Warp drive, transporter, holodeck, replicator - these four technologies have defined Star Trek for me. As mentioned in a previous blog entry, my affair with Star Trek has started with the Next Generation, this is the reason for this trio. While I'm not sure I would personally be interested to take benefit of warp drive technology or similar as I believe I still have a lot to explore on Earth, as somebody travelling a lot, I would love to have a transporter instead of endless and useless queues at security check and waiting for the last passangers to find their seats in the plane. As for holodeck, I haven't yet learnt to like virtual travel, but I definitely would love to have my own 50-m swimming pool behind the pantry door. And I don't think there has ever been a mother or housewife who hadn't dreamt of food, drinks and even forgotten gifts for the in-laws appearing suddenly. Not having to wash up would only be an add-on
For the show itself, warp drive technology is a definitive one. Without the ability to travel faster than light, the whole show would have been impossible. Without interstellar travel, there is no possibility to meet new civilisations. There had been series that took place within our solar system, but possibilities are limited in such cases not only for the number of stories you can make up, but also for the width of sociological, political, philosophical aspects Star Trek covers.
Transporter technology could have been - and often was - replaced by small shuttles to take crew to the surface of a planet, to another space ship, or have visitors on the Enterprise. However, in many cases it was transporter technology that "saved the day". I mean that it was often used to add suspense to the stories that crew members were rescued from dangerous situations last minute. Otherwise there should have been time to reach the shuttle and to start it. Of course, there are examples of that, too, but transporter technology has definitely enhanced the possibilities of suspense.
On the one hand, the holodeck was clearly an answer to the demand of balancing an economical plan for any spaceship and the individual needs of crew members on long-term missions. I belive that it needs a special kind of psychological profile to be able to stay at the International Space Station of today. If the time of space travel as something usual will come, they will surely need to provide for people's recreational needs as well as design space ships in ways that are sustainable. The kind of holodeck available on board or in Deep Space Nine surely would be a solution. Apart from this, I especially loved the episodes where the holodeck and events happening there played an important role. It provided a vast playing field to experiment with ideas not directly connected to space and aliens.
Replicator technology has seemed to be essential in creating the communist society on Earth, making it possible for everybody to be fed and to be fed well. We have known from history that this is also the basis for fast evolution of technology, arts and nearly all aspects of life. People living on a hands-to-mouth basis have no time and energy to be creative and inventive. Can you imagine Beverly having to shop, cook and wash up after all her adventures? Being relieved of these duties make a lot of things possible. So, I believe that without replicator technology Star Trek would be as interesting and attractive as it is. At the same time, I also like the differentiation between meals as a must and meals as a way of recreation. It offers some very nice moments of proper and old-fashined hospitality.
As for Artificial Intelligence, I think people will be afraid to create something like Data or the androids in the new Picard series. A holographical format seems more likely to be, because it seems easier to switch off when it becomes frightening. I think we will not live long enough to see who got it right: those who promote articificial intelligence, like Mark Teerlink from IBM Watson, or those with cautionary or red-flag messages, like Stephen Hawking or Harari. Whichever way AI goes, it will be a product of humans, and this is what I am a bit afraid of: humans capable of bad things are nearly always more ready to go to the wall and beyond than those with real good intentions.
Picture: Liutenant Junior Grade insignia courtesy of SmithsonianX
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