Does the crew of Discovery understand 32nd technology due to being there a while?
- Thread starter Kristine
- Start date
They can fly Book's ship and their future shuttles just fine and their ship's been refitted to use 32nd century technology so it seems like they're up to date.
I always imagined that after the Discovery's upgrade into the Discovery-A, the crew underwent a crash course in her new systems. In a way, it wouldn't be too unlike all the times Starfleet crews in the past have boarded an alien vessel and quickly gained control of some of its otherwise unfamiliar systems, IMO. With 32nd-Century Starfleet technicians and engineers to help them, Discovery's crew probably mastered the vessel relatively quickly.
I believe most might only know how to work the equipment, versus knowing the details of the 32d century tech.
TOS suggested some sort of machine-mediated learning was in use in the 23rd century. One would expect advancements by the 32nd. They might have programmed the info directly into the crew.
Of course I expect they will contradict that if we ever see the Academy in the 32nd C.
Of course I expect they will contradict that if we ever see the Academy in the 32nd C.
Turns out the upcoming Starfleet Academy series is just a 10 minute Short Trek about cadets sitting in a chair, downloading all of their training, then going off for a drink and a game of dom-jot afterwards.
And they know kung-fu.
Better that than an AI teaching a bunch of cavemen how to fly 1000-year-old fighter jets in an inexplicably pristine condition so that they can fight the cabal of evil alien therapists that had created the AI in the first place.
Perhaps 32nd-century Starfleet technology is, by its very nature, easy to learn by many different species and cultures? So even a crew which comes from 900+ years ago would have little trouble learning it.
Lt. Willa did say that the new programmable matter stations on the Discovery would adapt to their users' preferences. So I think it's likely that 32nd-century tech is specifically designed to be easy to learn how to operate, no matter who's making the attempt. Hell, any one of US could probably learn it.
Lt. Willa did say that the new programmable matter stations on the Discovery would adapt to their users' preferences. So I think it's likely that 32nd-century tech is specifically designed to be easy to learn how to operate, no matter who's making the attempt. Hell, any one of US could probably learn it.
Between "Die Trying" and "Scavengers," there was a 3-week interval (story time, not real time) during which the ship was retrofitted with 32nd-century tech and the crew was brought up to speed on the advances. There was also a 5-month gap between seasons 3 and 4, during which they presumably furthered their education.
I don't get what this is a reference to.
I don't get what this is a reference to.
^ The Battlefield: Earth movie.
The battle scene in question:
Here's the Learning Machine, but this clip was about teaching the human slaves how to speak their alien master's language:
Perhaps 32nd-century Starfleet technology is, by its very nature, easy to learn by many different species and cultures? So even a crew which comes from 900+ years ago would have little trouble learning it.
Lt. Willa did say that the new programmable matter stations on the Discovery would adapt to their users' preferences. So I think it's likely that 32nd-century tech is specifically designed to be easy to learn how to operate, no matter who's making the attempt. Hell, any one of US could probably learn it.
I would expect so too. Being able to operate a technology and understanding all details about it are two different things.
In general, as technology gets more advanced and more universally adopted, it is designed to be easier to operate, and hide away most of their inner complexities from the average user. Computers these days are a lot easier to operate than they were back in the 50's (for the average computer user, at least). I'd also expect the engine of a modern car to be a lot easier to operate (again, for the average user) than the engines of the first experimental steam locomotives, even though they're a lot more advanced internally.
Of course, the story changes when you also have to be able to repair a device. Most modern-day average users can't and simply ship it off to a specialist, but you would need such people aboard most self-reliant starships.
Last edited:
Plus, people are adaptable, given time to learn new things. On the series Beforeigners, where people from the Stone Age, the Viking age and the 19th century start involuntarily showing up in modern-day Oslo, a lot of them adapt and, after a period of adjustment and training, get modern-day jobs. One of the protagonists is a former shield-maiden now serving as a police detective; the historical figure Tore Hund is a bike messenger, at least to start.
In the real world, the problem you describe is directly tied to the premise of how devices are DESIGNED in the first place.
In the current socio-economic system, technology is NOT designed to last for as long as possible (while being made from superior synthetic materials for example), nor is it designed to be easily repairable.
'Cost efficiency' is usually the driving factor in design, and of course, you don't get customer support.
The Way the fictional world of Trek and how UFP were portrayed was in the sense that repairability and modularity would be a given... as would be the fact that technology should be designed to last for as long as possible and even be self-maintaining if needed.
So, in some respects, Trek didn't really push the envelope either.
I can buy that our economy also encourages designs to not be easily repairable. (Creating a role for repairmen and additional revenues and such).
I wonder to what degree intricate modern day (e.g. electronic) devices could be designed to be easier to repair for laymen, tough.
I wonder to what degree intricate modern day (e.g. electronic) devices could be designed to be easier to repair for laymen, tough.
I think the crew would get a handle of 32nd Century technology because they were eased into it and they're not too old to pick it up.
Contrast that with Scotty in "Relics" who was old, set in his ways, wasn't willing to re-train ("I'm not 18. I can't start out like a raw cadet!"), and wasn't eased into anything because he just barged into Engineering acting as if he could pick up right where he left off. Then was in for a rude awakening when he found out he couldn't.
The crew of Discovery knew they had to learn a bunch of new technology, they were open to it, and Starfleet kept the inside of Discovery looking the same, down to the same interfaces, so the crew could have a smooth transition as they acclimated.
Contrast that with Scotty in "Relics" who was old, set in his ways, wasn't willing to re-train ("I'm not 18. I can't start out like a raw cadet!"), and wasn't eased into anything because he just barged into Engineering acting as if he could pick up right where he left off. Then was in for a rude awakening when he found out he couldn't.
The crew of Discovery knew they had to learn a bunch of new technology, they were open to it, and Starfleet kept the inside of Discovery looking the same, down to the same interfaces, so the crew could have a smooth transition as they acclimated.
Basically, they had choices and could make choices around them. Never underestimate the power of a sense of control in new circumstances.
On the other hand, Scotty also came up with the equation of Transwarp beaming in the late 24th century (which apparently went unused). We know this from Spock who gave the formula to younger Scotty in the Kelvin Timeline.
Similar threads
