Why are communicators and tricorders separate?

[FlyingLemons]

This just got me thinking: why do they have separate tricorders and communicators? Back in the days of TOS, and even TNG and the other 24th century series the technology wasn't around, but think about it now - with the rate of integration real world technology is going through, don't you think the tricorder/communicator separation thing is going to look a bit dated soon?

If I'd been making the new Trek film, it is one thing I might have paid attention to. Of course, I think I probably would have gotten quite a negative reaction for doing away with the classic tricorder/communicator combo, but it would have made sense given modern technology.

 

[JNG]

Well, with voice interaction prioritized (a decision that could be questioned, but would probably lie beyond the scope of the thread), it's a much cooler bit of stage business to have something visually similar to a cellular phone flip out and be talked into, or a badge to tap, than to have them take out something that looks complicated enough to believably be a sophisticated science instrument and talk into it. Sure, they could reach over and awkwardly tap the tricorder, but that isn't as cool; neither would it be as cool and convenient to make the comparison to a palmtop computer explicit and have them recognizably fiddle with the thing and use the little tiny screen for minivisuals or anything like that.

Within Trek itself, we might think that there are several advantages to keeping the devices separate, aside from there being a certain ergonomic grace to it in accords with what I wrote above. The little comm badge is very unlikely to ever be mistaken for a weapon or anything at all dangerous. It is serving a dual purpose as an identification emblem that would probably have to be served by something of similar dimensions anyway. Comm redundancy is good. Um, maybe the communications device would screw up sensor returns if it was constantly broadcasting carrier waves from within a few centimeters. I don't know. Stuff like that.

 

[Ziz]

Just speaking from personal experience with audio, video and computer equipment over the years, I'd rather have 5 boxes that each do one thing well than one box that does 5 things so-so. The other problem with devices that try to do too many things is that if one part breaks down, it can affect other functions, rendering the whole thing useless until you get it repaired or replaced. So from a Trek perspective, it's safer to have different "boxes" for different functions so that if something gets lost or damaged, you're not left with just your thumb up your ass.

 

[Wingsley]

Using the logic suggested at the beginning of this thread, one wonders why all technologies couldn't simply be integrated into one: a combination weapon, computer/sensor/analysis/recording device, and a telecommunication device, and then just build it into a landing party jumpsuit uniform so the wearer never has to take time reaching for anything. Or, for that matter, why bother exposing landing party members to hazardous survey missions at all; why not simply send an EMPIRE STRIKES BACK-style Imperial probot droid to do all the dirty work for you?

I suspect that things don't work this way in the STAR TREK Universe because it is explicitly understood that the Milky Way galaxy is still a vast frontier filled with unknowns, hazards, first contacts/diplomatic tigers and security risks that mandate the explorers to follow a few simple rules:

1: field equipment is to be kept simple to meet specific needs. Suitcase nukes are possible, but you don't expect everyone to carry one in their back pocket. You want field gear to be basically functional, powerful enough to do the job, ingeniously designed to be customized, but also simple enough to be serviced in the field where you might be a long way from any supporting technologies.

2: Automated probes are best used in deep space and then only sparingly. If unfriendlies are lurking nearby, it's probably best not to keep sending out probes filled with your best technology for them to capture. So keep your probes simple and use only a limited number of them. This policy preserves security and the Prime Directive at the same time.

3: Automation is to be used sparingly anyways, lest humans become too reliant upon the jodgement of machines that could go awry.

I would imagine the Archer probably thought of these policies himself in the early days of the Federation. Can anyone else think of other logical reasons why explorers in the STAR TREK Universe don't use super-high-tech Electrocomp-like super-devices like the ones ELECTRAWOMAN AND DYNAGIRL used?

 

[JNG]

^ But there was that one episode where Kirk performed an Electra-Change in the turbolift.

 

[gwud]

There are times when you beam down and don't need a tricorder. I don't like carrying things around and having to carry a bulky tricorder would be annoying if I just wanted to call someone.

 

[Green Shirt]

There are times when you beam down and don't need a tricorder. I don't like carrying things around and having to carry a bulky tricorder would be annoying if I just wanted to call someone.

True, but how many redshirts died as a result from whipping out their communicator (or some other piece of equipment), instead of their phaser.

 

[Deks]

Well, one of the reasons why SF might have decided to keep those things separate is strategy.
Remember that in some situations, SF officers when held captive were disposed of their tricorders and phasers, but not of the comm-badges which left them with some kind of an advantage and tech in a dangerous situation.
Janeway and 7 of 9 being held captive in Arturis brig for example used a comm-badge's micro-filling to modify 7's cranial implant.
There were other situations as well ... although I must admit that instead of being decorative, the pips themselves (which apparently are never removed from the prisoners unless the uniform itself is discarded) could be filled with micro transponders/comm subroutines/computers to aid the away teams in case their other technological assets are conviscated.

 

[gwud]

There are times when you beam down and don't need a tricorder. I don't like carrying things around and having to carry a bulky tricorder would be annoying if I just wanted to call someone.

True, but how many redshirts died as a result from whipping out their communicator (or some other piece of equipment), instead of their phaser.

I think those redshirts were going to die eitherway.

It becomes less of an issue with the com badge.

 

[Mr. B]

Even in the Trek universe the tricorder is a rather sophisticated device. I'm sure it "could" function as a communicator since it has RF functions. In TOS is the tricorder is considerably bigger than a cell phone so it's impractical. TNG on has the combadge, the size of which is inconsequential.

 

[Timo]

I'm also for the line of reasoning where the TOS tricorder is a very substantial piece of equipment, already miniaturized as far as one can get with cutting-edge 23rd century technology - so integrating it into other portable devices, or vice versa, would result in an embarrassingly unwieldy lump of machinery.

But that doesn't quite explain why our heroes don't pack lesser sensors that would indeed be integrated to their uniforms. The basic problem with plausibility isn't IMHO that everything isn't packed into a single wristwatch - it's that the equipment of our heroes is too austere overall. If they don't pack the tricorder, why don't they pack something like a lightweight shoulder-mounted camera and tiny a you're-being-scanned-by-enemy-tricorder warning receiver to compensate?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[caisson2delta]

Quite possibly it is for redundancy purposes. It wouldn't be too practical to have one super fancy item that, if damaged, left the individual without a scanner, weapon, or communications device. I also think that, going back to TOS, the items they used were advanced looking enough to be the future of our technology but still remaining somewhat recognizable to the viewer.

 

[Mysterion]

Good question. Better question: why are communicators and universal translators seperate?

 

[Wingsley]

If they don't pack the tricorder, why don't they pack something like a lightweight shoulder-mounted camera and tiny a you're-being-scanned-by-enemy-tricorder warning receiver to compensate?

Timo Saloniemi

I don't see why they couldn't. I would imagine that most of their expeditions are exploratory in nature, not military.

TOS and TNG made it clear that Starfleet is an exploratory and service arm of the Federation. While military operations are obviously possible in that framework, we never got to see what Kirk's and/or Picard's Enterprises would be like if they hauled a "Marine detatchment" into a combat operation.

 

[Timo]

I'm not sure why a shoulder camera or a tricorder warning device would be considered "military" gear, though. They would have been very useful for Kirk in his TOS missions, most of which were indeed civilian in nature.

why are communicators and universal translators seperate?

Are they? We've only seen a separate UT on two occasions: once when provided by aliens ("Arena"), once when Spock desired exceptional translation performance and customized the required instrument ("Metamorphosis").

One might say that the usual UT is an implant that all our heroes possess - hence the "everybody speaks English even after confiscating or dismantling all the gear of the heroes" phenomenon. Only some demanding special tasks would require a separate, bulky piece of hardware - which in ENT would be a smallish box, in TOS a microphone-like tube, and in TNG a commbadge. And when the heroes were deprived of those, they'd be unable to learn all-new languages, as in much of ENT, in TOS "Arena" and in VOY "Basics".

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Deks]

In the 24th century, the comm-badges act as communicators and UT's at the same time.
Janeway described them as such in 37's ... and the reason why everyone appeared to have been talking in the native language of an individual they are talking to is likely that by that time, the comm badges scan specific regions for the brain or genetic markers in a person to determine their heritage and the likeliest language they would understand ... it probably works best with humans and Federation member races (along with numerous Alpha and Beta quadrant major races) and why it takes time for the UT to translate an alien language.

 

[Timo]

Or then the UT in TNG era (and in other eras save ENT) is a two-tier system: the commbadges (and other external devices, up to and including starship computers) do the advanced computations needed for translating new languages, while the implants translate known languages even when the badges are removed (such as shown in "Basics").

I don't see the advantages of "prescanning" an opponent's likeliest native language: it would be just as simple for the devices to wait until something is said, recognize it, and then translate that to the language preselected by the user.

The scene in "The 37s" is rather exceptional in that it shows two distinct groups of people who lack UTs and speak different languages, plus one group that has UTs (plus supposedly natively speaks English, like one of the other groups). The Japanese guy hears the UT-less Noonan speak Japanese, while the UT-less American guys and gals hear Nogami speak English, merely because Janeway's UT badge happens to be in the room. I don't think we have seen anything comparable anywhere else... Nor is it a direct and necessary consequence of any of the other abilities the UT is known to possess.

Perhaps we might claim that the Briori equipped all their ethnically diverse slaves (including the original 37s) with UT implants so that they could be commanded more effectively? The theory that Janeway's badge would be sending out English sound waves to Noonan and Earhart and Japanese ones to Nogami doesn't really work, because then there should be two sounds heard. If not by the audience, then at least by Nogami. If Nogami only hears one set of sounds, then he must have an implant...

OTOH, Janeway does seem to believe that her badge is the root cause of the translations. Or then she's beduffled, but doesn't want to show it. Yeah, that must be it.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Deks]

On the other hand, Janeway is a scientist first and foremost.
As a result, there is a high possibility that what she was saying (that her - and other away team members comm-badges are responsible for the translation) is definitely true.

If it's going to be a previously not-encountered race, the UT won't be able to recognize them and pre-scan their brains for the primary language because it has no record of it ... which is why it needs to 'learn' the language after they say something.
Keep in mind that Nogami never really stated anything verbally before he said they were all speaking Japanese ... indicating to the possibility that the badges have the basic ability to scan individuals within a specific range, determine their language, and just send tightly focused sound waves to them.
They could do it through frequency resonating as well.
If each language resonates on a specific frequency, then the badge is sending out a sound wave that covers a specific spectrum of frequencies ... which is only distinguishable to the brain of an individual which language corresponds to the specific frequency.

 

[suneel44]

A tricorder is a sophisticated analytical handheld device used by Starfleet, incorporating onboard EM sensor clusters, multi-channel communications assemblies and multiple databank modules. Encompassing visual displays and standard graphic touch pad interface it provides easy means for on the spot archive retrieval; the recording of away mission events, and constant scientific measurements, whether biological, geographical or meteorological.

 

[Strider]

In Star Trek, we see a society that makes routine use of FTL propulsion, nanites, fully immervise holographic environments, controlled matter/antimatter reactions, transporters (!), devices that translate alien languages in real time (and synch up the speaker's lips for good measure!), and directed energy weapons capable of splitting a planet in half.

The fact that away teams still beam down in their ship duty uniforms (bright, target-practice red) with bulky equipment hanging from belts is nothing more than an entirely understandable limitation on budget and imagination. I mean, who knows what a realistic ground survey mission would look like with such technology? An intelligent nanite swarm?

At the very least, an actual team would be more likely to be equipped with climate-controlled, bio-feedback enhanced, self-healing, lifesigns-regulating, doohickey-sporting badassery with all the relevant equipment built into the suit or even the person themselves. Why fumble around with a bulky hand phaser when you can have the emitter built into your gloves? Same goes for tricorders, really.

This has long been a problem with Star Trek technology. The development of sentient holograms, for example, is a complete game changer. Within a generation of the development of the EMH and a refinement of holographic technology, you would expect doctors would go the way of the lamplighters.