In "Brothers", how did Data...

[Ghrakh]

...take over the Enterprise command functions by imitating Picard's voice? We often hear, for example, "Computer, where is Lt. Worf?" then the computer replies "Lt. Worf is in cargo bay 3". So since the computer can tell where everyone is at any given time, shouldn't it have known that it couldn't have been Picard giving those orders, and that it should have known they were being given by Data?

 

[Mojochi]

Perhaps the subsystem that controls the command code voice authorization interface is not linked to the one that calls up locations

Besides, doesn't the computer locate people from their combadge signal? In which case, it could have been fooled by having Data swipe Picard's badge

 

[od0_ital]

I don't remember Data askin' the computer to locate Picard before imitatin' his voice.

The computer can only do what its asked to do, it doesn't think on its own. It was bein' given Picard's authorization in Picard's voice, that's all it needed.

 

[Timo]

The computer can only do what its asked to do, it doesn't think on its own.

I wouldn't count on that. Many a time, our heroes query the computer on some fact, and the computer provides them with a completely different, more relevant fact that propels the story along - just like a sapient librarian or expert would do when queried.

Now, the computer may not be allowed to think too freely. But one would expect Starfleet to tell its computers to always look for doppelgängers, especially in relation to attempts to access secure functions. The computer would not have the permission to act freely when discovering a doubled person (say, annihilate the one it finds the less credible of the two), but it would have the authority to become suspicious when running into dubious twins.

In general, the computer doesn't act much on the basis of tracking the crew. Say, it may be perfectly aware that Worf has abandoned his commbadge and beamed over to a Klingon ship to commit a murder, but it doesn't alert the rest of the crew to this fact unless specifically asked. But that's just basic civil rights: the tracking data would only be acted upon if it directly concerned a security issue, not when it merely affects a personal matter such as visiting a fellow officer's cabin, going to have a bath, or exacting some blood vengeance.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[RegFan]

The computer can only do what its asked to do, it doesn't think on its own.

I wouldn't count on that. Many a time, our heroes query the computer on some fact, and the computer provides them with a completely different, more relevant fact that propels the story along - just like a sapient librarian or expert would do when queried.

It also requires some AI to understand the requests made by people on the holodeck. For example, Data was playing Sherlock Holmes on the holodeck in one episode and because he had memorized all the novels, he always knew the identity of the murderer. Geordi then told the computer to create "a Sherlock Holmes type mystery" (or some other words to that effect). Would a non-AI computer be capable of doing that? Not to mention the universal translator. It's not a computer, but it never confuses words with an identical pronuncation but with two entirely different meanings that depend on the context.

 

[indolover]

it was voice activated command sequence.

It must have monitored Picard's vocal inflections/tone/pitch and obviously Data got it to a tee.

 

[Snaploud]

The location tracker is based upon communicator signals. Communicators would be one of the first things to be removed if a hostile force were to take over the ship, and that's precisely the sort of situation in a which a voice activated command sequence would be most needed (in which the captain has escaped his cell briefly, needs to halt his captor's ability to use the ship for nefarious ends, and has not yet regained use of his personal communicator). As such, I think it's reasonable to have the two technologies be entirely separate.

In fact, I would find it extremely odd to have one's personal communicator be required for a captain to gain access to a ship's systems. Communicators get lost, destroyed, captured, etc. A captain would also likely remove his communicator to prevent tracking by a hostile group (after the ship has been taken over).

 

[Ghrakh]

I don't remember Data askin' the computer to locate Picard before imitatin' his voice.

Well, Picard, from engineering, asked the computer for Data's location, which happened prior to Data taking over command functions.

it was voice activated command sequence.

It must have monitored Picard's vocal inflections/tone/pitch and obviously Data got it to a tee.

Well, a tape recorder can do that today , and vocal synthesis tech has come a long way already...

I agree with Timo and RegFan regarding the computer has some AI in evidence, but in this episode it's as dumb as a doorknob, especially given that the ship was taken over!

In fact, I would find it extremely odd to have one's personal communicator be required for a captain to gain access to a ship's systems.

I'm not so sure...immediately after Data isolated command functions to the bridge, the computer denied the real Picard of giving the computer any orders, and he still had his communicator.

 

[Genesis Does]

It was the huge lock code


"1 - 7 - 3 - 4 - 6 - 7 - 3 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 7 - 6 - Charlie - 3 - 2 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 7 - 7 - 7 - 6 - 4 - 3 - Tango - 7 - 3 - 2 - Victor - 7 - 3 - 1 - 1 - 7 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 7 - 3 - 2 - 4 - 7 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 7 - 6 - 4 - 3 - 7 - 6 - Lock."



that locked everyone out, not just Picard's voice.

 

[Mojochi]

I don't remember Data askin' the computer to locate Picard before imitatin' his voice.

Well, Picard, from engineering, asked the computer for Data's location, which happened prior to Data taking over command functions.

it was voice activated command sequence.

It must have monitored Picard's vocal inflections/tone/pitch and obviously Data got it to a tee.

Well, a tape recorder can do that today , and vocal synthesis tech has come a long way already...

I agree with Timo and RegFan regarding the computer has some AI in evidence, but in this episode it's as dumb as a doorknob, especially given that the ship was taken over!

In fact, I would find it extremely odd to have one's personal communicator be required for a captain to gain access to a ship's systems.

I'm not so sure...immediately after Data isolated command functions to the bridge, the computer denied the real Picard of giving the computer any orders, and he still had his communicator.

From the point at which command access had been isolated to the bridge, the computer did not need to know where Picard was. All it needed to know was that command requests were being made from an unauthorized location

By the way, I imagine a whole lot of new security measures were put in place, after this incident, but what you've suggested is that Picard should have been locatable, based on his locator signal, which emanates from his communicator, which Data could have stolen, just as easily

Frankily, Data & Lore are the most dangerous non-omnipotent entities in the Trek universe, imo. I would have liked seeing a full arc with Lore & the defunct Borg. That could have been a monumental threat to the entire Federation, especially with Data being included in that mix

 

[Crewman47]

I suppose if Starfleet had a Bioreader on input terminals as a security measure then that would mean that commands can only be given on verification of both voice and bio reading.

Why wouldn't this be common practice abouard a Starship?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Data taking over the ship in "Brothers" is one of my favorite TNG sequences - someone finally woke up and acknowledged just how potentially unstoppable he is.

 

[Alrik]

....In fact, I would find it extremely odd to have one's personal communicator be required for a captain to gain access to a ship's systems. Communicators get lost, destroyed, captured, etc. A captain would also likely remove his communicator to prevent tracking by a hostile group (after the ship has been taken over).

Interesting point. I can't remember, did Riker tap his comm badge before he locked out the main computer in 'Rascals'?

 

[Snaploud]

I suppose if Starfleet had a Bioreader on input terminals as a security measure then that would mean that commands can only be given on verification of both voice and bio reading.

Why wouldn't this be common practice abouard a Starship?

Some possibilities:

1) Captains may need to transfer or lock command from a remote location (in which a bioreading is not possible)

2) Bioreaders can be damaged during an emergency.

3) A medical emergency could theoretically cause problems for bioreader readings. An invader could anticipate this weakness and launch an attack specifically designed to alter the bioreadings of the command crew (thereby preventing them from locking out command).