Humanoid Centric Crews

[Christopher]

Bry, but then is there a spacesuit for the blue Lilo 'n' Stitch guy (I forget if he is Lilo or Stitch). I remember my son was only a few months old and thought, "there'd be no way for him to mobile on a starship since he's too small for all the chairs.

I've seen a lot of people make this odd assumption about Titan, that nonhumanoid crew wouldn't be able to function on it because it's only designed for humanoids. But that's forgetting what the first book clearly established -- that it's not the typical Starfleet vessel we saw onscreen, because it was specifically designed to accommodate a diverse, nonhumanoid crew before it was launched. Any necessary accommodations were built in from the start.

Really, it's not that hard to design an environment to be accessible to individuals with different physical abilities. In fact, it's mandatory to do so under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It's doable in the here and now, so it shouldn't be any major obstacle for a technology centuries ahead of ours. Realistically, all starships should be designed with universal accessibility in mind. After all, even if your crew is humanoid, you never know when you might need to accommodate diplomats or refugees or other guests from a nonhumanoid species. The only reason we don't see them designed that way onscreen is because Star Trek is a make-believe TV show in which all the participants are human beings, and because the concern is about what looks good onscreen rather than what would really be functional (which is why shuttlecraft don't have airlocks or bathrooms).

 

[Nathan]

Chris, I think it is hard to create an environment that would be hard to access for ALL diverse Individuals....it would costly (yeah yeah, there is no money in the 24th century) and I don't know how it could be possible.

Again, does the 2 foot high blue Stitch have chairs everywhere? What about the Horta? Can he go all the shuttles. Environmental suits strategically located through out the ship? Does Dino Doc only have 1 chair in the Ten-Forward/Lounge area?

When my son was only 2 feet tall (as a baby!!) It would be tough for him to get around the house.

Yes, I know the Americans with Disabilities Act, so the house would be custom made for 2 foot high stitch.

However, even in the US Army/US Navy, there are SEVERAL restrictions that restricts HUMANS from serving on ships/deployments. (height/weight, medical stuff, psychological testing etc.)

I just can't see Titan type crew on a Archer type ship (as seen in Vanguard/Seeker series)

I guess you can always use the plot device of "Environmental suits are on every level, sick bay has all the medical stuff, all the chairs can be adjusted for whoever sits it in, WaterGirl's scuba suit is SO COMFORTABLE she doesn't mind being in scuba gear 16+ hours per day. All the computer padd are configured for whatever species hand configuration is.

Yep, I get the fact there is 100+ different planets making up the Federation, but us TV Viewers (and even the books) has the vast majority of humans, then even MORE VAST MAJORITY of humanoids with funky noses, ears, hairpieces etc.

As I said in my first post, for Sci-Fic reading, i'm mostly Trek, and really no other Sci-FI reading, especially hard core science fiction. I guess, I want a good drama, HBO-esque series then reading about a Pill-bug trying to get it on with a Horta, or a 2ft tall Stitch character flirting with Watergirl.

Not that the 24th century Starfleet members file a bunch of complaints with the Inspector's General's office, but being only 2 ft tall, I would bitch, that the rest of the ship is geared for someone approx. 6 ft tall (give or take a few inches).

And you bring up a good point about the shuttles, why none have airlocks and I never seen a toilet for when Picard has to drop a "Captain's Log!" LOL I guess guess they are just "off-screen", I can make handle that

I still think the reason why Vanguard was so successful (besides being a kick-ass story and great writing), it wasn't trying to jam IDIC down our throats, but was diverse enough and practical. They even had the Chelon character and the author address how he had special chairs and food, but it would probably suck for him as he would be limited. Imagine your home designed with just chairs for 2 foot tall toddlers to sit in and the adult only had 1 or 2 chairs max to sit in --- that'd suck....then your workplace, you only have 1 or 2 work areas that is feasible for you, and then you when you go out dinner, the restaurant only has 1 or 2 acceptable tables.

Do-able? I suppose so....practical? Not really.

 

[Jinn]

Again, does the 2 foot high blue Stitch have chairs everywhere?

You could just have chairs with changeable heights.

Does Dino Doc only have 1 chair in the Ten-Forward/Lounge area?

Yes, probably. In a time where you can make furniture out of thin air and teleport them through the whole ship or just create a holographic chair this doesn't seem to be a problem. Even if the ship has an energy black out for some reason the doctor has probably more important problems than not being able to sit in the lounge. Also I always imaginded him as standing while eating, but maybe that's just me.

I just can't see Titan type crew on a Archer type ship (as seen in Vanguard/Seeker series)

As far as I know the Titan was specifically designed to host many different species and Archer type ships were very unconfortable anyway.

But being only 2 ft tall, I would bitch, that the rest of the ship is geared for someone approx. 6 ft tall (give or take a few inches).

And there are also voice commands. I recall the Doctor and the other EMH on the Prometheus fighting Romulans just with voice commands, so it shouldn't be a problem in the late 24th century.