Physically removing a mobile emitter from a hologram

[c0rnedfr0g]

It doesn't seem like it should be possible; you should have to punch some buttons to turn off the hologram. Any physical manipulation should just drag whatever hologram it's attached to hither and thither.

Anyone agree?

 

[Unicron]

If the emitter is the only thing supporting the hologram's projection at the time it's removed, then it makes sense. Voyager's EMH for example could only go between sickbay and the holodeck initially, because those were the only locations where there were other emitters installed. So presumably, if his program were running on those or could switch to them quickly, then merely taking the mobile emitter wouldn't be enough to knock him offline. But in any other location, it would be.

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

No what I'm saying is that if you have a device that is emitting a hologram, grabbing and pulling that device should likewise grab and pull the hologram, not knock the hologram off-line.

 

[ZStar]

I would agree. It would be like moving a lamp around. The center of illumination follows the lamp.

On the other hand, as magical as the mobile emitter is, maybe it can project at a distance and does not need to be in direct contact with the projection.

I hate to say it but I suppose it depends on the needs of the script.

 

[kv1at3485]

What's stopping the emitter from anchoring itself in place? It does have tractor beam/force field-like capabilities.

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

So if you activate the emitter when it's on the ground, does the hologram appear lying down?

Or, if you grab the emitter when "attached" to the hologram, and pull it to the ground, does the hologram shrink, disappear into the floor, or crouch and eventually lie down?

 

[kv1at3485]

If you try to activate it on the ground, why not just have it prop itself up to "proper height" and display the hologram standing right off the bat? The emitter does "hang" in mid air when its on anyway.

As for the second part: insufficient information from the show to make even an educated guess. Believe whatever.

 

[Timo]

Certainly the mobile emitter has already demonstrated at least two important qualities:

1) It can create forcefield/tractor beam illusions of physical force that match e.g. the pull of gravity on a humanoid body

2) It can accommodate a highly intelligent AI routine, if it doesn't have one built in already

In combination, those two should be a significant threat to somebody who tries to tamper with the emitter - or an accommodating aid and support to somebody who wants to manipulate the emitter to a specific, benevolent goal but doesn't know the user's manual inside out.

In most cases, the AI would probably try to present the holoimage as a perfect imitation of a humanoid body, in a way that is dignified for said body - so activating the emitter in silly places would result in a smart countermaneuver that results in an upright hologram. And that hologram is aware whether it was activated in a malevolent or benevolent-but-unskilled manner, and wears the appropriate smirk or is prepared for the appropriate punchline...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Crazy Eddie]

I would agree. It would be like moving a lamp around. The center of illumination follows the lamp.

On the other hand, as magical as the mobile emitter is, maybe it can project at a distance and does not need to be in direct contact with the projection.

Strictly speaking, there's no reason for the mobile emitter to even be visible. Theoretically it could project the hologram around itself so the actual emitter is somewhere inside the hologram's chest or something. When it comes down to this, the mobile emitter isn't a holographic projector as much as it is a tiny robot programmed to generate man-shaped forcefields to carry it around everywhere. If the Doctor ever figured this out, he could probably reprogram the emitter to run in "stealth mode" and scurry around the ground supported by a set of holographic ball bearings or disguise itself as a squirrel or something like that.

I hate to say it but I suppose it depends on the needs of the script.

And the (lack of) creativity of the writers. But as to the OP: since holograms have no mass, there is no inertia involved that would allow you to remove the emitter from the hologram; the emitter is the only thing that has any inertia to begin with, so if you were to suddenly sneak up and whack the thing with a tennis racket you would see the doctor suddenly fly across the room like a flailing wicker basket.

 

[Timo]

Unless, of course, the device creates its own inertia artificially. The Doctor has been punched a few times, and the reactions vary from the fist passing harmlessly through (when the EMH is prepared for it) to the Doctor feeling the force but not swaying more than a real humanoid would.

Perhaps it's not inertia; perhaps it's a suction-cup / tractor beam effect that the hologram uses for locking onto the ground below. But it could just as well be inertia, because inertia and mass are not related in the Trek universe, but can be manipulated separately.

Timo Saloniemi