Greatest Invention in the Franchise...

[Farscape One]

I don't know if this subject has ever come up, but I am in the middle of a spanish only meeting and it got me thinking about how I REALLY need a Universal Translator. And that, in turn, made me think of the wonderful inventions I have come to know since I was a kid and still wishing I had some of them.

STAR TREK has shown us some awesome inventions, right from the pilot to today. I wondered what invention everyone here thinks is the greatest. You can even list multiple.

For me, it's actually a fairly difficult choice between 3 things... universal translator, replicator, and transporter.

1. Universal Translator - I actually might lean toward this, because I am absolutely terrible with languages outside of english. This would make my current life much easier. And when you think about it, a LOT of problems in the world would be mitigated or solved if language was not a barrier... when understanding is made easier, solutions can come faster.

2. Replicator - You will never run out of your favorite food. Or most things, for that matter.

3. Transporter - You can virtually never be late for anything, and go anywhere in the world instantly. Especially helps because gas is SO DAMNED EXPENSIVE!


What say you all? Temba, his arms open.

 

[1001001]

Moving to Trek Tech

 

[Shazam!]

It's the holodeck, obviously.

 

[Farscape One]

Moving to Trek Tech

Oh, thank you. Been on this site for years, and I wasn't even aware this section existed. I can see the subject fitting here better.

(I am very bad when it comes to computers and sites and such. Sometimes, to quote Captain Varley, "I feel like a caveman confronted with a tricorder.")

 

[Unicron]

I've actually come to consider the UT one of my least favorite inventions in the franchise, personally. Replicators at least seem more plausible as an extension of existing technology (transporters) but cause their own problem on a large scale of use.

 

[publiusr]

I like the little bracelet the Eyemorg had in “Spock’s Brain:” not as nasty as the Tantalus device… or that awful device Sunad used in TNG’s “transfigurations” which hit the whole Enterprise crew with a Force-choke….or the Kelvin Rojan and his block maker.

No…the Eyemorg could send a whole riot mob to sleep.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'd say the greatest invention in Trek is warp drive. Without it, there would be no trekking among the stars, and it's even possible that other amazing inventions associated with interstellar travel probably wouldn't come to pass either.

 

[Henoch]

I have warp drive as first, and the transporter as two. (Then phasers! )

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I have warp drive as first, and the transporter as two. (Then phasers! )

I'd probably have:
1) Warp Drive & M/A-M reactors as first (They're inter-related technologies)
2) Transporters & Replicators (Also inter-related technologies)
3) Shields & Phasers (Offense / Defense)

 

[shapeshifter]

Warp drive, the transporter then the replicator.

 

[flandry84]

I’ll take an EMH.
The way I’ve been feeling lately....

 

[Sgt_G]

Warp drive (or some sort of FTL drive). Anything and everything else is a distant second. You don't *NEED* transporters (use shuttles) or replicators or most of the other things mentioned. You do need some sort of space weaponry, of course, even if basic missiles, but technically you don't need shields (do want something defensive, if only armor plates).

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Warp drive (or some sort of FTL drive). Anything and everything else is a distant second. You don't *NEED* transporters (use shuttles) or replicators or most of the other things mentioned. You do need some sort of space weaponry, of course, even if basic missiles, but technically you don't need shields (do want something defensive, if only armor plates).

You're technically right.

You can't explore the Stars & visit Strange New Worlds without FTL (Warp Drive).

Everything else is a nice to have, after (Warp Drive).

 

[Summer Solstice]

Warp drive because being able to explore the galaxy would be incredible. Star Trek medical technology because it would save so many lives and improve the quality of so many people's lives but I can't really narrow that down to one invention.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Replicator. Life would be instantly so much different, not all for the best (imagine crazies replicating weapons, suicidal teens boxes of paracetamol, jealous partners replicating knives etc) but hunger: gone. Scarcity: gone.

 

[Disposable_Ensign]

1. Universal Translator - I actually might lean toward this, because I am absolutely terrible with languages outside of english. This would make my current life much easier. And when you think about it, a LOT of problems in the world would be mitigated or solved if language was not a barrier... when understanding is made easier, solutions can come faster.

From what I can understand (more clear in some of the books) is that the UT is based on universal grammar ... which is now disproven by the Pirahã language. So it wouldn't really work that well.

Replicator. Life would be instantly so much different, not all for the best (imagine crazies replicating weapons, suicidal teens boxes of paracetamol, jealous partners replicating knives etc) but hunger: gone. Scarcity: gone.

Scarcity: still around. The replicators just take existing molecules and rearrange them.

Probably:
1. The Warp Drive (obviously)
2. Transporters
3. Shields

 

[F. King Daniel]

Scarcity: still around. The replicators just take existing molecules and rearrange them.

As Discovery made explicit, it's literally their shit. So there will be plenty for everyone.

 

[Disposable_Ensign]

As Discovery made explicit, it's literally their shit. So there will be plenty for everyone.

As far as I'm concerned DIS is an alternate universe. TOS (and the TOS novels) seem to say they harvest these things and don't try to break down their own crap.

 

[F. King Daniel]

As far as I'm concerned DIS is an alternate universe. TOS (and the TOS novels) seem to say they harvest these things and don't try to break down their own crap.

ENT was first to reference poop becoming boots with their primative proto-replicators.

 

[blssdwlf]

Did TOS even have replicators? They had food synthesizers, IIRC...