Which piece of Treknology do you think could happen next?

[T'Girl]

I've always assumed that you could have privacy when using a combadge. That the people standing around couldn't hear what was being communicated unless you wanted them to. There seems to have been times where Picard told Riker to have a away team do something and as soon as the communication ended Riker then had to tell the group around him what the Captain just said, they couldn't hear the communication.

There also were times when Worf was at the tactical panel talking on (it seems) the intercom, when it didn't interfer with us hearing what Picard, Riker and Troi were discussing. They couldn't hear him.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I recall seeing a report on a new technology being developed that created an localized "sound zone" around a person. You can hear what's being broadcast through it--even at full volume from a speaker--but someone standing only a few feet away wouldn't hear a thing unless they stepped inside the zone with you...

Can you imagine listening to music at a comfortable volume on loudspeakers while people standing right next to you cannot even hear it? Whether you are using an MP3 player, a personal media player (PMP), a smart phone or a loudspeaker-embedded monitor, you may soon be able to enjoy audio without those uncomfortable earphones or headsets and not bother your neighbors. To realize this situation physically, the energy of sound waves must be focused on a specific region called the ‘Listening Zone’. We name the system that can create this kind of listening zone a ‘Sound Focused Personal Audio System.’

http://www.acoustics.org/press/154th/lee.html

 

[T'Girl]

Picard: "This is extremely sensitive, Number One."

Riker: "Then I request that we use the cone of silence."

 

[clever_username]

i was just thinking about the whole nanite thing again. something that small would almost certainly have to be running on a quantum computer. so the real question is how close are we to those being a reality?

 

[Luther Sloan]

By your definition, a commbadge isn't really practical for everyday people to use because of the "privacy issue." They're better off sticking to Bluetooth and cellphones because they're afraid of being overheard by someone.

Evans:

The combadge in Star Trek could be...

1. Used like the people who use the Next Tel Walkie Talkie feature (usually these people are certain business folk or overly sociable people who are open in their conversations) (These people are not the majority).

2. Used in combination with blue tooth technology (like an ear piece, wrist watch, ECT).

3. Used as if it was a cone of silence (if such a thing is even possible or will ever come to pass). And even if such technology is in development. It is still not how the the combadge was used on Star Trek.

And the point I'm trying to make is that that you see people everyday having conversations in public with cellphones and Bluetooth period. I see people in public every day too and I'm often bombarded with people having cellphone or Bluetooth conversations around me. Whether or not you can hear the other person is irrelevant, IMO, because you're still hearing part of the conversation. Indeed, at times it's not even necessary for me to hear the other person because of the way they're carrying on.

Yes. But these people today have always had the option to share the other person's conversation (by using the intercom feature on their old phone or upgrading to a cell phone to do the same) and I have never seen the majority of people indulge in this type of behavior.

Also, I am looking at the past (and the present) as a way of looking at what people are going to do in the future. And so far I just don't see people everywhere using two way conversation phone technology as you describe it (as a way of it happening in the future).

Sure, people openly have conversations in public on their cell phones. But they figure you are only hearing part of the conversation so it isn't a complete invasion of their privacy. They also don't feel invaded because they know you can't hear the other person on the other end of the line (i.e. the person in the conversation that they cannot control "in regards to what they say"). The thing is that they CAN control what comes out of their own mouth. But they CANNOT control the other person they are talking to. So most people talk by using a cell phone as it is normally used. So it is not an invasion of their privacy because they control in "what you hear" in that conversation.

Now, of course there are going to be people who forget they are on a cell phone and say things that they shouldn't. But these same people still don't want you to hear the other person on the opposite end of the phone, though.

That's the one thing I agree on, "man." People will do what they will and not everyone feels the same way about things.

Yes. There are going to be people who will use the combadge just like it is used on Star Trek. But they will be in the minority. Just like the folks who use the Next Tel walkie talkie feature (or it's equivalent) and people who use the intercom feature on their home phone are in the minority.

If you look back in history... you will notice most people don't want you to hear the conversation of the other person on the other end.

And using history to tell the future is a simple basic concept of Futurology...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurology

Picard: "This is extremely sensitive, Number One." Riker: "Then I request that we use the cone of silence."

TG:

Cone of silence on Star Trek?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqcSWI6Ppks&feature=related

Yeah, that would be hilarious.

Totally awesome re-wording, man.

 

[C.E. Evans]

By your definition, a commbadge isn't really practical for everyday people to use because of the "privacy issue." They're better off sticking to Bluetooth and cellphones because they're afraid of being overheard by someone.

Evans:

The combadge in Star Trek could be...

1. Used like the people who use the Next Tel Walkie Talkie feature (usually these people are certain business folk or overly sociable people who are open in their conversations) (These people are not the majority).

2. Used in combination with blue tooth technology (like an ear piece, wrist watch, ECT).

3. Used as if it was a cone of silence (if such a thing is even possible or will ever come to pass). And even if such technology is in development. It is still not how the the combadge was used on Star Trek.

And the point I'm trying to make is that that you see people everyday having conversations in public with cellphones and Bluetooth period. I see people in public every day too and I'm often bombarded with people having cellphone or Bluetooth conversations around me. Whether or not you can hear the other person is irrelevant, IMO, because you're still hearing part of the conversation. Indeed, at times it's not even necessary for me to hear the other person because of the way they're carrying on.

Yes. But these people today have always had the option to share the other person's conversation (by using the intercom feature on their old phone or upgrading to a cell phone to do the same) and I have never seen the majority of people indulge in this type of behavior.

Also, I am looking at the past (and the present) as a way of looking at what people are going to do in the future. And so far I just don't see people everywhere using two way conversation phone technology as you describe it (as a way of it happening in the future).

Sure, people openly have conversations in public on their cell phones. But they figure you are only hearing part of the conversation so it isn't a complete invasion of their privacy. They also don't feel invaded because they know you can't hear the other person on the other end of the line (i.e. the person in the conversation that they cannot control "in regards to what they say"). The thing is that they CAN control what comes out of their own mouth. But they CANNOT control the other person they are talking to. So most people talk by using a cell phone as it is normally used. So it is not an invasion of their privacy because they control in "what you hear" in that conversation.

Now, of course there are going to be people who forget they are on a cell phone and say things that they shouldn't. But these same people still don't want you to hear the other person on the opposite end of the phone, though.

That's the one thing I agree on, "man." People will do what they will and not everyone feels the same way about things.

Yes. There are going to be people who will use the combadge just like it is used on Star Trek. But they will be in the minority. Just like the folks who use the Next Tel walkie talkie feature (or it's equivalent) and people who use the intercom feature on their home phone are in the minority.

If you look back in history... you will notice most people don't want you to hear the conversation of the other person on the other end.

And using history to tell the future is a simple basic concept of Futurology...

Sloan:

Let's just say that I disagree with a lot of this and move on.

 

[Myasishchev]

Perhaps the most speculative of all these technologies is artificial sentience. We really have no clue what conscious thought is - even if it is a real thing rather than an illusion.

Now, I'd say warp drive is a lot more speculative than artificial intelligence, since we know intelligence exists but have no evidence that FTL anything is possible.

I mean, I can already create an intelligent machine with simple, household materials. All I need is time and a volunteer from the audience.

So I voted AI. It helps that virtually everything else on the list approaches the preposterous, including the Drexlerite vision of nanotechnology.

On the other hand, it is true that I can already use nanotechnology to build macroscopic objects. All I need is time and a volunteer from the audience.

 

[Luther Sloan]

Let's just say that I disagree with a lot of this and move on.

Evans:

Hey. It's cool man.
Peace brother!

So I voted AI. It helps that virtually everything else on the list approaches the preposterous, including the Drexlerite vision of nanotechnology.

Myasishchev:

I am glad to see folks are voting on choices that may seem a little more challenging to the average person.

Thanks for the vote, my friend.

 

[StarryEyed]

Perhaps the most speculative of all these technologies is artificial sentience. We really have no clue what conscious thought is - even if it is a real thing rather than an illusion.

Now, I'd say warp drive is a lot more speculative than artificial intelligence, since we know intelligence exists but have no evidence that FTL anything is possible.

I mean, I can already create an intelligent machine with simple, household materials. All I need is time and a volunteer from the audience.

So I voted AI. It helps that virtually everything else on the list approaches the preposterous, including the Drexlerite vision of nanotechnology.

On the other hand, it is true that I can already use nanotechnology to build macroscopic objects. All I need is time and a volunteer from the audience.

You misquote me. I said artificial sentience - not intelligence - is the most speculative technology. I'm talking about conscious, living machines who are aware of their own existence and have a conscious sense of self-preservation.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I've always assumed that you could have privacy when using a combadge. That the people standing around couldn't hear what was being communicated unless you wanted them to. There seems to have been times where Picard told Riker to have a away team do something and as soon as the communication ended Riker then had to tell the group around him what the Captain just said, they couldn't hear the communication.

There also were times when Worf was at the tactical panel talking on (it seems) the intercom, when it didn't interfer with us hearing what Picard, Riker and Troi were discussing. They couldn't hear him.

I wonder...given my theory that the UT interfaces with the auditory nerve, maybe commbadges could operate in that same mode if someone wanted?

 

[Myasishchev]

Perhaps the most speculative of all these technologies is artificial sentience. We really have no clue what conscious thought is - even if it is a real thing rather than an illusion.

Now, I'd say warp drive is a lot more speculative than artificial intelligence, since we know intelligence exists but have no evidence that FTL anything is possible.

I mean, I can already create an intelligent machine with simple, household materials. All I need is time and a volunteer from the audience.

So I voted AI. It helps that virtually everything else on the list approaches the preposterous, including the Drexlerite vision of nanotechnology.

On the other hand, it is true that I can already use nanotechnology to build macroscopic objects. All I need is time and a volunteer from the audience.

You misquote me. I said artificial sentience - not intelligence - is the most speculative technology. I'm talking about conscious, living machines who are aware of their own existence and have a conscious sense of self-preservation.

But you misunderstand me. We have those already. They're called humans, and I can build one pretty much at will through well-tested, well-understood techniques.

We are remarkable machines, but machines we are. (If, unfortunately, not liquid metal. )

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

You definitely don't live where I live, because most people I encounter don't care at all if you overhear their conversations. Discretion isn't a concern because they consider it rude for anyone to be listening to their conversations, regardless of where they are or how loudly they're talking.

If they really want privacy, they'd just do what they already do with cellphones and excuse themselves like they actually do on TNG, DS9, and VOY in such rare instances.

People walk around having personal conversations with their SPEAKER PHONE on??? I've lived in several big cities and have almost never heard that.

 

[C.E. Evans]

You definitely don't live where I live, because most people I encounter don't care at all if you overhear their conversations. Discretion isn't a concern because they consider it rude for anyone to be listening to their conversations, regardless of where they are or how loudly they're talking.

If they really want privacy, they'd just do what they already do with cellphones and excuse themselves like they actually do on TNG, DS9, and VOY in such rare instances.

People walk around having personal conversations with their SPEAKER PHONE on??? I've lived in several big cities and have almost never heard that.

I've encountered a few that have, but in most cases it's more that they're talking so loud--or have the phone volume cranked up so high--that you can't help but overhear their conversation, especially in a relatively quiet place.