Replicator Limits and Thresholds?
- Thread starter AsianPotato
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We never learned the replicator could not produce X.
What we learned was that the replicator could not produce X under the given circumstances, or would struggle producing X even when having an easy time producing Y, or that a certain type of replicator would do better than another, or that using some other means of manufacture was more common for X than replication, or that the replicator failed at producing perfect X even when it did a passable one (and an utterly perfect Y which seemed even more demanding). And, of course, that having X in the first place might be forbidden.
The thresholds aren't easy to see, then, and probably are highly flexible in the first place. It's like asking about the limits and thresholds of what mankind can produce - it's usually just a matter of effort and dedication and cost rather than absolute ability.
Speaking of mankind, the heroes prefer to produce further heroes through biology. No limit on doing it via replicator instead has been established in Trek yet. But it's an obvious and extreme example of why the actual abilities of the replicator aren't all that central to the issue.
Timo Saloniemi
What we learned was that the replicator could not produce X under the given circumstances, or would struggle producing X even when having an easy time producing Y, or that a certain type of replicator would do better than another, or that using some other means of manufacture was more common for X than replication, or that the replicator failed at producing perfect X even when it did a passable one (and an utterly perfect Y which seemed even more demanding). And, of course, that having X in the first place might be forbidden.
The thresholds aren't easy to see, then, and probably are highly flexible in the first place. It's like asking about the limits and thresholds of what mankind can produce - it's usually just a matter of effort and dedication and cost rather than absolute ability.
Speaking of mankind, the heroes prefer to produce further heroes through biology. No limit on doing it via replicator instead has been established in Trek yet. But it's an obvious and extreme example of why the actual abilities of the replicator aren't all that central to the issue.
Timo Saloniemi
I don't believe that. I have zero doubts that latinum can be replicated. But the cost to do so far far outweighs it's value.
Or then not. After all, printing a hundred-dollar bill doesn't cost a hundred dollars.
For all we know, GPL is just the cheap medium on which the Ferengi print their money. That is, it has got a chemical signature of some sort printed into the liquid latinum part, meaning Quark can taste the slips to verify they are indeed money, and scan the bricks to see in detail that they indeed stand for a shitload of wealth and aren't just inert bricks of worthless gold and pretty but low-value and easily replicable latinum.
Latinum is also good for making brooches. But so is gold, and gold is easily replicable and worthless.
Basically, replicate latinum and you got the cotton-linen paper on which to print a hundred-dollar bill. Imprint a value on it and you got a hundred dollars. But if you imprint a made-up serial number, it won't pass muster at Quark's (who just quickly browses over the serial numbers of mere slips with his tongue, as accepting fakes there would not cost him anything because everybody else browses that carelessly over the smaller denominations, too - but who supposedly carefully verifies the value of bricks).
Timo Saloniemi
For all we know, GPL is just the cheap medium on which the Ferengi print their money. That is, it has got a chemical signature of some sort printed into the liquid latinum part, meaning Quark can taste the slips to verify they are indeed money, and scan the bricks to see in detail that they indeed stand for a shitload of wealth and aren't just inert bricks of worthless gold and pretty but low-value and easily replicable latinum.
Latinum is also good for making brooches. But so is gold, and gold is easily replicable and worthless.
Basically, replicate latinum and you got the cotton-linen paper on which to print a hundred-dollar bill. Imprint a value on it and you got a hundred dollars. But if you imprint a made-up serial number, it won't pass muster at Quark's (who just quickly browses over the serial numbers of mere slips with his tongue, as accepting fakes there would not cost him anything because everybody else browses that carelessly over the smaller denominations, too - but who supposedly carefully verifies the value of bricks).
Timo Saloniemi
Restrictions probably would have to be conditional, yes, but there are always ways around those.
Computer, a 5 kg chocolate bar please!
-- Please specify variety
Pure.
-- Please specify packaging
Any will do, just standard.
-- Please specify intended usage.
Eurm... to eat it?
-- Chocolate bars contain an unacceptably high level of saturated fats. Replicating a 150 g nutritional bar instead.
No, stop, no stop, I really need the chocolate, I had a lousy day!
-- Please specify intended usage.
To eat it, I already told you that!
-- Chocolate bars contain an unacceptably high
Yes, yes, but I want it anyway!
-- Command level clearance 4 or higher required for replication of chocolate for intended purpose.
For intended purpose? Right ... computer, are there other purposes that will let me recreate such a bar without a level 4 clearance?
-- Affirmative.
Righty then. I want to , erm, erm ... romance Troi!
-- Lt. Commander Troi is of past romantic interest to both lieutenant Worf and commander Riker. Crew conflict potentiality reduction protocols therefore require their permission first.
<sigh> Never mind computer, I need the chocolate bar to, erm, kill a dog!
-- Terminating the life of nonsentient species without absolute necessity is not sanctioned by Starfleet behavioral guidelines and warrants an psychological examination. Notifying the chief medical officer.
But there is a good reason! We, erm, erm, ...... , just encountered this alien species that has a ritual of sacrificing a dog as a token of their trust and friendship! And contacting and befriending unknown alien species is Starfleet policy, right?
-- Replicating chocolate bar.
I dunno know about all that. Any fool can make a quick and dirty $100 on a printer. However, it's not likely to hold up as soon as you try and pay for something.
I'd put Latinum as the same level as Diamonds. They make "fake" ones all the time. But making one that i'd be willing to put on someones hand for the same price.. Good luck with that.
I'll put latinum on the same level as diamonds. The real stuff Is just better because it's real. The replicated stuff is likely used to coating things, low level pins, brooches, etc,etc. The real stuff becomes GPL and high end jewelry etc etc.
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