The Internet and Television in the 24th Century

[NickInABox]

So, it's been established in dialogue that television went the way of the dinosaur, however it wasn't ever made sure how or what kind of television went away. This day in age, we see television slowly being replaced by the internet, where you can watch lives streams of CNN and archived episodes of our favorite television shows.
My question is, how can this not exist in the 24th century? Surely we can't backstep to newspapers while running around with warp drives and time travel. Television, or at least certain news talk shows, would still have to exist in the future the way it does on the internet today. For simming purposes, could I not write a log that incorporates some sort of talk show? Many people have disagreed with me, and fallen back on holograms, but how sensible is it for every household to have a hologrid in it? Weren't holosuites/decks meant for deep space travel exclusively? Surely the landlubbers in the Federation have some TV/Internet to watch.
I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy, but it just seems so damn impossible that such an important form of media wouldn't exist.

Another question is, if TV and the internet were to exist in the 24th century, in what ways would it exist? Through those laptop things?

 

[Michael]

Well, there's the Federation News Service, for which Jake Sisko wrote articles as a front line reporter during the Dominion war. FNS reporters were also present during the maiden voyage of the Enterprise-B. They seemed to have cameras, too. So I think some form of media does exist in Star Trek's future.

 

[C.E. Evans]

From the Federation News Service:
The overproliferation of commercials, pop-ups, and other onscreen clutter finally drove away the last faithful television viewer just two days before the beginning of the post-atomic horror in 2053. The last television episode ever aired before the first missile fell was said to have been a rerun of some 1960's science-fiction program about an imaginary starship and its stud-muffin captain...



Seriously, though--I think by the time of the 23rd-Century, PADDs have made the need for television and the internet as we know it either obsolete or it's simply not even referred to in everyday conversation as such. News, entertainment, sports, weather, porn--you can access it right then and there on your PADD anytime you want it.

 

[NickInABox]

Okay, so there would still be news shows and such being broadcast? I was reading Articles of the Federation, and it started off with a talk show a la Larry King called "Illuminating The City of Lights". Would that be conceivable? I'd be disappointed if the answer was no...

 

[NickInABox]

We may not have TVs or computers, and we use PADDS, but there would still be, like... you know, visual shows like that, and not just text.

 

[Michael]

We may not have TVs or computers, and we use PADDS, but there would still be, like... you know, visual shows like that, and not just text.

Well, I for one would hope there's something like that in the future.

 

[NickInABox]

I had another question, but I can't remember what it was... hahah!

 

[c0rnedfr0g]

Obviously there was no need for television or movies since everything had already been made and there were no new ideas left.

 

[EmperorTiberius]

Most talk shows are dumb anyways, I can't see O'Reilly surviving in the 24th century. Same with sensationalistic news services reporting on shallow paris hilton, who would be the lowly among low in that time perid.

I think they get news through computers, but it's mostly like online newspapers, there is a story and then there might be some footage there, but there are no news anchors and such.

As for the movies, they can go to a local holodeck, or read books, which they seem to like to do. I can't see anyone there watching 2d entertainment. It's like us watching black and white silent movies.

 

[Mirror_Barclay]

The strong implication is that people watch 'Holonovels' instead. I don't find this plausible or convincing myself, but it's hardly the least plausible idea I've ever heard on Trek.

I also doubt that everyone will turn to online newspaper or blog like sources for their news. A great many people prefer TV news - the ratio may shift a great deal further than it has so far, but I think both formats are going to survive far into the future.

Unfortunately, I doubt news coverage will get significantly better; while many of the complaints about bias in the media are well-supported, the claims of a previous golden age of objectivity are less so. Nor is this something that technology is likely to resolve.

 

[NickInABox]

Thank you, mirror. I agree strongly with both yours and NCC's position on this.

 

[kythe]

I don't find it unbelieveable that television as we know it could soon cease to exist. To put things into perspective, TV has only been around since about the 1950's. If, as Data says, it becomes obsolete by 2040, this would give television a life span of about 100 years. Not bad, but just a phase in the grand scheme of technology.

TV has evolved a great deal since its inception, both in terms of quality of picture (black and white to color to high def, etc) and types of programming. Many of us here probably do not remember a time without television, but it really hasn't been around long and it is constantly changing.

Consider also that interactive technology has rapidly been gaining popularity over the last 20 years. I can see computers and video games slowly evolving into 3-D and "holo" technology, while sitting passively in front of a television becomes less interesting.

I'm sure news will still exist, but it will also modify to the current popular form of media. People will not maintain an otherwise outdated technology just to hear news.

 

[NickInABox]

Again, how realistic is it to have a hologrid in every house? Holotechnology was meant for deep space travel, so I find it hard to believe that it's as common as TV's are today. I can understand, maybe, if they have public holosuites like we have movie theatres, but surely...

 

[kythe]

How do we know that holotechnology was meant for deep space? We don't see much of earth on Star Trek, but that doesn't mean they do not have this technology.

If you were to try to describe TV to people living 100 years ago, then explain that in just a few short years it would become one of the most common household items, you would probably be hard-pressed to find anyone who would believe you.

 

[NickInABox]

That's true, maybe, but to have every house with a holodeck? They'd have to be massive homes.

 

[rramarr]

That's true, maybe, but to have every house with a holodeck? They'd have to be massive homes.

Maybe not, I believe the holodeck moved like virtual reality sets, directionally advancing as you mentally moved forward while deleting past scenes. Just a theory.

But as you mentioned, I'm sure the better decks had more spacial room to manipulate.

 

[NickInABox]

Or the movie theatre idea, where holodecks take the place of movies.

 

[rramarr]

From the Federation News Service:
The overproliferation of commercials, pop-ups, and other onscreen clutter finally drove away the last faithful television viewer just two days before the beginning of the post-atomic horror in 2053. The last television episode ever aired before the first missile fell was said to have been a rerun of some 1960's science-fiction program about an imaginary starship and its stud-muffin captain...



Seriously, though--I think by the time of the 23rd-Century, PADDs have made the need for television and the internet as we know it either obsolete or it's simply not even referred to in everyday conversation as such. News, entertainment, sports, weather, porn--you can access it right then and there on your PADD anytime you want it.

Yes, I think you are right. I believe it's the broadcast mode and types of entertainment that disappears. Commander Riker was not familiar with the slang term "Boob Tube" on The Neutral Zone. If there is no further desire to obtain material things commercial advertisement (the main purpose for TV) has to take a hit.

 

[Timo]

Then again, we do see some sort of a TV commercial in ST5 - it's running on the comm panel in the Paradise City saloon...

As regards holodecks, I'd wager they are a primarily civilian technology that has long been in use in the average home (so that Janeway can fondly remember her childhood Flotter holograms and compare them to the modern Flotter), but one that Starfleet always found superfluous and uninteresting and unsuited for starship use until the start of TNG. Similarly, US Army despised VCRs until the nineties when they proved handy in quickly reviewing intelligence reports, and loathed cell phones until the second round in Iraq made them something of a necessity...

On the general issue, yeah, it must be the specific broadcast concept that grows outmoded in the 2020s. Newspapers are still with us, but wallpapers have died out except in places like China, never mind several other older incarnations of the newspaper.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Mirror_Barclay]

We don't really seem to give up any entertainment medium, let alone in 100 years.

It's possible, I suppose, that TV is like theatre - it becomes something around that most people don't bother with. Maybe heavily state-subsidized from the taxes of the idiot masses who just do their holo-stuff and don't have the good taste to appreciate TV!

I tend to think it will be more like music, remaining a major entertainment medium, joined but not displaced by holodecks.