This discussion is spun off a discussion in the Movie Forum regarding TMP uniforms.
The idea, here, is to touch on ideas--predominantly science and technology--that could or should have been seen in Star Trek but weren't.
In the 1960s TOS seemed quite advanced and futuristic in many ways. It must be said, though, that even by the standards of the time some of the visualizations of the sci/tech in TOS looked dated. But suffice to say much of it then looked sufficiently convincing of a far future as envisioned from a mid 1960's perspective.
But flash forward just a few years and sci/tech was starting to be depicted even more advanced (in some ways) than what was seen on TOS.
I've just recently finished watching the old series SEARCH from 1972. For those unfamiliar with this old show it centered on the exploits of three rotating agents (known as Probes) who worked for an agency known as World Securities.
Probe field agents each had an audio implant that allowed them to remain in constant contact with Probe Control. They also had a dental implant that allowed them to signal "yes" or "no" responses to Probe Control whenever it wasn't possible for the agents to communicate by voice (such as when other people were present).
The agents also had a miniaturized scanner about the circumferance of an AA size battery and no more than a quarter inch thick that attached either to a ring, a tie pin or decorative neck chain. This scanner allowed Probe Control to track the agent globally as well as monitor his/her vital signs. Probe Control could use the scanner to aid the agent through all manner of wavelengths (and to some extent by necessity of the plot). They were generally consistent with its use and limitations. The scanner could also read bio signs of the agent and of others in the agent's vicinity.
Meanwhile Probe Control operated in a way somewhat analogous to a starship bridge in contact with landing party/away team members. We saw something like this briefly in early TNG and then the practice was abandoned. Probe Control gave the agents immediate access to all sorts of information to facilitate execution of their assignments. And being able toconstantly monitor the agent allowed them to dispatch aid whenever needed or requested.
My essential point, though, is that as far-fetched as the tech seamed in 1972 it really seems quite plausible today. And it always struck me as more advanced than what was seen in TMP and later Treks. The audio implant would make perfect sense for a far future concept like Star Trek and the wearable miniaturized scanner makes the tricorder look awfully clunky and cumbersome given the SEARCH scanner and implant leave one's hands free. A communicator implant would also eliminate the old gimmick of losing one's communicator thus losing contact with the ship.
In some respects SEARCH was a spin on the old The Man From U.N.C.L.E. idea, but the tech depicted struck me as a smart evolution of what was seen on TOS.
In retrospect some of what we saw in TMP, the subsequent films and then TNG onward doesn't impress as sufficiently evolved given some of the sci/tech ideas being seen in other SF over the years.
Anyone else with something they think could or should have been seen in Trek but wasn't?
