Treknology Today

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Trek in Paper, June 2005

23/o6 - Anyone interested in making Star Trek models should take a look at TrekPlace which has just published an interview with Andrew Probert, production illustrator on Star Trek: The Motion Picture and consulting senior illustrator on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In it he discusses details of the Enterprise refit, TMP Enterprise, Dry Dock, the Vulcan shuttle, his unused design for the Enterprise-D shuttle which he is releasing as a model, the Sphinx service craft and numerous details of the Enterprise-D.

An interesting link that I got from this was to Ed Whitefire's 13 sheet set of drawings of the Enterprise-D - beautiful examples of technical drawing art!

Monday, May 02, 2005

Trek in Paper, May 2005

02/05/05 - The stable of shuttles is expanding all the time! Steve Marshall has followed up last month's Type 17 Shuttle with a similarly excellent offering in the form of the Shuttlepod as seen in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"

Everybody seems to be getting their prototypes out before the end of the month!

On the 26th Ron Caudillo sent me a copy of his latest developments with his Original series Enterprise bridge. "I'm currently finishing up applying color in CorelDraw and hope to have a final build in about a week or two! I have redesigned the chairs and added some small updates here and there." Believe me, this will be worth the wait!

On the same day GB posted some photographs of his uncompleted Sovereign class (Enterprise-E), Defiant class and Sabre class starships. Perhaps most interestingly of all, they seem to be to scale to each other making the possibility of a diarama an interesting possibility.

And to cap it all off, on the last day of the month, Charles of Brasil has posted photos of his completed models on the Startrekpapermodels Smartgroup. These include his Enterprise-E which he posted in February on the Paper Model Designers Smartgroup (as I reported in February), an Enterprise refit (unless I miss my guess), Marc Robitaille's Klingon D-7 and a couple of shots of the Excelsior! His own design?

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Trek in Paper: Apr 2005

07/04/05 - Digging through Bernd Schneider's Ex Astris Scientia Bridge Cutaways, I found a link to Gilso Star Trek Schematics. Man! Gerard Gillan's site has been down ages, I thought - but I tried it anyway and HALLELUJA BROTHERS! Gilso is back on line!
For those of you who haven't seen any of the drawings from this site - mostly by Gerard Gillan, some by other fans but many by Jackill (Eric Kristiansen) - you are in for a rare treat! In this computerised age these are almost unique in that they are real, pen-and-ink technical drawings. Made me want to blow the dust off my Rotring and go searching for me T-Square!

08/04/05 - Frank Johnson has put his Self-Sealing Stembolt on the papermodels smartgroup for free download. Now all I need is some gold pressed Latinum to buy it with!

10/04/05 - Pst! Want to make some quick Latinum, bud? Look in the Models folder of the PaperModels Smartgroup for the file "Alan, Downunda" where you'll find 12 strips of Latinum ... and tell them Kirok sent ya'

12/04/05 - Jon Leslie has posted a small 6" model of the Galaxy class, Enterprise 1501-D on his Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Center eGiftShop. Designed by Erik J, this is the next step up-scale from The Haggard's Hako Enterprise-D on the cardmodels4fun SmartGroup. Still no more news of the Enterprise-D started by the Munificent Modeller Massamune last year

17/04/05 – Perhaps in thanks for helping him with his own models Billy Burgess is hosting a new Klingon D7 from Marc Robitaille on his web site Billys World.

28/04/05 - Mike Haggard has updated his collection of Phasers with the modified curved pistol grip for the Type II Phaser c.2371.

Friday, April 01, 2005

The ComBadge Dec 2002

I wrote this article in December, 2002 - See the end of the article for updates on the material.

The last time we went searching through a museum looking for the various strayed members of my family I thought to myself - wouldn't it be great if we had Com Badges!

First of all it might pay to consider just exactly what a Comm Badge is and what it does. A Dermal Sensor Controller (DSC) verifies that the tap that activates it matches the unique Bioelectrical field and temperature profile of its' owner. The Subspace Transceiver Assembly (STA) turns the users' words into a digital burst which is transmitted (after encryption) to the closest of many short-range Radio Frequency transcievers installed about the ship. These relay the signal, using the main computer as it's routing control, to the desired target. The whole thing is powered by a tiny Sarium Krellide crystal battery, which has a 2 week average charge life. Of course the Comm Badge goes far beyond communications, they are in fact an interface between the wearer and the computer network. Other common uses are ...

- through the Universal translator of the main computer, the user can communicate in any known tongue and (with enough data) a high percentage of new ones.
- as a remote sensor to determine the major health parameters (biosigns) of the user eg. heartbeat, temperature etc.
- To command the ships computer system by voice control.
- to ascertain the location of the com badge user.
- to serve as a transporter lock.

There is certainly nothing that encompasses all these functions now, and it is arguable if it could be done with such a small piece of hardware for a long time to come. However if we ignore the miniaturisation, modern technology is fast catching up with 24th century Treknology on individual functions.
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COMMUNICATIONS
It has often been noted that the Personal Communicator of The Original Series, was a foretaste of our modern mobile phone networks. The flip-up, handheld units were partially replaced around 2271 by a smaller model worn on the wrist (ST TMP). This too has been reflected in reality by the release recently by Samsung of a mobile phone / wristwatch


In America short range communications (without FCC licenses, radio knowledge, or monthly fees) is available using Family Radio Service or FRS (462.5625 to 467.7125) which utilise transceivers about the size of a pack of cards (so I'm told). You could check out some of the articles on PopularWireless.com especially the comparison chart. One choice they do not review in detail is the Motorola Talkabout series which seems a budget level system.
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COMPUTER INTERFACE
As I said, the idea of the Comm Badge goes far beyond "Walkie-Talkie" communications. They are in fact an interface between the wearer and a computer network. Here are some current developments from the Web -

AllPoints Wireless PC Card and RadioMail Service
http://www.palmtoppaper.com/ptphtml/28/pt280023.htm
Not a badge, probably closer to a PADD - an add-on that turns your HP Palmtop into a communications device. With this combination of hardware & software you can send and receive e-mail, send faxes, and people can send you messages through a dispatch service.

Bluetooth
http://www.bluetooth.com/index.asp
An industry standard for connecting, amongst other things, mobile phones and mobile computers, notably PDA's via a short range radio signal. Already supported by Apple and reported to be supported by the new Windows XP update due out shortly. Communications and computing but it's still not wearable is it?

CharmBadge by Charmed Technology, Inc.
http://www.charmed.com/products.php
"...designed for aiding the communication and networking that occurs at conferences. Using data recovered from an infrared electronic conference badge, the CharmBadge system automatically creates private, personalized web pages documenting an attendee's or exhibitor's experiences during the conference." Not exactly communications but see also Ian pearsons article "The future of Smart Badges" (below)

Comm Badge Communications Network - Mike Hodgson
http://cbcn-online.dns2go.com/
My personal favourite. A group of developers that are dedicated to bringing the core functions of the Comm Badge into reality. With the electronics at the working prototype stage, this is an idea that you could "breadboard" yourself at home! Click on the links under developer on the right hand side of the Home Page.
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THE FUTURE
"The future of Network Computers and the Star Trek Badge"
Ian Pearson [Last revised 05-01-00]
"... with a decent network, the only thing you need with you is an interface ... Both processing and storage are available remotely. This means that you can work from anywhere and have full access to all the files, programs and information that you have from your desk ... Such a simple interface device could be built into a Star trek com-badge look-alike..."
http://www.bt.com/sphere/insights/pearson/network_computers.htm

"The future of Smart Badges"
Ian Pearson [Last revised 05-01-00]
Smart badges are mostly used today as an identifier, however they can hold much more, from personal preferences to business contact details. It is possible that badges could talk to each other... and when two badge wearers met, their badges might exchange information and inform their owners. "Their badges exchanged glances across a crowded room ..."
http://www.bt.com/sphere/insights/pearson/smart_badges.htm

"Technology Corner; Beam Me Up Scottie"
Robert Reed [(c) 1994-1997]
Already showing its' age badly, the reviewer sees communication between PDA's (PADDs) more likely than the use of CommBadges
http://www.tvpress.com/idn/idn4/restec.htm
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To me what the Comm Badge represents is wearable technology. It is communications, monitoring and computing that travels unobtrusively with you. It could revolutionise our way of life, it would certainly liberate housebound and handicapped people. It is the next step in making technology truly a part of our lives, and then? Communications and computer input/output which are implanted into our bodies? Well, I for one am not quite ready for that yet!

Lt Alan Anderton, USS Magellan
Science Liaison Officer, R14


-----------------------Update 29/03/05------------------------

Doing an updated article so thought I'd check those URLs -

COMMUNICATIONSCOMPUTER INTERFACETHE FUTURE
The two Ian Pearson articles are still on the Net ...

Friday, March 18, 2005

Communication is the Key: 2-The ComBadge

The main difference between the communicators on The Original Series and The Next Generation is that communications became more personal. Rather than a type of mobile phone that you only carry when you are away from the ship, the TNG combadge as it became known was omnipresent. It was always worn and it meant that crew members were always available, always on call, their every moment recorded.

What is a Combadge and what does it do? A Dermal Sensor Controller (DSC) verifies that the tap that activates it matches the unique Bioelectrical field and temperature profile of its' owner. The Subspace Transceiver Assembly (STA) turns the users' words into a digital burst which is transmitted (after encryption) to the closest of many short-range Radio Frequency transcievers installed about the ship. These relay the signal, using the main computer as it's routing control, to the desired target. The whole thing is powered by a tiny Sarium Krellide crystal battery, which has a 2 week average charge life. Of course the Comm Badge goes far beyond communications, they are in fact an interface between the wearer and the computer network. Other common uses are ...
  • through the Universal translator of the main computer, the user can communicate in any known tongue and (with enough data) a high percentage of new ones.

  • as a remote sensor to determine the major health parameters (biosigns) of the user eg. heartbeat, temperature etc.

  • To command the ships computer system by voice control.

  • to ascertain the location of the com badge user.

  • to serve as a transporter lock.

In a previous article on the ComBadge I did in 2002 there is certainly nothing that encompassed all these functions, and it is arguable if it could be done with such a small piece of hardware for a long time to come. In three years, the situation has changed considerably, however we are still not quite there ...

COMMUNICATIONS
As I said in the last Treknology Today, It has often been noted that the Personal Communicator of The Original Series, was a foretaste of our modern mobile phone networks. One major difference has always been, though, that Trek Communicators have always had an audio input in that our favourite Science officer would say "Spock to Kirk’ rather than punch in Captain Kirk’s phone number. This function, Voice Dialling, is now an option on many mobile phones.

In Star Trek: The Motion Picture (which took place in 2271), we saw the half-way point between the communicator and the ComBadge with a smaller communicator worn on the wrist. This too has been reflected in reality by the release by Samsung of a mobile phone/wristwatch.

Perhaps the most visible example of ComBadge type communications on the market right now is the ubiquitous Bluetooth earphone/microphone headsets that use short range radio to make it possible for the user to have ‘hands free’ use of their mobile phones. Just as we have seen someone put bluetooth electronics into a TOS communicator (last issue) I am just waiting for someone to cram them into a replica Combadge!

Most Star Trek fans will probably be aware of the Vocera Badge. Released in 2002 they now have over 120 installations, some systems with over 2000 badges. Unlike the Trek ComBadge which is personalized to operate for only one person, the Vocera badge can be used by anyone after they have logged on and thus can be shared across shifts. It represents a coordinated coms system with the ability to call someone on the system by name, function or group, locate an individual, and is integrated with internal and external telephone networks, email, voicemail and more!

COMPUTER INTERFACE
The idea of the Comm Badge goes far beyond simple voice communications. They are in fact an interface between the wearer and a computer network. This too is being reflected in new developments as the individual is becoming more and more ‘plugged into’ local wireless computer networks.

In my last survey, I noted various "Smart Badges" such as CharmBadge by Charmed Technology, Inc which gather information for the user and exchange information with other wearers. The idea is slowly but surely gaining ground both with new development, such as that done by Professor Gerald Q. "Chip" Maguire Jr. and Mat Hans, Ph.D. , and new commercially available products such as the nTag, Laser Registration and SmartGuide. All of these basically revolve around exhibition and convention usage but the possibilities are endless. I particularly liked the idea of the Evacuation Monitoring and Accountability System, or EMAS which uses RFID to log users in and out of a building by reflecting a radio beam off smart badge.

At the recent CeBIT Exhibition at Hanover, a new Siemens device based on Bluetooth goes a step further. It uses a "dictionary" of 30,000 recognised words & predefined commands as the input control device for a home network server which converts the words into commands for the different systems which are hooked up to it. Besides talking to others around the house, the wearer could control doors (air conditioning, lights?) or use the phone or internet

Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs have even gone so far as to name one of their projects the ComBadge, saying it is a "two-way voice messaging device with a simple spoken user interface." This project focusses on creating a communications device that is very simple & natural to use … to appeal to … the market where cell phone penetration is lowest, including children, the elderly, and the less-wealthy in the world."

Interestingly though it talks about the possibility of "delivering voice messages to machines in addition to people … Initially, we are looking at using ComBadge to control household devices and as a voice portal to traffic, weather, appointments, and stock quotes. An important new research area being investigated is using ComBadge in a mesh-connected environment in which no infrastructure is required. In such a system, a voice message is delivered to a destination ComBadge by forwarding the message through other intermediary ComBadges."

THE FUTURE
The Comm Badge represents an unobtrusive interface between man and machine. I see it as the forerunner of "wearable technology", where computer circuitry is embedded in clothing or, as in this case, jewellery.

The alternative is cybernetic implanting, to turn ourselves into Cyborgs - viable but not nearly as attractive an option to my mind.

Treknology in Paper, March 2005

Feb/Mar - Strictly speaking it started last month, but the cardmodels4fun SmartGroup is running a spaceship challenge that will continue through to the end of this month. cardmodels4fun as a group focus on the fun of making paper models rather than the challenge of constructing the more complex subjects. It is the home of Hakos for example, amongst which you can make up just about a full crew of the Original Series Enterprise. Don't get 'simple to make' mixed up with 'easy to design' as two of the early entrants in this competition prove.

First cab off the rank was Mike Haggard's Star Fleet Roustabout Pocket Starship. In keeping with the rules there are only two pages of parts and a single page of instructions. This is an innovative original design of a Phaser/Torpedo Boat - non-canon but perfectly in character, it even has a potted history attached to it. Definately not for the beginner but a rewarding detailed build for such a small model.

One of Steve Marshall's entries, the Type 17 Shuttle is an early Rick Sternbach design for the standard shuttle for the Enterprise-D. Steve's model captures it's proportions and curves with elegant simplicity. It might be a shade too hard for the outright beginner because of the curved front end but Steve has done some extremely easy to follow instructions, so it could be just the model to stretch a Newbies skills!

15/03/05 - Billy Burgess put seven new paper models on his website ...
- New Orleans Class Starship
- Nebula Class Starship
- Federation Shuttle Type 9 and 11
- Borg Cube
- Borg Tactical Cube
- Borg Sphere
- Species 8472
Billy is new to creating paper models and the more experienced designers were very supportive in their comments and advise on how to improve on his work. Diego Cortes (Enterprise 1701-A, Saladin, Miranda & Daedalus Class) pointed out that Pepakura is a good base to start from but you need more. "[It] is one of the four programs that I use to make a model ... to design a model it isn´t enough to put a 3D model into Pepakura and unfold it". Jon [Leslie?] pointed out that Pepakura can make "bad edge decisions" that can be fixed, Steve Marshall pointing Billy towards a tutorial on the subject on Rick Steffer's CardModellers.net website and Alan McGrew (on 21/03) went into considerable detail (worth bookmarking if you use Pepakura).
On the 31st Billy posted that with the help of Marc Robitaille the problems with the New Orleans Class Starship had been fixed but he was removing the Nebula class starship and the Borg Sphere for now. Good luck Billy! I look forward to seeing upgraded versions of your other models

Frank Johnston has solved that deepest mystery of what a self-sealing stembolt looks like! Checkout the alpha build photos in his Album at the paperModels SmartGroup, "Franks Models". Nice shot of his completed Workbee too.

Kosuke has created an album on the PaperModels SmartGroup which has shots of his completed Cobra style phaser (TNG) and Pistol grip Type II phaser (TOS) both by designed by Mike Haggard.

Friday, February 25, 2005

Treknology in Paper, February 2005

02/02/05 - Billy81, who posts on the Star Trek & Other Scifi. Paper Models SmartGroup has been working hard over February to complete a Steamrunner class. A newcomer to papermodelling, he started with a hand-drawn model but on the 24th he posted a new model on his website. He has made it with pepakura designer, basing it on a 3D computer model - the first example I have heard of this being done with a Trek ship!

23/02/05 - Just when I thought it was going to be a quiet month we get a biggie - the Enterprise-E! Carlos from Brasil has posted a beautiful hand-drawn and coloured rendition of the ship from the last movies (First Contact to Nemesis). Carlos is another new talent to appear recently - amazing how he is able to get those complex curves without computer software! It is available on the Paper Model Designers Smartgroup along with an album of photos. Sharp eyes have spotted that not only does he have the models illuminated but there are photos of an Enterprise-D there as well! Expect big things from Brazil!

28/02/05 - In answer to a query on the Papermodels Smartgroup, Ron Caudillo has announced that he is working on a model of the Original Series Enterprise bridge which he expects to finish in about a month. Mention was also made of a Web article by Scott Pallack on CultTVman's SciFi Modelling. Ron gave us a beautiful interpretation of the original Enterprise 1701 which, when I went looking for it, I found was missing from it's old home and is now at the Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Center Gift Shop in two acrobat files, instructions and model.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Treknology in Paper, January 2005

16/01/05 - Shun Pop has a new site however he is still not making his Star Trek & Star Wars paper models available because of copyright worries. (source - Ray Downunda - G'day cuz!)