Long overdue improvements to Starfleet

[Mr. Laser Beam]

No controversy, as such, I just wonder why they did it that way. They made it nothing more than a literal window into space. Any communications they receive, or displays the computer wants to show, are simply overlaid on top of the window view. It looks awkward, IMHO.

 

[Vanyel]

As far as the view screen is concerned, it's size is under used. It can have different views viewing modes depending on the ships alert status.

No alert - Forward view or off

Yellow Alert - Forward view, sensor data, ship systems data

Red Alert (systems failures) - Forward view split with views(s) of effected areas.

Red Alert Intruder - Intruder location, security personnel location, locations of bulkheads or force field emitters, jeffery's tubes and other possible escape routes.

Red Alert Battle - View of ship being engaged, smaller view of entire battle field (split equally when in fleet engagements), ship status, damage reports, weapons status, torpedoes remaining, shields status, engine status.
A lot of information, yes, but there is normally a lot of space. This information being updated constantly would stop the practice of asking for a damage report every time they're hit and before they return fire. It could also allow another officer to take command more easily should the Captain and XO be killed or injured.

 

[7thsealord]

Red Alert Battle - View of ship being engaged, smaller view of entire battle field (split equally when in fleet engagements), ship status, damage reports, weapons status, torpedoes remaining, shields status, engine status.
A lot of information, yes, but there is normally a lot of space. This information being updated constantly would stop the practice of asking for a damage report every time they're hit and before they return fire. It could also allow another officer to take command more easily should the Captain and XO be killed or injured.

Much of which was seen in the 'Tactical Display' used in various of the movies.

 

[Deks]

Personal shield belts.

They already exist.
Worf made a personal shield even once, but that was severely limited in time duration because of the weak power source (commbadge).
Alternatively, wrist bands can generate subspace fields around people already as evident in TNG as well... they were used in situations like problematic subspace, etc.
Not in phaser fights... but I agree that we should have seen those in armed conflicts.

 

[F. King Daniel]

They had forcefied belts in the animated series - they not only worked as space suits and diving suits, but protected the user from phaser fire and crushing.

And then everyone forgot they ever existed. Obviously.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

All of those ideas for the viewscreen would be an excellent idea, but of course they would never use them on the show, because it would distract the viewer. Assuming we could even see them clearly.

In the film? Maybe. But how many times in ST XI did we even see the viewscreen for more than a couple of seconds?

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

ST XI used it to display the status of the Kirk/Sulu/L. Jenkins skydive assault on the drill, graphic representations and everything. Later in that sequence, the viewer blinked up that the transporters were back online. Later yet, the warp factor was shown, along with some unintelligible GUI stuff along the sides. It also went all flashy and "danger Will Robinson" when they were getting pulled into the black hole. It's a "blink and you miss it" thing, but it briefly displays some kind of navigational warning before Sulu drops out of warp to maneuver the Enterprise into position over titan.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

In a 'real' version of the ship, there probably wouldn't even be a viewscreen. That's only there for us, the fans at home. BSG's combat information center would be more realistic.

I mean, which would you rather have: something like that viewscreen where you have to look clear across the bridge, or a personalized viewing port right at your own console? Think about it.

 

[Vanyel]

In fleet engagements, I would like the command ship, not be in the main battle but stay back. The overall commander of the fleet could be in a holodeck with a full 3D view of the battle.

I think they used something like it in B5.

 

[C.E. Evans]

In a 'real' version of the ship, there probably wouldn't even be a viewscreen. That's only there for us, the fans at home. BSG's combat information center would be more realistic.

I mean, which would you rather have: something like that viewscreen where you have to look clear across the bridge, or a personalized viewing port right at your own console? Think about it.

I always thought that bridge personnel do have monitors at their stations, but they generally just display data. Looking at the main viewscreen likely isn't necessary, but there are probably no rules against it. Otherwise, I think the main viewscreen more than anything serves as the captain's main monitor and external communications system. Some captains may leave the main viewscreen on all the time, while others may only use it sparingly perhaps.

 

[captcalhoun]

several of the ships post-TOS have individual monitors, we just don't always see them or what they're showing, because the camera's on Data, Dax, Worf or whoever. the mains creen's probably for the CO and for communications and they just leave it on fore-cam view as a default.

 

[Deks]

They had forcefied belts in the animated series - they not only worked as space suits and diving suits, but protected the user from phaser fire and crushing.

And then everyone forgot they ever existed. Obviously.

They were mentioned in Ds9 once... but never seen in actual use.
Ds9 was the worst when it came to dumbing existing technology for the sake of 'drama' - which is why I found it boring.

 

[The Castellan]

In fleet engagements, I would like the command ship, not be in the main battle but stay back. The overall commander of the fleet could be in a holodeck with a full 3D view of the battle.

I think they used something like it in B5.

In otherwords, where it's safe?

To me, if one's gonna command a battle, one should also take part in the battle. Like King Theodrin from Lord of the Rings, he was a crotchety old king, but he went into battle along with the rest of his chums.

Same with the Golden Emperor from the TV21 Dalek comics, he/it actually went into battle alongside the rest of the Daleks, and was quite good at it, too.

 

[The Castellan]

In a 'real' version of the ship, there probably wouldn't even be a viewscreen. That's only there for us, the fans at home. BSG's combat information center would be more realistic.

I mean, which would you rather have: something like that viewscreen where you have to look clear across the bridge, or a personalized viewing port right at your own console? Think about it.

I'd take both. The helm and navi folks will appreciate a big screen in front of them as they steer, I know I would.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The helm and navi folks will appreciate a big screen in front of them as they steer

What could a huge viewscreen possibly tell them that their own monitors would not?

 

[The Castellan]

The helm and navi folks will appreciate a big screen in front of them as they steer

What could a huge viewscreen possibly tell them that their own monitors would not?

To me, it's like a big, windshield. Plus it's better than having just a plain old bulkhead in front of yas.

 

[scotpens]

The helm and navi folks will appreciate a big screen in front of them as they steer

What could a huge viewscreen possibly tell them that their own monitors would not?

To me, it's like a big, windshield. Plus it's better than having just a plain old bulkhead in front of yas.

That doesn’t seem to be a problem on nuclear submarines.

 

[Rojixus]

A submarine is not a starship.

 

[Forbin]

In fleet engagements, I would like the command ship, not be in the main battle but stay back. The overall commander of the fleet could be in a holodeck with a full 3D view of the battle.

I think they used something like it in B5.

In otherwords, where it's safe?

To me, if one's gonna command a battle, one should also take part in the battle.

And then when the commander gets killed, your whole plan and any future plans are fucked up the ass.

So, in what current military does the commander take part in the battle on the front lines? I didn't see Schwarzkopf in a tank at Medina Ridge, or Horner strafing the Highway of Death.

 

[BillJ]

I like the viewscreen in Star Trek 2009.