No watches in Trek?

Discussion in 'Star Trek - The Original & Animated Series' started by MarsWeeps, May 3, 2014.

  1. MarsWeeps

    MarsWeeps Fleet Captain Premium Member

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    One of the things I always wondered was how did people tell time in Star Trek? I know there was a chronometer at the helm/navigation console on the Enterprise but how did individuals tell time?

    For example, if landing parties were supposed to report in every hour, how did they know when an hour went by? Or when the villain of the week gave Kirk "2 hours to comply or you will be destroyed."

    Did they have timepieces implanted in their head?

    I think ST:VI finally put a clock on the bridge but I always wondered why nobody ever wore a watch.
     
  2. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    Everybody had cellphones in their pockets!
     
  3. HIjol

    HIjol Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Everybody had Sulu's voice in their head, either counting down or counting up... ;)
     
  4. Gov Kodos

    Gov Kodos Admiral Admiral

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    Time release underarm deodorant. They could tell time by the smell.
     
  5. KirkPicard

    KirkPicard Captain Captain

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    Admiral Kirk and his wrist communicator/watch from TWOK.
    [​IMG]
     
  6. Commishsleer

    Commishsleer Commodore Commodore

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    I don't think the landing parties ever got a chance to report in before they got into trouble.

    Besides they had their tricorders. which I assume held the ship time amongst other functions.

    How nice of the enemy anyway to give execution time in Earth time. :)
     
  7. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    They have an app on their communicators. I haven't worn a watch in decades. My phone is my watch.
     
  8. MarsWeeps

    MarsWeeps Fleet Captain Premium Member

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    There was nothing in TOS to support that a communicator was also a watch.

    People just KNEW what time it was. I suppose Roddenberry thought watches would be obsolete in the future for some reason.
     
  9. MarsWeeps

    MarsWeeps Fleet Captain Premium Member

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    One scene in a movie only makes it more of a mystery. If he had a watch here, how did he tell time in all the other episodes and movies?
     
  10. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

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    It is sort of becoming that way today with more and more people using their phones as clocks.

    In Trek, there's probably a clock on every instrument panel or monitor screen somewhere. Tricorders could also serve that purpose in the field like today's phones increasingly are.
     
  11. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    There's also no evidence to support it doesn't. How many times do aliens give a landing party a time limit, as opposed to the crew on the bridge?
     
  12. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    Nah, it was Majel's voice . . . :)
     
  13. T'Girl

    T'Girl Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Dr. Crusher was wearing a wrist watch in at least one episode.

    Okay Gates forgot to take it off in her dressing room, but it's canon now that Crusher sometimes wears a watch.

    :)
     
  14. Push The Button

    Push The Button Commodore Commodore

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    Spock had a precision timepiece...in his head, apparently.

    Kirk: Spock, how long has it been?
    Spock: Eight hours, thirty-seven minutes.
     
  15. The Old Mixer

    The Old Mixer Mih ssim, mih ssim, nam, daed si Xim. Moderator

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    Did the wristwatch in TWOK also function as a communicator? I recall them using handheld communicators in that one.

    In any case, I wouldn't take Kirk's watch as an indicator that they're still common in that period. He's looking at the watch with his vintage reading glasses...TWOK established his love of antiques. He had antique clocks in his apartment, wearing an antique watch would go along with that.
     
  16. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Scotty has a nice wrist communicator in Star Trek and Into Darkness. I'm not sure if it tells the time though...

    (watch when Kirk and Spock enter the transporter room to beam to the Narada in ST'09 for a good shot of it)
     
  17. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    I confess I've struggled with this when writing the books. When Kirk is leading a landing party and there's a specific deadline involved, how does he keep track of the time?

    "We have exactly twenty minutes before the planet implodes. Rendezvous back at the shuttle in ten minutes. Let's synchronize our . . . never mind."
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2014
  18. Ro_Laren

    Ro_Laren Commodore Commodore

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    My cell phone could never replace my watch!
     
  19. Jonas Grumby

    Jonas Grumby Vice Admiral Admiral

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    ^ Mine, neither.

    I mean, it can, in a pinch. But there's no way digging a phone out of my pocket and opening the flip-top to check the time can compete with just glancing at my wrist. :D
     
  20. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    Ditto. I rely on my wristwatch and land lines. I almost never carry my cell phone, except when travelling out of town. And maybe you can check the time with my phone, but I wouldn't have a clue how to do that.

    Truth be told, I know how to turn it on and make phone calls, but that's about it. :)