Treknology Today

Trek in Paper, June 2005

2005-06-30T23:00:00.000+10:00

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!

Trek in Paper, May 2005

2005-05-02T20:23:00.000+10:00

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?

Trek in Paper: Apr 2005

2005-04-07T23:04:00.000+10:00

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.

The ComBadge Dec 2002

2005-04-01T22:12:00.000+10:00

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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 -

COMMUNICATIONS
The Samsung mobile phone/wristwatch has gone to a new model, The one mentioned here would be the one shown here

The GMRS Web Magazine seems to be still alive although my browser won't open it. This article on PopularWireless.com is live.

The Motorola website is still alive.
COMPUTER INTERFACE
The advert for the AllPoints Wireless PC Card and RadioMail Service is still there but it is closer to a PADD.

Bluetooth is alive and kicking.

The CharmBadge link needs updating.

Mike Hodgson's Comm Badge Communications Network is still around too.
THE FUTURE
The two Ian Pearson articles are still on the Net ...

"The future of Network Computers and the Star Trek Badge"

"The future of Smart Badges"

As is Robert Reed's

Communication is the Key: 2-The ComBadge

2005-03-18T23:41:00.000+11:00

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

2005-03-18T22:12:00.000+11:00

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.

Treknology in Paper, February 2005

2005-02-25T12:27:00.000+11:00

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.

Treknology in Paper, January 2005

2005-02-13T18:32:00.000+11:00

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!)

2005-02-08T22:17:00.000+11:00

Treknology Today - Quarterly articles on how the technology of Star Trek is becoming reality

Treknology in Paper - Paper Models of Star Trek subjects

Communication is the Key: 1-The Original Series

2004-12-31T17:59:00.000+11:00

When I need to get a message to one of the family or want to know where they are it drums home to me that old adage about communications being the key to success.

My son goes to school at a new High School next year where he has to travel three hours a day. Sounds pretty tough but my daughter has been doing the same thing for the past 5 years. The key has been her mobile phone. I shudder to think how nervous I would be if it weren't for it. I can find out where she is at any time, she can phone if she is running late and she has instant communication with us if anything goes wrong.

THE TREKNOLOGY
The heart of the Star Trek Communicator is the Subspace Transceiver Assembly (STA) which digitises the users' words and transmits them (after encryption) through Subspace. Without getting too technical, Subspace is a domain outside the normal three-dimensional space and not to be mistaken with another dimension. The practical usage of it is primarily for Faster Than Light (FTL) travel and interstellar communications.

Radio as we know it is part of the electromagnetic spectrum and travels at the speed of light in free space Not a good medium to use when you are thousands of lightyears from home! So how fast do Subspace transmissions go? The Ex-Astris-Scientia site puts it at Warp 9.9997, which in 24th C Warp speeds is 7,912 times the speed of light. I don't know where he gets that from but in the TNG episode 'Where No One Has Gone Before' Data tells us that a subspace transmission will take fifty-one years, ten months to return the two million, seven-hundred thousand light years back to their origin. If my rusty maths serves me correctly this means it travels at roughly 52,000 time the speed of light.!

THE REAL LIFE SCIENCE
Like the Trek Subspace Relay system, mobile phones (or cell phones as they are called in the States) only became possible when a network of relay tranmitters was laid. It took a while before mobile phones took on the look of the TOS Communicator. The reason was because, unlike the Communicator which had a perforated grill aerial, external aerials have always been of the more traditional telescopic rod types. The exception was the Motorola StarTAC which had a keypad protector that flipped up instead of the more normal down.

With the advent of large LCD screens, the "clamshell" design of the TOS Communicator has spawned many lookalikes. The Nextel i60c, for example combines cellular, two-way radio, speakerphone, paging, and internet capabilities all into one lightweight, 'clamshell' cell phone.

PROPS, MODELS AND TOYS
If we look at Communicators in a Trek chronological order then the first is the Enterprise Communicator as used in the present incarnation of the TV series [OK, Who blew the raspberry at the back of the class?!]. Many think the design too small and "plasticky" but if you judge Enterprise on its' own merit (as we should), I think it is a fine meld of modern and retro design. Cadet Ensign Christopher has the Art Asylum toy of this and to his uncritical yet discerning judgement it is a good toy and a passable replica.

The next Communicator in the trek timeline is little known. In the Pilot for Star Trek, which was made into the TOS episode "The Cage", they show a very primitive looking Communicator. It had a skeleton look to it, with a clear acrylic body and visible electronic circuitry. From a practical point of view this was probably a 'quick fix' although it proves to be a complex prop to duplicate.

Which brings us to what is generally held as that classic of design, the TOS communicator. By far the best reference on the web for these props is Richard A. Coyles' article in RACProps online magazine. One of the interesting bits of info he has about it is that...

"the working moiré [the spinning disk] was run by a stopwatch. The propmakers removed the lens and cover of a stopwatch and then mounted the bottom disk to the second hand of the stop watch, which on an old analog piece ran at ten rpm per second. When started, round and round the moiré would spin, just a touch jerkily due to the machined movement of the stopwatch as it ticked off each tenth of a second."

The TOS Communicator is a popular choice of DIY prop to make, There is even a tutorial on the web on how to make one out of wood. The majority of posts on the Communicators forum of the Dewback Wing are about the TOS Communicator.

Playmates, who produced Star Trek toys between 1992 and 1999, issued two versions of the TOS Communicator, the second records up to three seconds of voice, or Sound Effects and included working status lights and a Belt Clip. Paramount have sold the toy making licence to Art Asylum however they have released little other than an interesting two part phaser from the TOS series so far.

Replicas for sale include those done by Master Replicas, IPI (which included a voice recorder, calculator, and flashing lights) and a kit available from Roddenberry.com.

PUTTING TREKNOLOGY INTO YOUR LIFE
Recently a Bluetooth accessory was sold on eBay for $US527.37. Bluetooth is an industry standard for connecting, amongst other things, mobile phones and mobile computers, notably PDA's via a short range radio signal. You might know it best as the that trendy mobile phone headset.

Billed as "the only working Star Trek communicator in existence ... a one of a kind prototype" the maker, Nik Roope of Pokia, has taken the case of a TOS Communicator style garage door opener (see below) and put bluetooth headset electronics inside. What this means is that you can use it to make & recieve calls with your mobile phone which you can keep out of sight in your pocket or bag. The buttons on the side make the classic communicator hailing signal and can adjust volume.

This is an extension of the whimsical design concept used at Pokia to make it possible for mobile phone users to appear to be talking into "Convoy" style CB handsets or a range of telephone handsets ranging from 50's era bakelite to gangster era brass

The "Star Trek Communicator Universal Garage door Opener" by Dakmart features Star Trek sound effects, a "Clip with automatic Star Trek Logo for convenient visor and pocket use" [?] and an extensive command library to open just about any standard type of automatic garage door - all in a replica of the Star trek original series communicator.

The accuracy of the replica used by Dakmart and Pokia is way off, but it probably has something to do with copyright/licencing considerations. There is of course no reason why someone handy with electronics could not take the hardware out of either of these and put them into, say, a Master Replicas TOS Communicator for their own use.

Not quite so handy and you already have a mobile phone? Why not confuse passers-by with the TOS Communicator ringtone? Or for a Pocket PC Phone try here.

For we 'Net Trek fans there is always the TOS Communicator WAV file that you could integrate into your computer desktop. I've never searched for or installed many Themes, but upon looking I found a wide choice of TOS themes. ThemeWorld, for example, listed over 150 desktop themes when I searched for Trek, of which many were obviously TOS themes. I downloaded one called ST_Spock which which had some ...umm, fun sounds.