your ideas for new Starfleet technology

[Lorna]

The question is, why would anyone want to use such a suspension system if they had other means (such as a ship) available? I mean, I can maybe see an application for sending people to start a colony on a planet that has a unique environment or is difficult to reach, but otherwise I can't see too many that couldn't be accomplished by a larger craft with dedicated utilities.

Gives individuals the freedom to go where they want and when they want at a fraction of the cost and without the need to wait for transport ships. How many people in Trek can afford to own ships? how many Starfleet ships or bases can afford to let out shuttle craft for a single person on a long journey?

What if someone is on a ship in deep space and needs to return to Earth? the ship isn't going to turn around for one person and certainly wont give away a full shuttle craft for one person unless it's a really good reason.
Instead they can be given on of these deep space transport pods.

Imagine I'm on Starbase 327 and I need to get to starbase 189 for a meeting, there are no direct transport ships and using a shuttle craft for one person isn't worth it or maybe they're needed for more important things. I could slip into one of these transport pods.

They could probably build several pods for the cost of a shuttle.

 

[The Inquisitor]

Might work better as a dedicated individual escape pod. Wouldn't want to run into a Borg cube traveling on my own, asleep and with no weapons! Could serve as a very handy auxiliary craft though.

 

[Lorna]

Wouldn't want to run into a Borg cube traveling on my own, asleep and with no weapons!

You could be in a Galaxy Class starship and it's still inadvisable to run into a Borg cube.
In fact it's probably safer travelling in one of these deep space pods because it's so tiny and less detectable.

 

[Unicron]

Gives individuals the freedom to go where they want and when they want at a fraction of the cost and without the need to wait for transport ships. How many people in Trek can afford to own ships? how many Starfleet ships or bases can afford to let out shuttle craft for a single person on a long journey?

That's a valid question, and I don't know exactly how common ship ownership is given how little we know about how the economy supposedly works in Trek. We've seen on many occasions a variety of civilian and commercial vessels, so Starfleet is only one entity.

What if someone is on a ship in deep space and needs to return to Earth? the ship isn't going to turn around for one person and certainly wont give away a full shuttle craft for one person unless it's a really good reason.
Instead they can be given on of these deep space transport pods.

True, the ship might not be able to turn around or give out a shuttlecraft, but they may be able to meet other ships or bases on their existing route. And they have transporters. So there are several options available to the traveler.

Imagine I'm on Starbase 327 and I need to get to starbase 189 for a meeting, there are no direct transport ships and using a shuttle craft for one person isn't worth it or maybe they're needed for more important things. I could slip into one of these transport pods.

I would imagine, barring any sort of communications issue or bureaucratic issue, that you'd already have some form of transportation arranged for something like a meeting. Certainly you could use something like the pods you describe, but then you could choose to travel in an airplane's luggage compartment instead of paying the full cost of a regular ticket. That would hardly make it an equally viable option compared to buying the ticket.

 

[Lorna]

Imagine I'm on Starbase 327 and I need to get to starbase 189 for a meeting, there are no direct transport ships and using a shuttle craft for one person isn't worth it or maybe they're needed for more important things. I could slip into one of these transport pods.

I would imagine, barring any sort of communications issue or bureaucratic issue, that you'd already have some form of transportation arranged for something like a meeting. Certainly you could use something like the pods you describe, but then you could choose to travel in an airplane's luggage compartment instead of paying the full cost of a regular ticket. That would hardly make it an equally viable option compared to buying the ticket.

How often do you think transport shuttles traverse between starbases and outposts?
Do you think there was a regular shuttle from DS9 to starbase 143? that just would not happen.

 

[Unicron]

I don't know the answer to that, but if the sort of trading and commercial business DS9 got on a daily basis (not to mention actual military/Starfleet business) is any indication of a norm, I'm sure there are ships making some sort of regular runs between planets and outposts.

 

[Avon]

how about Earl Grey chewing gum?

 

[Lorna]

I don't know the answer to that, but if the sort of trading and commercial business DS9 got on a daily basis (not to mention actual military/Starfleet business) is any indication of a norm, I'm sure there are ships making some sort of regular runs between planets and outposts.

DS9 was different than regular Starfleet starbases and outposts, surely we can agree on that. The wormhole alone brought the majority of the traffic.

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

how about Earl Grey chewing gum?

What's wrong with scotch-flavored? Actually, earl grey flavored gum sounds very pleasant and fresh.

 

[Lorna]

how about Earl Grey chewing gum?

In other words lemon chewing gum. I think it's already out there and we're in the 21st century.

 

[Avon]

earl grey doesn't taste lemony.

 

[The Inquisitor]

It has a subtle infusion of bergamot orange my dear boy, to be taken with a squeeze of lemon, not milk.

 

[Lorna]

earl grey doesn't taste lemony.

Of course it does, it's lemon flavoured. I drink the stuff all the time and it says it's lemony on the box.

 

[The Inquisitor]

It has no lemon in it. Trust me, I live for tea (and star trek of course). The taste is bergamot with a hint if citrus, lemon can be added to taste afterwards.

 

[Avon]

i'm drinking a cup now. not lemony. maybe your tea has been spiked.

 

[Lorna]

Look, Bergamot is a type of Orange but it tastes more Lemony than Orangey. Perhaps I have more powerful taste buds than you lot.

 

[Avon]

how about anti-metaphasic chewing gum with embedded bio-neural nanocrystals that changes flavor as you chew. you could chew your way through a three course meal.

 

[Solarbaby]

how about Earl Grey chewing gum?

My favourite post of 2010

 

[Solarbaby]

I made a new propulsion system for a spin off series I am animating.

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/239/b/0/lcars_interactive_display_by_goanimator-d2xetli.swf

The details of it are on that interactive flash LCARS system

The ship mentioned as the carrier of the technology is here
http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/248/9/0/swiftwind_deck_menu_lcars_by_goanimator-d2y3hva.swf

 

[skree]

To C.E. Evans
LCARS software is eventually gives way to SAGE software.
What is SAGE?