No baggage/luggage in the 24th c?

[SchwEnt]

Just a thought I had, and yet was never really seen in practice in the series.

In TNG era, replicators are in widespread use.
If one is moving between locales with replicators, wouldn't that eliminate the need for luggage or baggage when traveling or moving?

Rather than a suitcase or bag full of possessions, just carry the replicator patterns on isolinear chip(s). Replicate stuff upon arrival at the destination.

Works when vacationing or moving residences, I would think (as long as there were replicators at the destination, which isn't too rare in the 24th c.)

Am I missing out on some details? Does this idea not work?

 

[sojourner]

Sentimental items would still be carried.

In the series I'm not sure if I recall any scenes that directly support. Did we ever see Wesley packing/unpacking when he came to visit?

 

[Harvey]

Didn't Wesley bring a bag onboard at some point when he returned to the series (perhaps "The Game" or "Journey's End?"). I seem to recall that happening; his Playmates action figure certainly came with such an accessory (weird that I remember that after all these years), although that could have been simply made up for the toy.

 

[Albertese]

No, you remember it right. And Picard had a similar bag in "Family." And Dr. Crusher had a box of her old crap brought up from storage someplace in the same episode. It was where she found the holodeck file her late husband made for Wesley. And Lwaxana Troy invariably beams up with luggage in the care of her valet.

So, yeah, while I think you're on to something, it does seem like some stuff is actually stored/transported around.

--Alex

 

[Mister_Atoz]

I think we also see Data packing a bag in 'Measure of a Man' when he is resigning from Starfleet.

I also recall that bags in those scenes seem ludicrously small, as in you'd probably have to use a stick to jam a uniform in there.

 

[Unicron]

Unless of course you're Lwaxana Troi.

 

[The Castellan]

Unless of course you're Lwaxana Troi.

Though one needs a 7 foot giant to move them.

 

[Verteron]

I think we also see Data packing a bag in 'Measure of a Man' when he is resigning from Starfleet.

I also recall that bags in those scenes seem ludicrously small, as in you'd probably have to use a stick to jam a uniform in there.

Uniforms aren't exactly sentimental items though, or indeed useful to keep around (given how often Starfleet changes them...), my guess would be that no-one actually maintains a wardrobe, and all clothes are replicated on demand on starships. Would explain some of the odd fashion choices at least...

Never seen a laundromat on the lower decks of the Enterprise, after all, unless the sonic shower also shakes the dirt out of your clothes.

 

[sojourner]

In the future I would hope they've perfected self cleaning clothes. Seeing as how materials are starting to hit the market that can do that now.

 

[Deks]

Well, I think that packing clothes will still be a regular function in the 24th century - albeit in a limited fashion seeing how there is no money and one can easily replicate materials.

But I do think that crew-members usually don't carry a lot of stuff in terms of clothing (except for items they might be fond of).
They can easily scan their entire wardrobe into the computer, then recycle them into energy, make a note on a ship/station they will report on (or a place they will stay at) that they did so and then just replicate new clothes upon arrival.
Though I think the more frequent practice is transportation.

It has been noted on more than one occasion that personal belongings for various ship-arrivals (guests, crew-members, etc.) were transported to a designated location (hence there's no need for bringing large bags - only 'hand luggage' which would be relatively small by comparison).

 

[T'Girl]

And Picard had a similar bag in "Family."

A couple of things. Picard was going to stay with his brother, whose house didn't possess a replicator. Also, Picard was considering leaving Starfleet, and the bag over his shoulder might have held his personal "knick-knacks."

 

[DS9forever]

http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Antigrav_suitcase

 

[Zaku]

Doctor Dalen Quaice, in "Remember me"

http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/s4/4x05/remember010.jpg

 

[Verteron]

Pretty small suitcase for moving permanently from one planet to another. I really think people tend to just keep a few sentimental items, rather than things that can easily be re-replicated!

I guess the biggest things you might ship would be sculptures and paintings, the crew of the Enterprise seem to collect these prodigiously, particularly Picard with his ancient relics... perhaps these would be rather harder to pack up -- although given the way he casually throws his "priceless" Kurlan naiskos across the room at the end of Generations to retrieve his photo album, maybe people really don't care!

Either that or it turned out to be a forgery

 

[Mister_Atoz]

Pretty small suitcase for moving permanently from one planet to another. I really think people tend to just keep a few sentimental items, rather than things that can easily be re-replicated!

I think that's the point they are trying to make, that humans in the 24th century would't feel the need or desire to carry around large suitcases filled with belongings. Much in the way that today, most of us don't take huge steamer trunks with us when we travel as people a century ago might do.

But since this is a tech-thread, maybe that thing Dr. Quace is carrying isn't a traditional suitcase at all, but some sort of "Replo-suitcase".

A person moving from one planet to another might have some of their possessions scanned into replicator patterns that can be stored in a data module the size of a small suitcase.

Or if you subscribe to theory that replicators don't simply create things from energy, but instead convert some kind of bulk matter into usable goods, then this replo-suitcase would store that matter. Travellers would have thier possessions converted into a bulk matter that can then be packed into a small suitcase, and have those possessions reassembled at their destination.

We don't really know how replicators effect 24th century economics. Just because humans don't use hard currency, it doesn't mean they don't have some sort of credit. It may be more economical (a.k.a cheaper) to just bring some things with you, rather than spend your pension credits or whatever replicating all new possessions.

Of course this is all speculation on my part.

 

[T'Girl]

Doctor Dalen Quaice, in "Remember me"

http://tng.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/s4/4x05/remember010.jpg

From the caduceus emblem on the case, perhaps it is Doctor Quaice's "little black bag?"

I seem to remember Chief O'Brien telling someone who had recently beamed aboard that their baggage had been brought aboard via cargo transport and delivered to their living quarters. Exact episode escapes me.

 

[Tomalak]

When we see a new crew member coming arriving, they always seem to have one of those little space duffel bags - Ro, Wesley, I think Dax and Bashir in Emissary - which presumably contain a few personal possessions. Anything larger would be beamed up via the cargo bays and delivered to their room. I doubt they travel around with a large wardrobe - what would be the point? They don't need any kind of household goods or furnishings. They don't have large physical libraries of books, music or films, just a few items of sentimental value.

Think about when you move house - most of the stuff is furniture, kitchen stuff, books, films, CDs and clothes. Your average Starfleet officer doesn't need any of that.