A Holodeck Question...

[Start Wreck]

My own question about holodecks is the question of "safetys"

If they have such a thing how did quark get the back of his head smashed in by Rom swinging the baseball bat?

Why turn them off just to practice baseball? Makes no sense to me.

If you turned on a system that modified the effect of hitting an object, you'd be modifying the physics of the environment, and therefore possibly the realism of the simulation. The bats were probably real (replicated) anyway, which makes them rather more difficult to make 'safe'. How far can you take it? Can you not drown yourself in a bowl of water on the holodeck? There must be levels of safety. There isn't just 'safe' and 'unsafe'. The user would select the appropriate setting for the program they're running, and anything especially dangerous would need security clearance for the computer to simulate it (weapons, etc.).

 

[Captain MAJ]

In "Encounter at Farpoint," Wesley falls in a river in the holodeck and when he walks out into the corridor he is soaking wet. I always thought that was strange. The water must be replicated. In fact, I think most objects on the holodeck (food, drink,...people) are replicated in the same way as food, uniforms, weapons, etc outside the holodeck. But there is also the explanation that everything is just "photons and forcefields." Maybe it's best not to think about it...

 

[Canuck69]

The interesting discussion about the actual scientific plausibility of the holodeck aside, I believe Canuck69 was asking is there canonical basis for her story idea.

From one fanfiction author to another, the answer is yes. The second season episode "Elementary, Dear Data" gives you a clear canonical basis for having two or more people on a holodeck using the same program while seemingly located in two different places. Go for it!

Once you finish the story and post it, I'd appreciate it if you would PM me with the url. You've piqued my curiosity and I'd love to read it.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

Thank you for your encouragement and enthusiasm. I would be happy to provide you with a link if I ever finish the story. However, I feel an obligation to warn you that you may not like the pairing

 

[Myasishchev]

The holodeck is probably the most ludicrous bit of technology in all of Trek IMO.

You're just supposed to accept that it works, without getting too caught up in how.

It would have to take a far second place to the transporter.

I disagree.

Transporting matter from one place to the other is a question of physics, and one that can easily be accepted.

The holodeck is totally ridiculous in its execution, including the 'treadmill' effect. Puhlease. Obviously there isn't a better way of explaining how the holodeck works, as I said it's best not to think about it.

Transporting matter isn't hard. Ripping it apart at (at least) a molecular level, shooting it at high relativistic speeds, and putting it back together with no receiving equipment at the other end, is hard to the point of basically being impossible.

Here's a holodeck question: where's the online gaming?

 

[Nardpuncher]

^^ That's true. All the equipment on board the ship with all the technobabble is fine, but what about when the person gets put back together on the planet?!!??!

 

[Timo]

I would't sweat that part. It could be argued that the person has been forced into some sort of otherspace by the machinery in the starting place, and will pop out of there when the effect wears out, at some distance from the starting place.

The hard part would be the reverse: how does one dematerialize the person into this otherspace and push him towards the ship when there's no machinery at the starting point? A "suction" effect is more difficult to believe in than a "pushing" effect.

Unless the physics of the situation allow the reversing of causality somehow. There are some aspects to transporting that might suggest this is indeed the case...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Shazam!]

If you crammed a thousand people into a tiny holodeck so that they're all touching each other and can't move and then created the illusion of a desert would they be able spread out?

 

[Timo]

The holodeck tries to please the user, without stopping to ask awkward questions. So in theory, it could take half those people and raise them above the heads of the other half, giving more elbow room. Or seamlessly transport them to another holodeck, as transporters are likely to be employed in any holosimulation to some degree anyway.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Nardpuncher]

The holodeck tries to please the user, without stopping to ask awkward questions. So in theory, it could take half those people and raise them above the heads of the other half, giving more elbow room. Or seamlessly transport them to another holodeck, as transporters are likely to be employed in any holosimulation to some degree anyway.

Timo Saloniemi

I think the holodeck would say at this point: "Nice try jerks! Now get out!"

 

[Whoa Nellie]

Thank you for your encouragement and enthusiasm.

You're very welcome. I was half afraid all the talk about the actual scientific plausibility of the holodeck might scare off a good plot bunny. My co-author and I do research things for our stories, however when it comes to the Star Trek technology (holodecks, transporters and such) the attitude is -- if TPTB can get away with doing it so can we. If I can hang my hat on a canon reference I go for it.

I would be happy to provide you with a link if I ever finish the story.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

And I fully understand about finishing, I've got one that has been languishing for a month that I really need to work on.

However, I feel an obligation to warn you that you may not like the pairing

Duly warned.

Actually, pairings don't bother me. I'll read any pairing (well maybe not a Neelix pairing ). No one but me really writes my preferred pairing so I have to read other pairings.

Warmest Wishes
Whoa Nellie

 

[Myasishchev]

I'd like to see Neelix pared. Like an apple.