Flotter Holodeck Program From Once Upon a Time

[Six of Twelve]

What did you think of the Flotter holodeck program from Once Upon a Time? I thought it was nice bit of 24th century cultural continuity - that Naomi, her mother, Harry, and Captain Janeway were all familiar with it from their own childhoods. It would have been nice had Naomi shown this program to Mezoti and the twin Borg boys when they were aboard Voyager - it could have been woven into a larger storyline as it was done in Once Upon a Time.

I always thought a Star Trek author could have written the Flotter story as a book for kids who were Voyager fans. I know a series of Starfleet Academy books was done for Next Generation characters when they were academy students for younger readers - I'd bought the Worf one for my son. A Flotter doll like Neelix replicated for Naomi would have been cute toy, too.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

What did you think of the Flotter holodeck program from Once Upon a Time? I thought it was nice bit of 24th century cultural continuity - that Naomi, her mother, Harry, and Captain Janeway were all familiar with it from their own childhoods. It would have been nice had Naomi shown this program to Mezoti and the twin Borg boys when they were aboard Voyager - it could have been woven into a larger storyline as it was done in Once Upon a Time.

I always thought a Star Trek author could have written the Flotter story as a book for kids who were Voyager fans. I know a series of Starfleet Academy books was done for Next Generation characters when they were academy students for younger readers - I'd bought the Worf one for my son. A Flotter doll like Neelix replicated for Naomi would have been cute toy, too.

‎‎I loved the set scenery. It was colorful yet relaxing. In fact, Flotter holodeck program reminded me of center
of entertainment and relaxation park, indoors....

 

[Sophie74656]

I'm not sure if that contradicts what was said in TNG about holodecks though. In Encounter at Farpoint we see the holodeck which we are told can only project landscapes. Later on in the series they get an upgrade and they can run more complex holograms like Dixon Hill. So really when Janeway was a child she wouldn't have been able to run that program

 

[Six of Twelve]

I'm not sure if that contradicts what was said in TNG about holodecks though. In Encounter at Farpoint we see the holodeck which we are told can only project landscapes. Later on in the series they get an upgrade and they can run more complex holograms like Dixon Hill. So really when Janeway was a child she wouldn't have been able to run that program

Perhaps more complex holoprograms. were possible on planets and the limitation only applied to shipboard holodecks/suites. Janeway grew up on Earth, and not aboard a ship.

 

[Timo]

Also, note that Riker is initially impressed by what the E-D has, already establishing that not everybody is created equal when it comes to enjoying holosimulations.

I doubt the early simulations were unable to show people and only ever showed landscapes. Flotter could have featured interactive characters and still been less realistic than the "Encounter at Farpoint" scenery - heck, that's almost a given in a children's show!

Nor is it indicated that the E-D can't do people as of "Encounter at Farpoint" and suddenly gains the ability before "The Big Goodbye". I mean, the latter episode is certainly the first-ever time Picard experiences his literary hero in holographic form, else he wouldn't be making those personal logs about the event saying as much. But he's only impressed that the holodeck gets Dixon Hill right in vivid detail, not that the holodeck does people. And certainly there's no mention of any sort of an upgrade.

This regardless of the fact that the later episode "11001001", mentioning an upgrade, has a much lower stardate and quite possibly precedes the former one (certain irregularities regarding "Skin of Evil" notwithstanding). Even "back" in "11001001", the upgrade doesn't seem all that remarkable: Riker fully expects to get simulations of musicians and customers, and gets those, and is not surprised.

What Riker is impressed with is the "smell, touch and feel" of Minuet, very specifically. Those are things that could get better and better in a timeline stretching from TAS "The Practical Joker" all the way to ST:NEM without the audience noticing a thing. Visuals could be perfect from the 2270s already, even had they been a bit cartoony in the 2260s...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Sophie74656]

Perhaps more complex holoprograms. were possible on planets and the limitation only applied to shipboard holodecks/suites. Janeway grew up on Earth, and not aboard a ship.

That is what I figured.

 

[Sophie74656]

Also, note that Riker is initially impressed by what the E-D has, already establishing that not everybody is created equal when it comes to enjoying holosimulations.

I doubt the early simulations were unable to show people and only ever showed landscapes. Flotter could have featured interactive characters and still been less realistic than the "Encounter at Farpoint" scenery - heck, that's almost a given in a children's show!

Nor is it indicated that the E-D can't do people as of "Encounter at Farpoint" and suddenly gains the ability before "The Big Goodbye". I mean, the latter episode is certainly the first-ever time Picard experiences his literary hero in holographic form, else he wouldn't be making those personal logs about the event saying as much. But he's only impressed that the holodeck gets Dixon Hill right in vivid detail, not that the holodeck does people. And certainly there's no mention of any sort of an upgrade.

This regardless of the fact that the later episode "11001001", mentioning an upgrade, has a much lower stardate and quite possibly precedes the former one (certain irregularities regarding "Skin of Evil" notwithstanding). Even "back" in "11001001", the upgrade doesn't seem all that remarkable: Riker fully expects to get simulations of musicians and customers, and gets those, and is not surprised.

What Riker is impressed with is the "smell, touch and feel" of Minuet, very specifically. Those are things that could get better and better in a timeline stretching from TAS "The Practical Joker" all the way to ST:NEM without the audience noticing a thing. Visuals could be perfect from the 2270s already, even had they been a bit cartoony in the 2260s...

Timo Saloniemi

They do say that there was an upgrade in the beginning of The Big Goodbye

PICARD: My mind is barely working.
TROI: Take a break.
PICARD: No, no. I want to go over this again.
TROI: You could be over-preparing. You've been looking forward to the upgrade of the holodeck. You have the time. Captain, you need the diversion.
PICARD: Dixon Hill.

 

[Tracy Trek]

I always thought a Star Trek author could have written the Flotter story as a book for kids who were Voyager fans.

That's a cute idea. Or a comic book. Was there ever a comic book tie-in for Capt. Proton. It seems like I recall something like that but I'm not sure.

I thought the forest in the Flotter program reminded me of Neelix's Great Forest. And that's why the Ogre of Fire chapter and Naomi's reaction to it (and his own worries about Sam) brought up bad memories.

 

[Sophie74656]

That's a cute idea. Or a comic book. Was there ever a comic book tie-in for Capt. Proton. It seems like I recall something like that but I'm not sure.

I thought the forest in the Flotter program reminded me of Neelix's Great Forest. And that's why the Ogre of Fire chapter and Naomi's reaction to it (and his own worries about Sam) brought up bad memories.

Yep, there was a captain proton book

https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Voyager-Captain-Defender/dp/0671036467

 

[Burning Hearts of Qo'nos]

I wonder where, as a child of the Federation, do you get to use holodecks? Are there like holo-arcades? Naomi has frequent access to one on-ship, but Kim and Janeway, growing up on Earth, would they constantly beg their parents to take them to the arcade for this purpose? And Naomi consumes these stories the way we consume childrens' books or educational kids' shows. Would Kim and Janeway be there several times a week? And were they going there at like, age 5? From a modern standpoint, these totally look like little kid programs, like 24th century Barney or Teletubbies. Where did they have time for this when kids in the future are studying physics and calculus??

Is there any indication that homes might have their own holosuites? Janeway's home was supposedly very traditional and lacked a lot of modern tech if I'm not mistaken, so that wouldn't fit.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I think that the Forest of Forever in "Once Upon a Time" is one of the most spectacular sets in the Star Trek universe.

 

[Jedman67]

The Starfleet Academy novels establish that regular civilians do have access to holosuites. I'd picture it something like going to Dave & Busters or Boomers; they have a few private holosuites that can be booked or used exclusively, and larger entertainment rooms for crowds, like Tom's french bar/cafe

 

[Tracy Trek]

Maybe 24th century libraries have them.

 

[Prax]

Flotter could be an interactive program that isn't exclusive to hi tech holodecks. I'm sure everyone has a personal holographic, interactive entertainment device in their home. Holographic in the 21st century sense.

So maybe Mommy Janeway clicked on the Flotter app for little Katy to play, on the IHVT in the living room.

 

[Burning Hearts of Qo'nos]

Flotter could be an interactive program that isn't exclusive to hi tech holodecks. I'm sure everyone has a personal holographic, interactive entertainment device in their home. Holographic in the 21st century sense.

So maybe Mommy Janeway clicked on the Flotter app for little Katy to play, on the IHVT in the living room.

I now accept this as head-canon!

 

[Triskelion]

Yeah, we have VR today, and they had it in the 80's. So it's not much of a stretch to consider a 24th century immersive, interactive program in 3D; perhaps using a pair of goggles, as opposed to a hologrid. Consider Capt. Ransom's immersive behind-the-ear neural monitor gadget in Equinox. Maybe there was some other cool transitional tech we don't know about, too.

 

[Prax]

Didn't he call it a "poor man's holodeck"? lol