Of holograms and men

[Spock-2012]

I think Voyager's EMH certainly demonstrated that holograms have the capacity for solution, but I also consider him a unique case - he evolved to use that capacity because of the circumstances which Voyager encountered. If the ship had never been towed into the DQ, it's unlikely the EMH would have had the same opportunity.

I view a being like Data in a different light, because they're really no different from organics - the capacity to grow is always there, and is the main impetus for development. Data's evolution into sentience wasn't like the Doc's, where he could just add the desired data to his programming.

Yes, I agree. He would not have had the chance at all. It was Kes who had sort have taught him to feel emotion and have fun, and he had worked that into hobbies such as singing and all. If not for the DQ, he wouldn't have had the chance.

Although, in Voyager, there were other Isomorphs (Holograms) that were featured. They all showed character as well. One group was a ship full of Isomorphs looking to rescue others of their kind. They all seemed to show that they had very human traits. Also there was the episode where a war broke out on the holodeck between created characters andother Isomorphs who found their way to the holodeck. They also portrayed human characteristics. And lastly, there was the murderous Isomorph who killed all of his crew and almost killed B'Elanna.

So overall, I would say that Hologams are humans, but made of different material.

 

[Timo]

That may not do them full justice, though. Surely they could also be inhuman, superhuman, subhuman? They aren't limited by the same constraints as humans in either bodily or mental terms - so treating them as humans when they emulate human behavior sounds like a dangerous practice. Underneath that veneer, they could be beasts, or gods, or something more.

The Federation must already have lots of experience in writing legislation for nonhumans. They have to take into account that some humanoids in their society live ten times longer than others, or are smarter, or stronger, or slower, or regularly need to do things that would make other humanoids puke their guts out of disgust or terror. Also, the Federation utilizes technology with the capability of engaging in arguments, such as starship computers (or at least certain of their interface programs), and regularly engages in dialogue with entities that us poor 21st century humans couldn't even perceive as having language.

It shouldn't be too big a deal, then, to write special legislation for holographic life. But that legislation would probably end up looking very different from human laws, or Vulcan laws, or the laws pertaining to more exotic biological members of the UFP.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[P0sitr0nic]

Holograms are not HUMAN, but certainly have the potential to be sentient and self motivating. The casual holoperson on a holodeck isnt the same thing tho. You run a holoprogram, those "people" you see walking outside the setting arent alive, likely theres nothing there besides "set dressing", so to speak. The computer puts them there to add realism to the program, but theyre not thinking.

The Doc, and by extention, Moriarty, were created from extreme circumstances. And while its true, its rare, it proves a highly organized and complex hologram CAN become more. Doesnt mean it WILL.

 

[Timo]

And that is quite a problem. You can tell just by looking at a lump of flesh whether it is a human or not. Even if said human is seriously ill or suffers from birth defects or something, he or she or whatever is likely to fall within a rather tight set of parameters. You can do the same with a Vulcan, or an Andorian, and perhaps even with a Horta.

You can't do that with a hologram, which may be an incredibly mindless automaton despite looking like Einstein, or a divinely wise and deeply feeling entity despite looking like a badly drawn stick figure. And you are likely to encounter many of the former type of hologram, but you can also run into a couple of examples of the latter type. You'd better know the difference then. Somehow.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[P0sitr0nic]

The difference is wether or not the hologram realises its a hologram, and can break beyond the computer driven programmed AI. Vic, Doc, Professor M, they all knew what they were. You ask a holodeck program background "prop" what it is, and its likely to answer "im here to (insert setting appropriate response)". If it can answer you at all.

 

[voyagerfan]

To me the holographs can exhibit humanoid emotions and I wonder if they have some sort of sub routine when people they know die of old age? how do the holographs fare with that scenario, you know in an episode of Voyager than the Dr had a create a family (well strictly B'Elanna - hence the Klingon references), to gain an understanding of family life and that he was showing emotions.

The Dr also had program matrix destabilization and somehow a LOT of the aliens wanted to have him offline. In one episode in particular all the crew was incapacitated and the Dr was the only one to keep the ship running in the defence of the Kazon was it?

I also find it interesting that the hologram who turned evil was suffering from some sort of stress as he was the one who was clearing up messes, there must be an element of adaptation naturally present in the programs of any of them, I can't see how ANY hologram can have a strict programming as to not show human emotion. I think that they, (holograms) are slightly more adaptable than data as I think he had to take on sub routines and aherm data. The holograms are able to change to any given situation which means that if Data can be seen as a human, the holograms even more so.

 

[Spock-2012]

Well said. That is completely true. I definately saw Data as being human, but the Doctor and some other holograms even more so.

I do beleive one of the holograms was even religious in some bizarre way, as in he made up his own religion. I do beleive he was one of the holograms that kidnapped the Doc in a certain episode.