Sigma Iotians post 'Piece of the Action'

[Phoenix219]

I'm In l

As the thread you pointed to mentions, Lora Johnson's Worlds of the Federation had already gone there. Published in 1989, it showed a humanoid in a Starfleet uniform for its illustration of an Iotian.

MEMORY UNLOCKED.

I would have been eleven. It must have given me the concept for my attempt at a story. I actually think I remember trying to type it into the computer because I didn't want to return the book to the library. Like I tried to type up the entire book.

Did that book by any chance have a section on phase two or would that have been a different book?

 

[Phaser Two]

We see what communicators can do in TOS. They aren’t smartphones. TOS missed the boat on that one. Tricorders are probably closer to smartphones than a communicators.

Not sure about them being translators. Pretty sure we see Kirk and company chatting with aliens with no communicators present.

Not sure I agree that TOS missed any boats on the communicators, though I get your point. For me, there's utility in any military unit having secure and compartmentalized communications. You don't want your SEAL strike team all talking to each other on their cells, nor checking NBA scores through comms while they're on their mission. Same if a USN shore party visited a heretofore unknown island to interact with the inhabitants for the first time, particularly if searching for a lost fellow vessel and crew. (I realize some may not like the military analogies.) There were hints that the tricorders had communication-like functions; I'm thinking of the warning/beacon function in "That Which Survives" that Kirk has Sulu set and I'm sure there are probably other examples. If anything, while I thought the communicators were impossibly cool, you can sort of see why the subsequent shows went where they did with the badges rather than turning the communicators into full-blown smartphones.

 

[Shawnster]

Doesn't SNW depict the communicator face like a watch or cellphone face that can be reconfigured?

Of course, I'm of the mindset/camp that tactile, raised interfaces are better than touchscreen.

 

[Will_Carter]

Of course, I'm of the mindset/camp that tactile, raised interfaces are better than touchscreen.

As someone with vision issues (I used to know braille, never did learn grade 2/contractions though,) Absolute agreement. Not needing to look at what you're doing and being able to do by feel? Always a positive.

 

[Shawnster]

I heard a story from back in the day where people (youths) could send text messages while their phone was in their pocket. This was back in the early days of T9 texting and flip phones. Tactile. No one is doing that today with a smartphone.

It was brought out on here about how in combat and/or low visibility situations how tactile interfaces are better suited than smooth

 

[hbquikcomjamesl]

JJM's 2021 novel, Rogue Elements, tells us what the Iotians are like in the PIC era. As I recall, one bit of throwaway in the book is that Iotian cigars are so noisome that they're only used as role-playing props, and no Iotian in his or her right mind would actually light one up.

 

[fireproof78]

As someone with vision issues (I used to know braille, never did learn grade 2/contractions though,) Absolute agreement. Not needing to look at what you're doing and being able to do by feel? Always a positive.

It was the argument my computer technology professor made against holographic keyboards. Interesting discussion.

 

[evilchumlee]

I heard a story from back in the day where people (youths) could send text messages while their phone was in their pocket. This was back in the early days of T9 texting and flip phones. Tactile. No one is doing that today with a smartphone.

"Of course I know him. He's me!"

I could do this circa like 2004. I used to text and drive all the time, one hand on the steering wheel, eyes on the road, texting furiously with my other hand no need to ever actually look at the phone.

 

[Will_Carter]

Iotian cigars are so noisome that they're only used as role-playing props, and no Iotian in his or her right mind would actually light one up.

We keep a one of those tobacco scented candles. First time mom opened it she started crying. Then I smelled it and i started crying. Wouldn't want the thing lit full time, but there are some smells. that one reminded me of my grandad when I was little, before he quit smoking.

I expect Iotians are well aware of the knock on effects, but they're proud of those traditions, and actually lighting one up deserves something that is good when lit. If for no other reason than cultural pride. Even if one doesn't actually plan on lighting them. Who wants to show off shoddy product?

It was the argument my computer technology professor made against holographic keyboards.

The lack of haptic feedback absolutely kills any enthusiasm I have for 'laser' keyboards. OK that's a neat party trick. I can't feel what i'm doing so my typing speed absolutely craters.

I could do this circa like 2004. I used to text and drive all the time, one hand on the steering wheel, eyes on the road, texting furiously with my other hand no need to ever actually look at the phone.

T9 gang rise up!

 

[Kor]

Not sure I agree that TOS missed any boats on the communicators, though I get your point. For me, there's utility in any military unit having secure and compartmentalized communications. You don't want your SEAL strike team all talking to each other on their cells, nor checking NBA scores through comms while they're on their mission. Same if a USN shore party visited a heretofore unknown island to interact with the inhabitants for the first time, particularly if searching for a lost fellow vessel and crew. (I realize some may not like the military analogies.) There were hints that the tricorders had communication-like functions; I'm thinking of the warning/beacon function in "That Which Survives" that Kirk has Sulu set and I'm sure there probably other examples. If anything, while I thought the communicators were impossibly cool, you can sort of see why the subsequent shows went where they did with the badges rather than turning the communicators into full-blown smartphones.

Yes I've made similar point before. Flashy consumer-level "smart" gadgets aren't really akin to functional, no-frills field tech. Real-life military equipment is a lot less flashy, and each device is durable and robust and serves a single purpose, rather than being a delicate and finicky multi-tasking computer like our consumer-level tablets and cell phones. I can definitely picture the TOS tricorders and communicators being part of that kind of no-nonsense military tech design lineage.

I would certainly hate it if I needed to contact my starship for an emergency beam-out, but I couldn't even make the call and ended up getting eaten by a monster because Tik Tok or Candy Crush were freezing up again on my communicator/tricorder/tablet thing.

Though I understand there are some fancy touchscreen interfaces/displays now such as in aircraft cockpits, with resulting arguments about how useful that is. In any case, it's still specific to one purpose, as all the data that shows on the display specifically has to do with flying the vehicle.

Kor

 

[fireproof78]

I think TOS needed a little more detail to the communicator to feel a little more futuristic. Not like a smart phone or touch screen.