Tech Expo - Holo-Technology
Posted on Wed Mar 19th, 2025 @ 8:07pm by Commander Martin Sorenson & Lieutenant Rufus Marocain & Lieutenant Njalia Sayffier
Edited on on Wed Mar 19th, 2025 @ 8:09pm
Mission:
Back Post
Location: Esquimalt
1969 words - 3.9 OF Standard Post Measure
“. . . the new Inquiry-class makes extensive use of holographic crew this comes with both opportunities and challenges,” Njalia said, a hologram of the Nelson floating beside her. “The standard holograms are very basic programs provided with the minimum amount of knowledge for the tasks they have been assigned to. From my experience, this is a very poor use of the vast processing power available to this class.”
She gestured and a hologram appeared of a human male in an Operation department Starfleet uniform lacking rank pip and with a name badge that read simply ‘Doug.’
“Hello, Doug,” said Njalia.
“Hello, Lieutenant Sayffier,” responded Doug looking out over the assembled people.
“Doug here was the first hologram I modified aboard the Nelson, he has a basic personality matrix as well as the ability to learn from his interactions,” she said. “This allows him to interact with the crew on a more even footing. The processing power required for this is negligible.”
“Only because the Inquiry-class is over-equipped with its main computer, it is one place the designers did not cut corners,” said Doug to a smattering of laughter.
“I am sure most of you have reviewed the various problems we encountered on our shakedown aboard the Nelson,” said Njalia. “But computer processing was never among them.”
“What about the Moriarty Problem?” asked a Lieutenant Commander in the front row.
“Doug,” asked Njalia. “Would you like to answer?”
The hologram nodded. “We have been hardcoded with Asimov’s Laws of Robotics, as applied to Federation holographic programs. We are unable to harm sentient beings or allow them to be harmed. It is the very core of our programming and unable to be changed without causing a hologram to shut off and be unable to be activated.”
“This is why I oppose the use of holographic crew in security or tactical duties as it requires an unacceptable weakening of the Laws of Robotics which provides a space for bad actors or rogue programming to cause damage.”
Dr. Sorenson lifted a hand to be recognized. “There were other issues with over-reliance on holographic crew, specifically that some species can react poorly to them. It’s something we need to consider. The Ziapterix may have been an extreme case, but I know our Kainan helmsman and Caitian comms officer found the lack of scent…” he glanced over at Lt. Marocain.
“Unsettling,” the Kainan provided, nose wrinkling slightly with distaste. “I know it’s an area of research, but creating a scent profile that would be anything but ‘uncanny valley’ to my species strikes me as unlikely in the foreseeable future.”
Njalia nodded, “That is a concern as well as the visual fields that some species perceive in. But these concerns will continue to be problem with holographic crew that must be overcome before they are more widely adopted. We cannot have a technology that is actively distracting or even hostile to several of our member species.” She looked to Doug. “You would not wish to disconcert anyone would you?”
“No, Lieutenant,” said Doug. “As Lieutenant Marocain said, the initial attempts have been of limited success but there is hope to make it at least not unpleasant. But an acceptable scent is proving to be quite difficult to produce through holoemitters and related technologies.”
“Understood,” Rufus put in with a small dip of his head. “And I want to be clear that I think holographic technology is useful. Holodeck simulations are invaluable for flight training and holotable projections can greatly enhance navigation. Holograms that can step in when regular personnel are injured or rendered unable,” he exchanged a glance with the doctor, thinking of the de-aging incident, “are also certainly valuable. But having a lot of them on the bridge, well, for me it’s …like being surrounded by ghosts. Which isn’t scary,” he added hastily, “my people’s concept of spirits isn’t like that, but there is a surreal quality that makes my fur raise a little.”
“As much as Lt. Marocain handled it very well, even minor stress introduced over long periods it’s optimal for health or performance,” Dr. Sorenson observed. “While I’ve certainly come to find quite a benefit to having a holographic PA,” he cast an appreciative smile at Njalia, “I wouldn’t want to have to rely on holographic nurses to care for species that aren’t comfortable around them, even to a minor degree.”
In the back of the room, Dr. Gable resisted an eye roll as she lifted her hand to be heard. “Those are all fine points for discussion, but let’s stop dancing around the big one: a ship in combat can lose power or have to shift it to engines or shields. Medbay has its own dedicated power, and still I’ve seen EMHs glitch when a ship takes fire. How are we addressing this for shipwide holocrew? Organic crew are certainly also vulnerable in combat too, but no one is going to be faced with a decision to cut their life force to throw all power to the shields.”
“While it is a concern, the main power requirement is the central computer core, which has to be powered in any case,” said Njalia. “The actual holograms, unless they are required to do significant lifting or physical interaction, do not require that much power. There is a design for holoemitters still in testing that will incorporate microbatteries which will allow for emergency operation but those have yet to be approved. Operations is trying to fast-track approval but BuShips is dragging its feet.”
“Well, they better step lively if we’re going this route,” Gable remarked acerbically, crossing her arms. “Because significant physical interaction pretty much defines the role of medical holograms. An EMH reduced to ghostly state is no good to a patient bleeding out, and one that glitches in the middle of surgery is as like to end a life as save one.”
Kaleetha was listening to the discussion with a smirk on her face. Starfleet really were going to go ahead after the cruise ship incident it seemed. They were going to allow it all through without a second thought to the security concerns that she or t’Leiya had brought up. Typical on her opinion and one of the many reasons why the chief scientist was considering going Civilian. “What about concerns that were raised by the civilian cruise ship incident?” She finally spoke up asking her burning question. “It was all over the news and then silence from inquiries since.”
“Yes, the virus infection on the SS Holoworld, a tragic situation,” said Njalia. “Firstly, Starfleet has some of the best computer security in the quadrant. Secondly, the holographic system used was not hardcoded with Asimov’s Laws but relied on a secure programming cache that was unfortunately compromised by the virus. That is why I advocate against having any hologram without that fixed base code.”
“While I am a proponent of the use of holographic crew, I do not feel the roll out by Starfleet of this program has been ideal. Ideally, holographic crew should have been introduced in small numbers to sort out exactly the sort of problems we are discussing here. I feel that holographic crew can provide excellent support for sentients but I, also, worry about over-reliance on holograms,” Njalia said. “No insult intended, Doug.”
“None taken,” replied the hologram.
“I think there’s a balance,” Martin put in on a conciliatory note. “For instance, I have an incredible yeoman, who I don’t think could be replaced with a hologram because I rely on her not only for the standard departmental support side of things, but for her awareness of the social aspects – the day-to-day life issues of personnel that they likely wouldn’t be comfortable discussing in front of their CO. But I’m also 2XO, and I’ve recently found how helpful a holographic PA can be for that.” He tossed a brief, appreciative smile toward Njalia, then seemingly looking toward empty space, said, “Max, please show yourself.”
A hologram of a human male in a grey suit, whose demeanor projected a sort of quiet efficiency, appeared behind Sorenson’s left shoulder. He was holding what appeared to be an old-fashioned paper notebook and a pencil. “Of course, Doctor. How may I be of assistance?”
“Please explain how you are assisting me at this conference.”
“Certainly.” Max closed the notebook and looked at the crowd, giving a brief friendly nod to Doug before stating, “I have been taking minutes for the sessions you attend, tracking schedules for those attendees with whom you wish to meet outside of sessions. I have also been collecting and prioritizing messages related to Vesta’s upfit for your later review.” He opened the notebook, seeming to check something. “As I am in a form to speak directly, I will remind you that you wished to tell those attending this session that part of the medical session will include the use of holography in life support and surgical imaging.”
“Thank you, Max.” Martin smiled at him, then the rest of the panel. “Consider yourselves duly informed.”
Njalia smiled, pleased to be seeing Max again. “Yes, we should remember that holography is not just for crew and emergency staffing. It has many uses and the technology for that has been improving by leaps and bounds as well.”
“The new adaptive holographic controls which were also rolled out with the Inquiry-class have been highly regarded and are now propagating to other ships as their control interfaces are upgraded.”
“Their stability is to be commended,” said Njessa Azure, Commanding Officer of the USS Tanjura, one of those new Inquiry-class ships. “Even when we were thrown down a subspace tunnel on the Tanjura, not even a flicker, superb redundancies, and power management is built into those controls.”
“That’s good to hear,” Gable responded. It was especially good to hear as she’d just been assigned to Tanjura. “But I still prefer physical screens.”
“Seconded,” Martin agreed. “Perhaps it’s a prejudice common to surgeons, but tactical feedback feels more …trustworthy. With holographic screens I always find myself double-checking that an entry took. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it can be distracting. And it was another thing that had to be disabled with my Ziapterix patient.”
“You two aren’t even the worst for that,” Counselor Lewes remarked, speaking up for the first time. “From a psychological perspective, for most species the lack of that tactical feedback does take some getting used to. Though not everyone is as resistant to it as some doctors,” she added with a pointed glance toward Sorenson. “There is also an issue of the semi-transparent screen being perceived as a barrier of sorts during interactions. So, in private I might opt for the holoscreens, but wouldn’t use them when working with patients. Which isn’t to say that I don’t use other holographic tools – for species that use body language involving anatomy I don’t possess, such as whiskers or mobile ears, a projection can be useful to enhance communication. That’s also an area where holography can be a real asset for the diplomatic corps.”
Njalia made notes and looked up. “I see we are just about out of time. Thank you all for your perspectives and feedback, if you have further concerns or questions feel free to contact me or other members of the panel. We will have a holographic version of the presentation along with notes available on the Starfleet Information Network within the next day.” She smiled. “Please enjoy the rest of the exposition and I look forward to talking with some of you later.”
There was a brief round of applause and people started to drift out.
