Helm / Navigation Station console evolution

[jefferiestubes8]

The Helm & Navigation stations' design has evolved quite a bit since TOS.
TOS Bridge, helm and main viewscreen

a model of Helm / Navigation Stations in TOS

These days everything is so modern and runs on computers with flatscreen LCD panels that things look very different.
I came up with some good comparisons here:
console design evolution


I'm kind of partial to Ent-E Helm / Navigation stations because they look cool as well as the the bridge of the USS Kelvin (NCC-0514) [originally written- designated as the USS Iowa] from these ST:XI concept art from James Clyne:
http://io9.com/photogallery/trekclyne/1008485844

What is your favorite Trek Helm & Navigation console design? Any ship within Star Trek? canon or non-canon. (at least visually illustrated.)

 

[sbk1234]

I was always partial to the 1701-A version of the bridge. I really miss when they got away from the two people sitting together for helm/navigation, and then later conn/ops.

 

[Finn]

^Like Voyager?

 

[scotpens]

I still think the most functional and believable helm/nav station -- for that matter, the entire bridge -- is the original. No bloody A, B, C, D, or E. Except for a few dated elements like the drum chronometer and rows of toggle switches, the design holds up very well. Simple and classic.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Mine is probably from the Enterprise-D.

Personally, I kind of felt that helm and navigation should have always been combined even during TOS, with Sulu's (or Chekov's) console being the dedicated weapons/tactical station...

 

[milo bloom]

I was always partial to the 1701-A version of the bridge. I really miss when they got away from the two people sitting together for helm/navigation, and then later conn/ops.

Same here, two people together like that makes good design sense and it makes good drama sense as you have two people to bounce comments off each other.

I recall the author of an early Voyager novel also missed it as one scene had Harry Kim, standing at Ops, reaching over to Tom's helm station to press a button.


In my long festering fanfic, my ship's bridge goes back to multiple people up front by having all three TNG era stations (Tactical, Conn, and Ops) at the front of the bridge.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

In my long festering fanfic, my ship's bridge goes back to multiple people up front by having all three TNG era stations (Tactical, Conn, and Ops) at the front of the bridge.

Do you have a link to an illustration or JPEG?

 

[milo bloom]

In my long festering fanfic, my ship's bridge goes back to multiple people up front by having all three TNG era stations (Tactical, Conn, and Ops) at the front of the bridge.

Do you have a link to an illustration or JPEG?

No, and as poor as my writing is, my drawing skills are worse.

Take a look at this early design for the Ent-D

http://www.ottens.co.uk/forgottentrek/images/TNG/ent_bridge_early2.png

See the curved bench on the very left, at the very front of the bridge? Take that general shape, add the shape of the CONN/OPS stations that were used in the series, and combine them into one piece. The Conn station is at the "top" of the hump, closest to the center of the bridge (my second officer sits here). Ops and Tactical are to the left and right, closer to the view screen. The whole thing is one flowing piece, somewhat inspired by the Ent-D's Tactical horseshoe station.

Captain's seat is in the center, right behind the Conn officer (XO is a "floating" XO). At the very back of the bridge is a master display of the ship. Science, Mission Ops, Environmental and Engineering are on the left and right, two to a side and slightly towards aft.