D