Holodeck Technology - Does it really make sense?

[Mirror_Barclay]

It seems implausible, not because Trek doesn't have basically magical technology, but because it seems likely to me that VR will be possible much earlier. And given the general tech level, new at the start of TNG seems odd.

On the other hand, nothing on Trek is as implausible as mayo on a PB-Banana(?!?).

I'd think holo-addiction would become quite common, with only a few willing to serve in Starfleet, sharing a highly limited number of holodecks with so many people.

I think they do lock though. Didn't someone over-ride Barclay's locks, when he didn't show up for his duty shift?

Which leads to another highly implausible situation - the way holodecks were always free. We never see them go to the holodecks and find they're all in use. And when Barclay goes over, there's never a frustrated crewmember waiting outside.

 

[Ghrakh]

"Computer, end program"

So, where does everyone end up?

 

[Timo]

Then stupid Voyager came along and made allusions to holodecks being around for about thirty five years previously (when Janeway was a child), so I dunno.

They had holodecks in TAS already, though. Those just happened to be a bit cartoony...

Probably there'd be "holodecks" in the 1990s Trek universe already, just crappy ones. They'd get better and better, gradually, and every generation would be impressed by the latest developments. Riker being impressed by the E-D virtual reality facilities need not be any different from, say, me being impressed by a 50-inch flatscreen even though my granddad already had a black-and-white television set.

Reg Barclay was essentially addicted to the holodeck, even had a relapse I believe, and it was implied that he was possibly rather "improper" with the Deanna and Crusher characters in his fantasy. You can't tell me he spent all day fencing LaForge's duplicate with his sword with that kind of tail floating around the holodeck.

Which nicely establishes that holoaddiction wouldn't be that big a problem. I mean, sex is fun, yet people don't get stuck doing it 24/7 in the general case, even with willing partners constantly available. Why would holosex be any different? And by extension, why would holoaddiction in general get out of hand?

Which leads to another highly implausible situation - the way holodecks were always free.

The ship could simply have enough of them. And a single big one could easily accommodate a dozen different users running a dozen different simulations simultaneously, I guess.

Quark's holosuites did have queues...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[CommanderRaytas]

There will always be people addicted to whatever means of escapism is around... after all, that's what an addiction is about. The Prohibition people feared that everyone would become an alcoholic, which didn't happen. People are smoking less, and even in places where there's (relatively easy or sort of legal) access to drugs, the number of actual addicts is pretty low.

So.... sure there'd be a number of holo-addicted people. Most of them would be recreational users though, as most people who drink alcohol on a regular basis are by no means addicted to it (or even get drunk very often).

 

[zar]

So, where does everyone end up?

One possibility is that when Worf falls, the whole scene appears to move upwards and force fields move everyone up with it except Worf. When the program ends, Worf is on the floor and everyone else is floating in the air and are gently lowered (you can sort of see this effect in a Voyager episode when Torres shuts down her orbital skydiving program).

Another possibility is that everyone is always on the same level but to each person's point of view certain other people are hidden "behind" the background scenery and replaced by holographic images of themselves to give the illusion of distance and height. When the program ends the image of Worf would disappear and the real Worf would be revealed to be standing next to everyone.

 

[RegFan]

Limited Space - In cases such as the pilot for Voyager, when many people are in a large area out of site of one another, our theory was each person has an image field projected around them that simulates the area they are supposed to be in. In reality, everyone is quite close. They state in at least one episode that the holodeck uses an energy treadmill to give you the illusion of movement. As you move, the image field you are in moves but you stand still to conserve space.

I can accept the treadmill thing and the simulated distance between people, but what if, say, 300 people tried to enter the holodeck?

 

[Timo]

The holodeck would allow the first 20 in and then slam the doors.

The holodeck is an entertainment machine. It will bend over backwards to make the customers happy. It won't do all requests, though, and apparently requires special authorization for certain tricks.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Anticitizen]

There will always be people addicted to whatever means of escapism is around... after all, that's what an addiction is about. The Prohibition people feared that everyone would become an alcoholic, which didn't happen. People are smoking less, and even in places where there's (relatively easy or sort of legal) access to drugs, the number of actual addicts is pretty low.

So.... sure there'd be a number of holo-addicted people. Most of them would be recreational users though, as most people who drink alcohol on a regular basis are by no means addicted to it (or even get drunk very often).

Since the Federation supposedly doesn't use money, I like to think everyone trades and barters in Holodeck-credits. Barclay was a junkie, spending all his officer's pay, saving nothing for his retirement years...

 

[T'Girl]

Which nicely establishes that holoaddiction wouldn't be that big a problem. I mean, sex is fun, yet people don't get stuck doing it 24/7 in the general case, even with willing partners constantly available. Why would holosex be any different? And by extension, why would holoaddiction in general get out of hand?

One definition of addiction is something that interferes with your professional and private life. In the case of Barclay that definition serves accurately. A addiction doesn't have to be all consuming to cause you a problem.

Which leads to another highly implausible situation - the way holodecks were always free.

The ship could simply have enough of them.

A holodeck could be quite small, just big enough for you to spread your arms and extend them over your head, seven or eight feet around would do nicely.

I can accept the treadmill thing and the simulated distance between people, but what if, say, 300 people tried to enter the holodeck?

The holodeck simply wouldn't "permit" people to separate, there would be some kind of seeming natural barrier, holodeck users would be sophisicated enough to know that moving beyond said barrier would ruin the fantasy.

Example, for years after Nemesis first came out, I though the opening scene (wedding reception) was on a holodeck, the guests were enclosed with the balcony, a low wall, and I believe a hedge. 300 people on a holodeck would be in a situation like that, subtlety confined.

(it was only years later that I found out the reception was actual in Alaska)

Since the Federation supposedly doesn't use money, I like to think everyone trades and barters in Holodeck-credits.

That would make holodeck-credits money.

 

[Anticitizen]

Since the Federation supposedly doesn't use money, I like to think everyone trades and barters in Holodeck-credits.

That would make holodeck-credits money.

The smiley after my sentence denotes humorous intent.

 

[T'Girl]

mea culpa