Borg collective consciousness

[USS Excelsior]

I'm a bit unclear as if the entire collective is hooked up to one hive mind or seperately on individual ships only.

The queen claims she can hear the thoughts from other ships, so maybe that's the case.

 

[Deks]

From what I got to know of the Borg from watching the show, I'd say they are all connected to a single hive mind.
However, I think some preventive measures can be taken to minimize potential threats that are introduced into the collective.
For example ... if the Borg are fast enough, they could disengage a faulty cube/individual from the hive mind before that cube spreads a potential virus or something else through the hive.

 

[Timo]

Obviously, mere distance isn't a hindrance, as in "Unimatrix Zero" extremely distant Borg units could be contacted in real time.

However, there's probably some sort of software hindrance to constant and complete sharing of thoughts across the entire Collective, as even the Queen seems to suffer from a slight delay in accessing specific pieces of information. (Or perhaps the Queen is handicapped in this respect, as she is designed for a degree of individuality?)

There certainly exists the option of cutting off specific parts of the Collective temporarily or permanently, for protection or for detached missions. The humblest Drones seem to come well provisioned for such situations, only very slowly succumbing to "homesickness", and usually being shown effortlessly readapting to the Collective when communications are re-established. Since the Drones manage well in emergencies, one might suspect they could also practice some sort of semi-isolation during the normal course of matters.

But the connection isn't a simple, homogeneous setup. While a bunch of Drones can link up with each other without need for external hardware, we know the individual ships have the Vinculum device of "Infinite Regress" fame to facilitate the shipwide connection. There may be other hierarchial levels above and below that, too, and multiple backups for all sorts of contingencies.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[stupidname]

It is also questionable as to whether or not the borg ships themselves are included as part of the consciousness. It might be expected that the borg should be able to control their ships through thought alone, but this clearly isn't the case. Computer interfaces are very much necessary on borg ships and suggests that there is absolutely no connection between the hive mind and the ships themselves...

 

[Deks]

It is also questionable as to whether or not the borg ships themselves are included as part of the consciousness. It might be expected that the borg should be able to control their ships through thought alone, but this clearly isn't the case. Computer interfaces are very much necessary on borg ships and suggests that there is absolutely no connection between the hive mind and the ships themselves...

Well actually, the Queen seems to be able to will the technology at her disposal with nothing but a thought.
She seems to be capable of wireless.
I would surmise that while they are regenerating, the Borg would have access to the ship itself and willing it to do whatever it is they want.
That much is evident really from 'Q, Who?' when the Borg were regenerating in their alcoves and were willing the ship to regenerate itself in the process.
Also, it's a matter of perspective.
If the Borg are separated from the Collective and are confronted with a new environment, they will eventually adapt to that environment and who knows what kinds of new improvements will come with that adaptation

 

[STIntergalactic]

I always thought of the Borg collective as being like a great big message board that your mind is always connected to. All your thoughts get posted, and anybody else can read them (as long as they're registered/assimilated.)

 

[drasche]

I always thought of the Borg collective as being like a great big message board that your mind is always connected to. All your thoughts get posted, and anybody else can read them (as long as they're registered/assimilated.)

That inspires me a wide range of ideas...