Hello all, Ric here and this video is a breakdown of the computer systems of the Starfleet vessels
in Star Trek, covering the basics on their look, function and capability.
The LCARS computer system is an acronym for Library Computer Access and Retrieval System
and is the primary operating platform for the computers of Starfleet and a standardised
one used throughout the Federation.
During the 23rd century, the computer of starships operated on Duotronic systems as conceived
of by Doctor Richard Daystrom.
This system replaced the prior ones which were already the most advanced computers produced
by humans, as noted by the complexity of the NX-01 main computer which was considered one
of the most advanced ever made.
Duotronics were not only superior, but rather comparably compatible with the prior generations
of technology leading to an easy upgrade and conversion of existing ships throughout the
2240s; a key factor in its success.
The non-canonical description of duotronic systems is a form of quantum computing that
described as the formulae for the relationship between sub-atomics particles and data processing.
We do not know what the actual operating system that ran on starships was called, but in the
Kelvin Timline it was referred to as PCAP-SYS.
By 2268, the Duotronic systems of Starfleet had seemingly reach an apex as Daystom had
begun pioneering his Multitronic system for a main starship computer.
However this system took numerous prototypes to establish and eventually produced an artificial
intelligence known as the M5 unit, the first working model based on the human mind.
Unfortunately the machine was unstable and a wargames incident escalated into the loss
of several hundred officers and the severe damaging of the constitution class USS Lexington
and USS Excalibur.
The machine was eventually talked down and self-terminated, further displaying its unsuitability
as a replacement for the main computer system of Starfleet ships.
The multitronic system would not see further development and become added to the long list
of abandoned projects, unless you want to included certain mentions in books and such,
where it was continued.
Duotronics however continued to function as the basis of starship computer cores although
the interface technology was adapted with numerous overhauls to ship design through
the turn of the century but the efficiency and operation of the computer systems remained
pretty much consistent with bugs and errors being ironed out as they were uncovered.
Eventually however, these systems would reach a zenith and a new alternate was devised.
Instead, Starfleet opted to develop a new technology, one that was a complete departure
from the Duotronic method, Isolenear systems supported by an optical data network system
throughout a vessel.
These new computer cores were faster and could interpret verbal commands with ease based
on desired and predicted extrapolations.
You can see the level of advancement on display every time a person asks the holodeck for
something, and the computer generates it without fuss or specifics.
Some of the earliest vessels to feature islolinear systems were the Excelsior class towards the
end of the century, but duotronic systems would not be completely decommissioned until
around 2320.
I have already covered the nature of isolenear chips in depth, but sufficed to the amount
of information stored in isolenear form far exceeds that of the capabilities of a duotronic
computer.
The two systems are not directly compatible however, but as Starfleet developed both,
conversions and adapters are not hard to come by and information can be freely downloaded
wirelessly from one system and uploaded to the other easily enough.
Just don’t expect to plug an isolinear chip into the Constitution class Enterprise and
expect results.
With the overhaul of technology moving forwards and duotronic systems being left behind, the
interface with the main computer was also updated with a new interface display known
as LCARS, but not immediately.
As we can see on the bridges of ships such as the USS Stargazer NCC-2893 and the Enterprise
C, the older look of selected blues and greens remained and the consoles resembled far more
those of the Constitution refit era.
By 2354, we have Federation vessels such as the Raven that operates the LCARS interface
system, so we can assume it to be around this date when the change was made.
I base this on the notion that as the Enterprise C was an ambassador class, Starfleet would
not have neglected such a new development in a prestigious vessel had LCARS been in
existence when it was commissioned.
The Raven was likely a top of the line science scout ship, newly constructed and featured
the latest computer tech.
The LCARS displays were highly customisable for individual preference and in most instances,
(also with proper authorisation) almost any console could be reconfigured to display any
other system.
Considering that by the mid-24th century almost all interfaces were touch-pads, a user could
easily adjust them and run multiple drop down and popup windows.
The colours used varied too and were often pastels, switching to more vibrant but darker
shades with time.
Among the many features of LCARs was a haptic feedback that could allow a blind person to
sense and feel their control panel as well as the distinctive chirping beeps of controls
responding.
By the late 24th century and early 25th, holographic displays were now used on conjunction with
those on a console but even these retained the style and layout that was familiar to
Starfleet crews, simply in the 3 dimensional floating screen.
The computer systems of Starfleet have been described as artificial intelligences of a
sort, but it seems that they are not truly aware or sentient as a being such as Data
would be considered.
For example, the main computer displays no self-preservation instinct nor desires of
its own, but it is advanced enough to respond to philosophical questions and extrapolate
complex idea within seconds.
In both the Halo and Mass Effect universes, there is distinction made between these sorts
of intelligences, with true, aware and sapient programs referred to as true A.Is. or “Smart
A.I.s”.
While the sort of intelligence that is still restrained by programming and only simulates
the affectations of life is referred to as a “Virtual Intelligence” or “Dumb A.I”.
The same is true of the main computers of Starships, because although they can produce
complex patterns of reasoning and adapt, they can only do so based on the knowledge they
have and their programming.
They do not formulate ideas of their own, drawn from imagination as it were.
The information stored in the main computer of a Starship was vast, with pretty much the
entire federation archive of knowledge at the crew’s disposal, including the cultural
works of thousands of worlds.
This sheer quantity of information can still provide a challenge to sift through for the
main computer, as in several instances we do see a request prompt a warning that compiling
information will take time.
This gives you the faintest notion of just how much data is present on a starship.
In other instances, we do see the computers of 24th century starships develop sentience
or attitudes, but never without outside interference, such as Q junior tampering with the computer
of Voyager.
There was one instance of an emergent lifeform created on board the Enterprise D, however
once this system developed and left the ship, the main computer returned to normal, its
origin never clearly defined as external, only a suspected emergent.
Other operating systems and computer technologies exist in Star Trek, and LCARS is simply the
one we know the most about as it features the most.
It provides a unifying look to the technology of later timeline Trek and a good indicator
of when a series is set can be established by simply looking at the computer displays.
By the far future, LCARS has been replaced by something new as programmable matter now
operates as the main interface with computer systems and that is an entirely different
look and tech.
However even by this time, there still remain laws around the integration of true A.Is into
a starship, such as the unique computer system of the USS Discovery, now known by the name
Zora.
These laws exist for several reasons, artificial intelligences have rights in Star Trek, and
having one effectively bound to serve a crew is questionable, even if it volunteered for
the role.
On top of this, there is the potential unreliability that is introduced with free will in a system
that needs to be reliable, so it’s generally considered best to side step these issues
altogether.
Thank you for watching this video on the computers of Trek.
It’s one of those systems like warp drive that we know how it is supposed to work and
there is a great deal of depth that has gone into making it believable, but looking too
deep reveals the vagueness in specifications because at the end of the day, it is fictional.
Hence terms like “quads” for data storage which do not have a canon comparable.
Anyway, thanks again for watching and I'll see you next time, goodbye!