How easy is it to get holodeck time?

[BlueStuff]

On a run this morning, it occurred to me that if I were on TNG's Enterprise, in the absence of a gym I'd prefer to utilise the holodeck for running - preferably in an oceanside track setting. However, it's not like I could get time on the holodeck every day, or every other day - or could I? It certainly seems as though the command staff can jump into a program whenever they feel like it; take Picard or Janeway's frequent holo-excursions. Meanwhile, Bashir and O'Brien seem to be able to relive the Alamo or go holo-kayaking on a regular basis.

But how? With hundreds of personnel on board, a vast number of daily tasks that need completing, presumably limited recreation time, limited holodecks/holosuites, and limited hours in a standard day, it almost seems like there would be a constant queue of bookings where you'd have to reserve your slot weeks or even months in advance. Yet even Barclay has a holo-addiction that he's clearly able to feed by spending all of his free time (and some of his work time) in the holodeck, which seems to suggest that there isn't much of a rota - rather that the holodeck operates on a "first come, first served" basis.

Do you recall any references to characters saying they "booked" or reserved a particular period of time for holo-recreation?

 

[somebuddyX]

Someone asked the same question here. https://www.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/3aajfy/how_much_holodeck_time_can_i_have_on_the/
Sixteen holodecks onboard. 1000 people. Three shifts. The downtime is probably like being on a ship at sea, so....however long that is. Maybe the usage is like an hour per person or something. Also they all probably go LARP together or some shit. There's probably that one nasty holodeck that people are are getting through like every ten minutes and is being fucking sterialised straight after.

 

[Finn]

On a run this morning, it occurred to me that if I were on TNG's Enterprise, in the absence of a gym I'd prefer to utilise the holodeck for running - preferably in an oceanside track setting. However, it's not like I could get time on the holodeck every day, or every other day - or could I? It certainly seems as though the command staff can jump into a program whenever they feel like it; take Picard or Janeway's frequent holo-excursions. Meanwhile, Bashir and O'Brien seem to be able to relive the Alamo or go holo-kayaking on a regular basis.

But how? With hundreds of personnel on board, a vast number of daily tasks that need completing, presumably limited recreation time, limited holodecks/holosuites, and limited hours in a standard day, it almost seems like there would be a constant queue of bookings where you'd have to reserve your slot weeks or even months in advance. Yet even Barclay has a holo-addiction that he's clearly able to feed by spending all of his free time (and some of his work time) in the holodeck, which seems to suggest that there isn't much of a rota - rather that the holodeck operates on a "first come, first served" basis.

Do you recall any references to characters saying they "booked" or reserved a particular period of time for holo-recreation?

I'm pretty sure the D had a gym as well.

And how many holodecks did the D have?

 

[BlueStuff]

I'm pretty sure the D had a gym as well.

So it did - however, that was one of the less important parts of my post (along with my preference for running next to a holographic ocean).

 

[Oddish]

Don't know about Enterprise D or DS9. Voyager had two, later three (they converted a cargo bay at some point).
Figure 140 personnel.
Maybe 10 of them don't use holodecks regularly. And another 20 or so are fine with sharing social programs like the Paxau Resort. So about 110 people with regular time.
168 hours a week × 3 holodecks = 504 holodeck-hours a week. Allow an hour a week for holodeck maintenance, that's 503 ÷ 110 = about 4.6 weekly hours per person.

 

[fireproof78]

Well, holodecks are not the only option. Ransom had a VR headset too.

 

[The Wormhole]

And how many holodecks did the D have?

Memory Alpha says there's sixteen. I don't know what their source is on that. They cite the Bynar episode and Homeward, though looking over the transcripts of those episodes, I see no references to there being sixteen holodecks. Homeward does mention Holodeck 5, so there's at least that many.

Well, holodecks are not the only option. Ransom had a VR headset too.

Which was obtained from a race the Equinox met with in the Delta Quadrant, and apparently something which was considered a novelty among that crew and Voyager's.

 

[Finn]

Which was obtained from a race the Equinox met with in the Delta Quadrant, and apparently something which was considered a novelty among that crew and Voyager's.

It'd be problematic doing a jogging program using that thing based on how it was shown, though

 

[Orphalesion]

I mean the first season did stress to some degree that there was more to do in your off-time than a Holodeck. Some people probably go jogging in the larger, off-screen portion of the arboretum, for example.
So not everybody will constantly clamour for holodeck time.

It'd be problematic doing a jogging program using that thing based on how it was shown, though

What do you mean? Yes it was shown to be inside a smallish room, but once the program started it always seemed to be practically infinite in size.
Sure, that didn't make much sense, but that's the way it was.
I thin non-canon or semi-canon sources explained it with built-in threadmils and such giving the illusion of a much larger space. I think that would work for jogging.

 

[Finn]

What do you mean? Yes it was shown to be inside a smallish room, but once the program started it always seemed to be practically infinite in size.
Sure, that didn't make much sense, but that's the way it was.
I thin non-canon or semi-canon sources explained it with built-in threadmils and such giving the illusion of a much larger space. I think that would work for jogging.

It's happening in one's mind. There's no way one could use that thing to jog unless the program somehow recreates the ship layout including furniture and keeps them from hitting people, etc.

 

[fireproof78]

It'd be problematic doing a jogging program using that thing based on how it was shown, though

I believe the technology is called a treadmill. Someday we will advance enough in our understanding to invent it.

 

[Finn]

I believe the technology is called a treadmill. Someday we will advance enough in our understanding to invent it.

There would be some issues with that idea. for one, it'd have to be in a straight line, unless it's some kind of fancy forcefield *insert technobabble* that can connect with the device that matches what the brain thinks one is running over, etc. They always showed the user to be sitting down even though they were standing in the "simulation" in Equinox, IIRC.

Sure. That's technology they'd have to develop...which definitely doesn't exist already at least not for Starfleet folks. While they are at it, why not install personal holodecks within their quarters?

 

[fireproof78]

There would be some issues with that idea. for one, it'd have to be in a straight line, unless it's some kind of fancy forcefield *insert technobabble* that can connect with the device that matches what the brain thinks one is running over, etc. They always showed the user to be sitting down even though they were standing in the "simulation" in Equinox, IIRC.

Sure. That's technology they'd have to develop...which definitely doesn't exist already at least not for Starfleet folks. While they are at it, why not install personal holodecks within their quarters?

That's my joke, yes.

And I also think that it would be nice to install a holo-wall rather than full holodeck.

I would imagine any neural interface would be able to simulate to the brain the appropriate feedback to feel like running.

 

[Finn]

Like Dr. Zimmerman's lab at Jupiter Station? Sure, why not.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Why can't everybody have Holo Emitters in their room and just convert a part of their living room into a mini Holo Suite?

When you don't need a larger "Multi-person / large party" experience.

A personal Holo Suite in your living room might be "Good Enough" for each person's quarters.

 

[Oddish]

Certainly a small one on your bed.
YOU: "Computer, create a 'companion' in my bed."
COMPUTER: "Specify."
YOU: "Female. Human... [whole lotta technical stuff like height, weight, skin tone, hair, eyes, what kind of lingerie she's going to be wearing and seductively slip off when you tell her to, and what kind of "techniques" she's skilled in]" OR just pick one from the database: "Companion 47A."

 

[at Quark's]

As far as I know, the (rather confined) holodeck creates the illusion of vastness by forcefields and other tricks. Not sure what it does when entire parties are in it, and individual members start spreading out - subdivide the holodeck further within tiny compartments and treat each of them as a separate smaller holodeck?

If so I'm curious what trick it would come up with the moment people start carrying a long inflexible titanium rod into it (with one person per meter carrying it), longer than the length of the holodeck.

 

[Oddish]

Something I wonder about is what kind of fantasies the holodeck will let you get away with. If you say, for instance, "Create an idyllic summer camp populated exclusively by teenage humans. Now produce for me a hockey mask and a machete, 55 centimeters in length, razor sharp." Will the holodeck do it without question? Or do it but send memos to the ship's security chief and the counselor? Or just say "unable to comply, you sick bastard you"?

Arguably, Tuvok's "kill Neelix" program might have caused an alert, but there was no counselor and he was the security chief.

 

[at Quark's]

Something I wonder about is what kind of fantasies the holodeck will let you get away with. If you say, for instance, "Create an idyllic summer camp populated exclusively by teenage humans. Now produce for me a hockey mask and a machete, 55 centimeters in length, razor sharp." Will the holodeck do it without question? Or do it but send memos to the ship's security chief and the counselor? Or just say "unable to comply, you sick bastard you"?

Arguably, Tuvok's "kill Neelix" program might have caused an alert, but there was no counselor and he was the security chief.

Well, it seems it didn't when Barclay created his fantasies- which admittedly weren't violent but still could be termed fairly exploitative of his colleagues.

Though I wouldn't be surprised to learn such a policy was instated because of that incident

 

[The Wormhole]

Why can't everybody have Holo Emitters in their room and just convert a part of their living room into a mini Holo Suite?

When you don't need a larger "Multi-person / large party" experience.

A personal Holo Suite in your living room might be "Good Enough" for each person's quarters.

We see that is done in the 32nd century.

Well, it seems it didn't when Barclay created his fantasies- which admittedly weren't violent but still could be termed fairly exploitative of his colleagues.

Though I wouldn't be surprised to learn such a policy was instated because of that incident

With Barclay it is specifically stated there were no regulations against such a thing. And indeed, even on DS9 when Quark created the Kira hologram for Jeffrey Combs, Kira's objections were strictly moral, nothing about regulations, legalities or policies. Indeed, if there had been any laws, regulations or policies against that sort of thing, you'd think Odo would have pounced on Quark for it.