Strange Real World

[Arpy]

Trek fans tend to fall in one of two camps: those who see Trek as a vision of our future, and those see it as a period piece in its own. I tend to fall in the former…at least most of the time.

As the real world drifts ever further away from what Trek’s future looks like, how would you update it?

How might AI, robots (like Optimus), quantum computing, genetic engineering, and personal devices like the future versions of iPhones or Vision Pro be incorporated into the future? What other developments in the real world since 1966 and those on the horizon today would you like to see addressed in some way?

What are some changes you’ve already observed in recent incarnations? The Eugenics Wars no longer taking place in the 1990’s, per SNW, for example.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I recently saw a thing on Facebook about a quadriplegic using the neuralink chip to control a computer cursor and play videogames. Star Trek is very soon going to be impossibly, irreconcilably outdated. Thing is, thinking commands isn't nearly as much fun to watch as pressing buttons on colourful control panels.

 

[ananta]

One of the things that gets me is when you see characters using multiple padds to do work. Fair enough, Star Trek kind of “invented” the iPad/tablet but …they don’t seem to have wifi in the future. I can’t imagine not having wifi now, much less in the 23rd/24th century!

 

[Citiprime]

I recently saw a thing on Facebook about a quadriplegic using the neuralink chip to control a computer cursor and play videogames. Star Trek is very soon going to be impossibly, irreconcilably outdated. Thing is, thinking commands isn't nearly as much fun to watch as pressing buttons on colourful control panels.

That’s the thing though, there’s ideas and tech updates that seem like they should exist, but because of the need for drama and the basic shorthand of a Star Trek episode they don’t.

For example, one that isn’t even really future tech: video link for away missions. There’s really no logical reason for why the crew doesn’t wear bodycams during away missions that would uplink with the audio and let the bridge crew see what’s going on at all times.

Think of all of the situations where the mystery of what happened to the crewmember who they lost communication with would have been solved in no time if they had video from when they lost contact. But if you do that, then it doesn’t allow for the 2nd act investigation and ultimate reveal.

 

[Quantum21]

Trek fans tend to fall in one of two camps: those who see Trek as a vision of our future, and those see it as a period piece in its own. I tend to fall in the former…at least most of the time.

As the real world drifts ever further away from what Trek’s future looks like, how would you update it?

How might AI, robots (like Optimus), quantum computing, genetic engineering, and personal devices like the future versions of iPhones or Vision Pro be incorporated into the future? What other developments in the real world since 1966 and those on the horizon today would you like to see addressed in some way?

What are some changes you’ve already observed in recent incarnations? The Eugenics Wars no longer taking place in the 1990’s, per SNW, for example.

Discovery tried to introduce enhanced people as anyone following technology realizes we will have this soon, it's unrealistic to not include them. SNW tackled this as well, but genetic enhancement more than cyborg.

Robots too. AI. Holograms, etc.

I was amused to see these period piece fans' befuddlement at the update. Some still don't get it 7 years later.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

The problem is, Trek either a) decides that in spite of something existing, we're not using it or can't because reasons, or b) pretends something doesn't exist, or c) claims we did use it, just didn't depict it or explain it.

It becomes increasingly difficult to do so, given that these things are becoming more integrated in our real world, and current developments in these fields suggests they will be significantly better by the time Trek era happens.

For low tech button pressing and such, it's a safeguard against certain technical problems that might arise from using higher tech. Plus, perhaps technology recognizes that how a thing can be done and how it ought to be done are two different things. Not just for safety, but for the mental health of users, interpersonal skills, etc.

 

[Relayer1]

As the real world drifts ever further away from what Trek’s future looks like, how would you update it?

I don't think you can.

From what I've read faster than light travel is massively unlikely and the future is most likely going to be machine intelligence exploring the universe, with a parallel strand of humanity uploading it own consciousness to a super detailed virtual environment and exploring that recreation of the galaxy instead of the real thing should they wish.

Doesn't look much like Trek - our real world explorers will be V'ger and we'll all be immortal in the matrix.

 

[UssGlenn]

One of the things that gets me is when you see characters using multiple padds to do work. Fair enough, Star Trek kind of “invented” the iPad/tablet

Yeah, this actually makes perfect sense. If iPads cost as much as a sheet of paper, you'd have a dozen strewn around too.

they don’t seem to have wifi in the future. I can’t imagine not having wifi now, much less in the 23rd/24th century!

We've definitely see them transmit data wirelessly, so they have that tech. It's just that occasionally they hand deliver stuff on padds. But you can always come up with justifications for that, probably different ones for different occasions. You ever walk over to a co-worker rather than sending en email?

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

One of the things that gets me is when you see characters using multiple padds to do work. Fair enough, Star Trek kind of “invented” the iPad/tablet but …they don’t seem to have wifi in the future. I can’t imagine not having wifi now, much less in the 23rd/24th century!

If you read the TNG: Technical Manual, the PADDs basically used the equivalent of "Modern WiFi" back in the 1980's / 1990's.

Long before ACTUAL WiFi Standards was created.

And each room across the ship has WiFi connectivity, basically a WiFi access point.
And moving between rooms was seemless for connectivity, effectively a "Mesh Network" which was only a relatively recent/modern standardized feature in the history of WiFi standards.

We're not talking about "SubSpace WiFi" either, actual "Normal Space" Radio Waves for local connectivity between PADDs and LAN (Local Area Networking).

"SubSpace Radio" is only for long distance communication (we're talking light years) or communicating from ground to space.

"Normal Radio" is for connectivity within the room, within the local area in the field.

No need for more energy intensive "SubSpace Radio's" to be used.

 

[Arpy]

I recently saw a thing on Facebook about a quadriplegic using the neuralink chip to control a computer cursor and play videogames. Star Trek is very soon going to be impossibly, irreconcilably outdated. Thing is, thinking commands isn't nearly as much fun to watch as pressing buttons on colourful control panels.

This might be easier to incorporate than we think. Neuralink aided quadriplegics may one day look like anyone else. Would be nice if certain tech had a neuralink option though in place of say voice command.

One of the things that gets me is when you see characters using multiple padds to do work. Fair enough, Star Trek kind of “invented” the iPad/tablet but …they don’t seem to have wifi in the future. I can’t imagine not having wifi now, much less in the 23rd/24th century!

Same. This one is completely daft and I’ll be glad when someone has, gasp, two tabs open on their PADD.

That’s the thing though, there’s ideas and tech updates that seem like they should exist, but because of the need for drama and the basic shorthand of a Star Trek episode they don’t.

For example, one that isn’t even really future tech: video link for away missions. There’s really no logical reason for why the crew doesn’t wear bodycams during away missions that would uplink with the audio and let the bridge crew see what’s going on at all times.

Think of all of the situations where the mystery of what happened to the crewmember who they lost communication with would have been solved in no time if they had video from when they lost contact. But if you do that, then it doesn’t allow for the 2nd act investigation and ultimate reveal.

This would be a great update to nuTrek. I think part of the reason younger fans don’t flock to it in the same numbers as old is that they can simply intuit its wrongness and can’t escape into the possible future of it.

I think the more ways Trek can make an audience go wow or huh that makes sense the better. It’ll intrigue them for more.

I don't think you can.

From what I've read faster than light travel is massively unlikely and the future is most likely going to be machine intelligence exploring the universe, with a parallel strand of humanity uploading it own consciousness to a super detailed virtual environment and exploring that recreation of the galaxy instead of the real thing should they wish.

Doesn't look much like Trek - our real world explorers will be V'ger and we'll all be immortal in the matrix.

I’d like to see both not every alien species we meet has to develop warp like it’s an inevitability. I’d love to see more drones, AI’s, cryo ships, self replicating tech or people, etc along with warp, trans warp, quantum slipstream, soliton waves, wormholes, jump gates, and more.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

For example, one that isn’t even really future tech: video link for away missions. There’s really no logical reason for why the crew doesn’t wear bodycams during away missions that would uplink with the audio and let the bridge crew see what’s going on at all times.

Think of all of the situations where the mystery of what happened to the crewmember who they lost communication with would have been solved in no time if they had video from when they lost contact. But if you do that, then it doesn’t allow for the 2nd act investigation and ultimate reveal.

IRL reasoning, the action camera was a fairly recent invention in camera history.
But you're correct, everybody should be wearing "Action Camera's" to log all away missions.

 

[FredH]

I find it interesting that all the positions in this thread are about how closely/badly Trek models the future’s technology, as opposed to its society. When I imagine Trek as a future I want, I don’t particularly mean transporters and warp drives (though I’m all for warp drives, which now at least have some theoretical basis, whereas I’m with McCoy on transporters); I mean the united humanity solving problems together and no longer warring on each other, which I desperately want but no longer believe we’ll get to. Want very much to be wrong about that.

 

[Arpy]

Yeah, I sometimes wonder if we’re all on Romulus before the supernova and our leaders have made other accommodations.

Still, hope springs eternal. I want to believe in a better future, the psychopaths be damned.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Star Trek kind of “invented” the iPad/tablet

2001 would like a word...

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[at Quark's]

Trek fans tend to fall in one of two camps: those who see Trek as a vision of our future, and those see it as a period piece in its own. I tend to fall in the former…at least most of the time.

eurm .... I think I view it as a period piece vision of the future. So which camp do I fall in ?

That is, in TOS I see an ideal future as some writer from the 60's imagined it (e.g. far more responsible positions for women but they still don't seem 100% equals of men), TNG has far more of a late 80's/early 90's idealistic flavour (e.g. trying to see the value in 'primitive' cultures), and so on.

And of course, the technology follows suit, even though in a sense that may be the less interesting (because more obvious) part. Some depictions are already hopelessly outdated (or at least, seem to be, such as those 'floppy discs' and possibly PADD's, some are reasonably on par with what we have or will achieve in a few years (voice interface with computers), and some things are light years beyond us if they ever prove possible (warp drive, transporter).

 

[drt]

That’s the thing though, there’s ideas and tech updates that seem like they should exist, but because of the need for drama and the basic shorthand of a Star Trek episode they don’t.

For example, one that isn’t even really future tech: video link for away missions. There’s really no logical reason for why the crew doesn’t wear bodycams during away missions that would uplink with the audio and let the bridge crew see what’s going on at all times.

Think of all of the situations where the mystery of what happened to the crewmember who they lost communication with would have been solved in no time if they had video from when they lost contact. But if you do that, then it doesn’t allow for the 2nd act investigation and ultimate reveal.

When they were envisioning TNG, they actually planned the idea that the “Mission Ops” station on the 1701-D bridge was to monitor a landing party and whisk them away if necessary, but I suppose they quickly realized that killed a lot of the drama potential so they abandoned it pretty quickly.

 

[Arpy]

^ not necessarily so. When a cop goes into a dark room is there no drama because their camera is on? And what a dramatic effect in ST’09 hearing Captain Robau’s life signs terminated. It’s just a different kind of dramatization. And, again, more realistic, more relatable, and therefore ultimately more interesting.

 

[Avro Arrow]

For example, one that isn’t even really future tech: video link for away missions. There’s really no logical reason for why the crew doesn’t wear bodycams during away missions that would uplink with the audio and let the bridge crew see what’s going on at all times.

They apparently recorded away missions on the Victory (TNG: "Identity Crisis"). But I don't think we saw any other instances of that, ever? I guess the key might be whether they think a recording will be plot-relevant to a famous crew in the future?

 

[Arpy]

Yeah I don’t care about Trek’s alternate history. I do only insofar as I can fit it into our own. Because I think the world needs a Trek future, something to buy into and aspire toward. They’re not going to invest into an outdated set of tropes. Not going to buy a false magic. But like TOS moving on from Flash Gordon and the sci-fi before it, a new generation might buy into a new Trek that does what established Trek fully tried to do in its time. To be excellent. To earn our hope.

 

[Arpy]

Nah, I’m selfish. I want to aspire toward it in the real world, not a tropy TV one. I want to see as close to a realistic vision of the future as possible in a Trekkie way. Body cams should not be a deal breaker in this way.

And it’s not just tech, as mentioned before. Philosophy needs to be updated. New concepts in sci-fi need to be explored. Save your rehashes and canon porn in place of story. There’s serious work to be done. The Human Adventure is Just Beginning.