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{{aquote|The holodeck has given us woodlands and ski slopes... figures that fight... and fictional characters with whom we can interact.|Jean-Luc Picard|2364|11001001}}
 
{{aquote|The holodeck has given us woodlands and ski slopes... figures that fight... and fictional characters with whom we can interact.|Jean-Luc Picard|2364|11001001}}
   
A '''Holographic Environment Simulator''', or '''holodeck''' for short, is a form of [[holotechnology]] designed and used by [[Starfleet]]. They are installed aboard [[starship]]s, [[space station]]s, and at [[Starfleet]] institutions for entertainment, training, and investigative purposes. A typical holodeck consists of a room equipped with a [[hologrid]] containing [[matrix diode|omnidirectional holographic diode]]s, enabling [[holographic]] [[holographic projector|projections]] through the manipulation of [[photon]]s contained within [[force field]]s.
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A '''Holographic Environment Simulator''', or '''holodeck''' for short, was a form of [[holotechnology]] designed and used by [[Starfleet]]. They were installed aboard [[starship]]s, [[space station]]s, and at [[Starfleet]] institutions for entertainment, training, and investigative purposes. A typical holodeck consisted of a room equipped with a [[hologrid]] containing [[matrix diode|omnidirectional holographic diode]]s, enabling [[holographic]] [[holographic projector|projections]] through the manipulation of [[photon]]s contained within [[force field]]s.
   
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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Also, in {{e|The Big Goodbye}}, [[Cyrus Redblock]] and [[Felix Leech]] disappear slowly after a few moments outside of the holodeck, although a lipstick smudge from a holographic character stays with Picard all the way onto the bridge. Although these inconsistencies can be partially explained by the difference in the types of objects leaving the holodeck, it still leaves quite a few questions about what exactly constitutes the differences. The holodeck can use a degree of replication to make realistic objects for the holodeck occupant to use, so there is a possibility of the computer replicating a real piece of paper with the picture on, as it would be a relatively simple pattern.
 
Also, in {{e|The Big Goodbye}}, [[Cyrus Redblock]] and [[Felix Leech]] disappear slowly after a few moments outside of the holodeck, although a lipstick smudge from a holographic character stays with Picard all the way onto the bridge. Although these inconsistencies can be partially explained by the difference in the types of objects leaving the holodeck, it still leaves quite a few questions about what exactly constitutes the differences. The holodeck can use a degree of replication to make realistic objects for the holodeck occupant to use, so there is a possibility of the computer replicating a real piece of paper with the picture on, as it would be a relatively simple pattern.
   
Some may argue that another discrepancy is the need for holodeck users to change into the appropriate costumes before entering and leaving the holodeck, since the holodeck has the ability to change the appearance of its users (established in {{ENT|These Are the Voyages...}}). But this may just be an issue of taste, on the user's possible preference of replicated clothes versus holographic clothes.
+
Some may argue that another discrepancy is the need for holodeck users to change into the appropriate costumes before entering and leaving the holodeck, since the holodeck has the ability to change the appearance of its users (established in {{ENT|These Are the Voyages...}}). But this may just be an issue of taste, on the user's possible preference of replicated clothes versus holographic clothes. Another theory is that the settings of the Holodeck can be altered to not only make weapons be lethal as seen in ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'' where Picard kills the Borg in a ballroom suite with a machine gun but also to make what events transpired inside it real life like the aforementioned lipstick smudge on Picard
   
 
===See also===
 
===See also===
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* {{wikipedia|Holodeck}}
 
* {{wikipedia|Holodeck}}
   
[[Category:Holographic technology]]
 
[[Category:Starship sections]]
 
   
 
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[[ja:ホロデッキ]]
 
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[[Category:Holographic technology]]
 
[[Category:Starship sections]]

Revision as of 22:20, 28 February 2015

File:Holodeck empty.jpg

An inactive holodeck, pre-2371

Galaxy class holodeck arch

The arch in an inactive holodeck, pre-2371

Holodeck in Emissary

An alternate holodeck design

Voyager holodeck

An inactive Federation holodeck, post-2371

Xyrillian holodeck

A 22nd century Xyrillian holo-chamber

"The holodeck has given us woodlands and ski slopes... figures that fight... and fictional characters with whom we can interact."
– Jean-Luc Picard, 2364 ("11001001")

A Holographic Environment Simulator, or holodeck for short, was a form of holotechnology designed and used by Starfleet. They were installed aboard starships, space stations, and at Starfleet institutions for entertainment, training, and investigative purposes. A typical holodeck consisted of a room equipped with a hologrid containing omnidirectional holographic diodes, enabling holographic projections through the manipulation of photons contained within force fields.

History

Prior to the late 24th century, Federation starships were not equipped with holodecks. (VOY: "Flashback")

However, in 2151, the Starfleet vessel Enterprise NX-01 encountered a vessel belonging to an alien race known as Xyrillians, who had advanced holographic technology in the form of a holographic chamber similar to the holodeck, which Federation Starfleet developed two centuries later. A holo-chamber was later installed aboard a Klingon battle cruiser, given to the Klingons by the Xyrillians in exchange for their lives. (ENT: "Unexpected")

In the 23rd century, Constitution-class starships were equipped with a recreation room, which employed holographic technology. The USS Enterprise had a recreation room located in Area 39 of the ship. (TAS: "The Practical Joker")

By 2364, the Federation Starfleet had begun installing holodecks aboard their vessels. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint")

During the 2360s and 2370s, a starship could have one or more holodecks depending on the vessel's size or purpose. For example, Defiant-class starships did not have a holodeck, while Galaxy-class vessels had several. (TNG: "11001001", "Homeward")

The two holodecks of Intrepid-class starships were the only places other than sickbay where the EMH was able to exist (without a mobile emitter) after the crew modified his program so it wasn't as tightly integrated into the sickbay's systems. In Prometheus-class starships, the EMH could move more around the ship freely because all decks were equipped with holoemitters. (VOY: "Message in a Bottle")

Purpose

The most obvious function of a holodeck is to provide entertainment and diversion for the crew. (TNG: "11001001", "The Big Goodbye", "Elementary, Dear Data", "A Fistful of Datas"; VOY: "The Cloud", "Homestead")

A holodeck can be used to create training simulations and exercise environments not otherwise available or safe. (TNG: "Code of Honor", "Where Silence Has Lease", "The Emissary", "New Ground", "Firstborn"; VOY: "Extreme Risk", "The Fight")

The holodeck can be used as a laboratory to aid in analysis, such as recreating the scene of a crime or accident to aid in forensic investigations. (TNG: "A Matter of Perspective") They can be used to visualize a 3D scene from alternate data sources for analysis (TNG: "Identity Crisis", "Phantasms"; VOY: "Distant Origin") or used as a brainstorming tool. (TNG: "Schisms", "Booby Trap")

Design

A holodeck combines elements of transporter technology with that of replicators, by generating actual matter, as well as projecting force fields to give the objects the illusion of substance. It can be controlled from an exterior control or the interior arch control. This arch can be summoned at any time to change the parameters of a running holoprogram. Matter and energy are interchangeable as such objects created on the holodeck can be either matter or energy. (TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data"; VOY: "Heroes and Demons"; Star Trek: Insurrection)

Riker Jungle Holodeck 2364

William Riker entering a holodeck simulation in 2364

In the early 24th century, matter replication was primarily used for objects and characters that would be in direct contact with the occupants which gave them an extreme sense of realism. Water, for example, would feel like actual water because on some level, it was, and it could create experiences like odors. This also enabled simple matter to exist outside of the holodeck for brief periods of time (such as snow) before they would lose cohesion without the support of the holodeck grid and revert back to energy.

This, however, used an extreme amount of power, and caused repetitive problems to occur in its safe usage. Some time in the mid 24th century, this was slowly phased out in favor of simpler 'true' holographic technology by focusing on the photons contained within micro force fields. This was not only safer and used less power, but had more varied usage and could be easily controlled with quicker reaction times. Some would argue this made it lose its appeal, but advances in the technology has made it as real as the matter replication method, which is still used for more complex, tactile objects, as well as food, odors, etc.

Holodeck walls can generate holographic images that appear to extend for an unlimited distance, seemingly much larger than its own dimensions. In doing so, however, the holodeck is aware only of its users; it does not recognize its own created objects. For example, if a person were to throw a holographic rock at the holodeck's walls, the rock would not be allowed to pass beyond the wall (if it were of replicated matter). (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint") It does this by continuously adjusting the projections of the force fields and the use of a force field "treadmill".

With this, an individual approaching a wall causes an instant shift away. It can also manipulate light photons, 'lensing' them to make individuals appear further away if two persons were separated in a scenario. The holodeck can change gravity in three dimensions, so occupants don't notice the change, (Star Trek: The Next Generation Interactive Technical Manual) as observed during the stop of B'Elanna Torres' holographic orbital skydiving session. (VOY: "Extreme Risk")

End program

A holodeck program in the process of shutting down

Holodecks are equipped with safety protocols to prevent serious injury during their use, though these can be disengaged by the user when required. While active, a force field that is likely to cause a certain level of physical harm to a living humanoid collapses before making contact with them, allowing them to escape uninjured. When protocols have been deactivated holographic obstacles have the same effects on a person as the objects or instances they simulate; holographic bullets or a steep drop could be fatal in such a scenario. (TNG: "The Big Goodbye"; Star Trek: First Contact; VOY: "Extreme Risk")

How the security protocols are circumvented differs; in one instance, it required the voice authorization of two senior officers, (TNG: "Descent") while in others the authorization of the individual such as the ship's captain, or the person who started the program was enough. (VOY: "Extreme Risk") Safety protocols can also be unintentionally disabled due to software errors or physical damage to the holodeck's hardware system. The status of safety protocols can be reviewed by the computer upon the request of an operator. The use of a tricorder within the holodeck can be also be done to query the current safety protocol status.

Holodecks employ spatial orientation systems to simulate parts of a holocharacter, such as left- or right-handedness. (TNG: "Ship in a Bottle")

Holodeck characters have been known to include a program element designed to hide anachronisms to the program's time period, such as uniforms and communicators, and prevent them from raising the character's ire and curiosity. (VOY: "Spirit Folk")

Among the viewing modes on a holodeck is objective mode, in which the user doesn't interact with the characters, and subjective mode, in which the viewer can interact with the characters as well as alter his or her surroundings. (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")

Abilities and limitations

Holodeck matter can impersonate real matter at the molecular level. (VOY: "Phage") Molecule-sized magnetic bubbles replace molecules in full resolution holographic objects, which a computer can manipulate individually in three dimensions. However, the complexity of electron shell activity and atomic motions that determine biochemical activity in living creatures cannot be projected holographically. This prevents replicators from duplicating life and resurrecting the dead. Advances in computer technology may allow this, permitting a person to live forever in any chosen environment while interacting with real people and objects visiting the holodeck.

The computer may use large magnetic bubbles to simulate surfaces and textures rather than create an object at the molecular level. However, objects created within the holodeck would not exist beyond the holodeck itself, as they only exist as energy. (TNG: "The Big Goodbye") Since holodeck technology can be used with replicator technology, there are some instances where real objects are replicated within the holodeck and are used to interact with the holographic program and/or users; since these objects are real material composed of matter, they can leave the holodeck fully intact.

A holodeck can modify the appearance of persons within it.

Holograms can be augmented with force beams to simulate solid, tangible objects or with replicator technology to create actual solid matter such as foodstuffs. All food eaten on the holodeck are replications. No other type of simulation would survive outside of the holodeck.

A holodeck also has the ability to create holodecks within holodecks, and holodeck programs are able to be saved to a cube that can be inserted into special devices with information to "last a lifetime". (TNG: "Ship in a Bottle")

The energy matrix of a holodeck is incompatible with other ship systems. (VOY: "Parallax")

Failure of a holodeck's matter conversion subsystem can cause the loss of solid objects within the holodeck environment. Materialization errors occurred in the USS Enterprise-D holodecks in 2370 following the ship's exposure to plasmonic energy in the atmosphere of the planet Boraal II. (TNG: "Homeward")

Even though holographically created characters, just like characters in a story book, are never self-aware and never know that they are not real, there have been a few rare instances in which that rule has not held true. During a Sherlock Holmes holodeck simulation in the late 2360s, Geordi La Forge and Doctor Katherine Pulaski argued that playing with Data was impossible and unfair to them as he had memorized all the Sherlock Holmes novels and could easily solve the cases. In order to level the playing field, La Forge requested that the holodeck create an opponent intelligent enough to defeat Data.

Even though La Forge meant Holmes, his request had specifically noted Data. As a result, the holodeck created a self-aware holographic character of James Moriarty who was not only fully aware of his own consciousness, but who subsequently argued that he had a right to exist and leave the holodeck to pursue his life as he wished. Another holographic writer - known as "Felix" - created the fully self-aware program of Vic Fontaine for the crew of Deep Space 9, Vic being completely aware of his holographic nature despite being a 1950s lounge singer, often offering the crew personal advice on relationship issues. (TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data", "Ship in a Bottle"; DS9: "His Way", "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang", "It's Only a Paper Moon")

Holoprograms

File:Enterprise, sailing brig, Generations.jpg

The brig Enterprise holoprogram

Starships with a holodeck normally had a vast list of holoprograms in their computer. Several notable programs aboard the USS Enterprise-D included:

Notable programs aboard the USS Enterprise-E included:

Notable programs aboard the USS Voyager included:

Notable programs aboard the USS Enterprise's recreation room included:

  • A beach setting allowing for swimming.
  • A woodland environment allowing for a nature walk.
  • An arctic wasteland.
  • An 18th century style hedge-maze. (TAS: "The Practical Joker")

Appendices

Background

Hoerter with holodeck model

Dennis Hoerter with a holodeck model at Image G

The concept of the holodeck originated in 1968, when Gene Roddenberry came up with the idea of a "simulated outdoor recreation area" on the Enterprise for the third season of Star Trek: The Original Series. This idea never came to fruition, probably because of budget constraints. (Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, p. 404) The idea was later used in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "The Practical Joker", which was basically the first appearance of the holodeck, then called a "recreation room". It never came to existence in live-action production until the pilot of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Its inclusion in that series was originally proposed by Robert Justman, who initially thought of and suggested it as a place where crew members could be "psychically connected" with their homeworld. (Starlog issue 115, p. 71)

In early episodes of TNG, the series' production staff had an unwritten rule that the floors in a holodeck simulation shouldn't go below the floor level of the holodeck's door. This made sense, as burrowing down to the deck below would probably be inadvisable on a starship. Subsequent story requirements and set designs eventually influenced producers to alter their "rule," deciding that at least one holodeck was a multi-story chamber. (text commentary, Star Trek Generations (Special Edition) DVD)

The appearance of the holodeck on TNG was affected by having limited finances. Production Designer Herman Zimmerman commented, "We were in a budget constraint that made us do a set that is a wireframe look." Zimmerman and other members of the design team that worked on TNG had a long-standing interest in demonstrating the machinery of the holodeck from inside the room, though this was not made possible until the advent of the Cardassian holosuite in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. (The Deep Space Log Book: A Second Season Companion)

Despite the fact that the Galaxy-class starship was meant to have numerous holodecks, a single set represented these environments on TNG. This was one of the last sets to be built for the show and was also used to represent the Galaxy-class cargo bays, shuttlebays and gymnasium. (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion 3rd ed., p. 10)

The holodeck arch was a prop that was originally made for TNG: "Haven". Although some holodeck programs incorporated the arch to make the task of finding the way out easier, the arch originated as a way to let outsiders know when it was safe or appropriate to enter. (text commentary, Star Trek Generations (Special Edition) DVD) The same arch set piece was featured in both TNG and the film Star Trek Generations. (Cinefex, No. 61, p. 69)

File:Holodeck door, The Cloud.jpg

The exterior of an Intrepid-class holodeck, mid-2371

For its first appearance on Star Trek: Voyager in "The Cloud", the exterior of the holodeck was the same set piece as had previously been seen on TNG, right down to the octagonal door frame, although all had been repainted to match the color scheme for the new Voyager corridors. It did not receive a square door arch and updated door panels until its second appearance.

There are many discrepancies between episodes pertaining to the abilities and limits of holodeck technology. For example, in "Encounter at Farpoint", the young Wesley Crusher remains wet with holodeck water, after exiting into a corridor. In "Elementary, Dear Data", a piece of paper given to Data by James Moriarty is able to be carried outside of the holodeck and into a hall, but upon Moriarty's return in "Ship in a Bottle", a book thrown outside of the holodeck instantly disappears.

Also, in "The Big Goodbye", Cyrus Redblock and Felix Leech disappear slowly after a few moments outside of the holodeck, although a lipstick smudge from a holographic character stays with Picard all the way onto the bridge. Although these inconsistencies can be partially explained by the difference in the types of objects leaving the holodeck, it still leaves quite a few questions about what exactly constitutes the differences. The holodeck can use a degree of replication to make realistic objects for the holodeck occupant to use, so there is a possibility of the computer replicating a real piece of paper with the picture on, as it would be a relatively simple pattern.

Some may argue that another discrepancy is the need for holodeck users to change into the appropriate costumes before entering and leaving the holodeck, since the holodeck has the ability to change the appearance of its users (established in ENT: "These Are the Voyages..."). But this may just be an issue of taste, on the user's possible preference of replicated clothes versus holographic clothes. Another theory is that the settings of the Holodeck can be altered to not only make weapons be lethal as seen in Star Trek: First Contact where Picard kills the Borg in a ballroom suite with a machine gun but also to make what events transpired inside it real life like the aforementioned lipstick smudge on Picard

See also

External links