(covers information from several alternate timelines)
The Ships Holographic Recreation Deck or Level or holodeck as it is more commonly known for short is the central area of rest, recreation, and training where crew members can recreate different environments, such as planets, cities, starships, etc., or participate in a holonovel.
Section Overview & Mechanics[]
A typical ships Holodeck consists of a large open space room lined with a grid of Omnidirectional holographic energy emitters/buffers which by utilizing Transporter energy/matter conversion mechanics can make energy-based images contain actual (or as close to it) substance and solidity no differently than its real-world counterpart.
Hologrid enforced walls can generate holographic images that appear to extend for an unlimited distance, seemingly much larger than its own dimensions. In doing so, however, the holodeck is aware only of its users; it does not recognize its own created objects. For example, if a person were to throw a holographic rock at the holodeck's "walls" (ie, such as towards the Holodeck Arc) the stone would not be allowed to pass beyond the wall.
It does this by continuously adjusting the projections of the force fields by calculating the range of forced perspective and the use of a motorized walking surface termed as a "treadmill" which operates as either the mobile walkways or escalators of the early to mid 20th century. The room-sized moving surface pushes the Decks' occupant toward the calculated perspective. With this, an individual approaching a wall causes an instant shift away.
The holodeck can also manipulate and change gravity independently from the rest of the ship in three dimensions, so its occupants don't notice the change. This ability is most utilized in Orbital Spacejump simulations.
History[]
2151 is the earliest known publicly recorded instance of immersive holo technology as the crew of the Enterprise (NX-01) encountered a vessel belonging to an alien race known as Xyrillians, who had advanced holographic technology in the form of a holographic chamber, or holo-chamber for short, which was similar to the holodeck technology commonly used by Starfleet two centuries later.
It was discovered a few years later that Klingon ships were installed with Holo-chambers due to confiscating Xyrillian ships on police patrols through the future region of the neutral zone.
After the utilization of holo simulation sections for military training purposes (see section below) in the mid 2250s and a short usage of civilian recreation aboard only a small few former Klingon war refit ships, standardization of holodecks weren't commonly installed until 2364.
By the late 24th century Starfleet began to design prototypes of Ship classes that would have the entire ship's interior act as a super extended holodeck. With interiors that were like small "virtual cities" where each crew member's room would be a possible recreation of a room in their childhood home or a favorite place.
However, by the 2380s this would only be in incremental steps with full holo emitter grids placed in ships such as the Prometheus class for full access to systems such as the Emergency Medical Hologram.
It is only by 2397 ships begin to have full holo crew quarter capability and assistance.
Holodeck Variations[]
Tactical Training Holodeck[]
A tactical training Holographic simulation room was one of the first variations of the Holodeck used heavily in Crossfield and Walker class ships from 2255-2258 in order to train Starfleet Security troops in the belief of a transition from MACO to standard security forces under the lead of Gabriel Lorca.
However, after Lorca's death and reveal that he was secretly a Terran Imperial officer who may have been possibly using such technology for his own purposes the original purpose of the military simulator was classified and repurposed to the more modern civilian holo simulator now termed as a "Recreation Room".
It wasn't until the late 24th century that tactical training holodecks were reinstated due to the Borg having evolved into a weaponized digital form and specialized training for Starfleet troops were sorely needed to handle the escalating threat.
In the 26th century on Independence-class battleships, the Tactical Training Holodeck is a specialized holodeck completely separate from the civilian recreation section which was used to train all the security personnel. It is located on the majority of Deck 7, in between the quarters of the security personnel.
Combat/Tactical Holo-Core[]
The Imperial Federation used their own variation of military simulation sections termed as either Command, Combat, or Tactical Holo-Cores. Within the usage of the practicality of this universe, Holo-Cores are used not only as training simulators but holo troop generators, emergency bunkers, and barracks in situations of large physical troop deployment (such as that on Imperial Marine ships).
Sickbay/Laboratory Holodecks[]
On a Nova Class Starship that has been refit as a medical research vessel like USS Twilight, two small holodecks, actually holosuites, 6x8 meters, were installed.
These facilities are not merely for crew recreation; they are hard-wired to become any sick bay or laboratory required in a moment, as a backup to the facilities already on board her. While this is extremely energy inefficient, it does occasionally prove necessary, especially when the ship has taken on 200 casualties in desperate need of medical attention.
On a medically refit ship, medical personnel with actual needs have priority access to the holodecks, followed by engineering, and security personnel. However, it frequently is used by the ship's crew for relaxation while they are off-duty.
Popular on USS Twilight is a fantasy Medieval inn and tavern called the Scarlet Unicorn, which features a huge fireplace that dominates one wall, and whose patrons include wizards, knights, elves, dwarves, and halflings.
This inn frequently opens through a side door or a trap door into a dungeon, fully stocked with monsters. Captain Harker and Chief Engineer Drake frequently pull crew members into an adventure with them while off-duty.
External Links[]
- Holodeck article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Holodeck article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
- Holodeck article at Star Trek Expanded Universe.