[net.startrek] Light output of the viewscreen

hkr4627@acf4.UUCP (Hedley K. J. Rainnie) (04/27/85)

I enjoy the viewscreen's limitless ability to put out lumens.  How many
times has the bridge filled with a blinding white light from that
screen?  Don't they have limiters or something?  Or a brightness control?

-r-

tli@oberon.UUCP (Tony Li) (05/02/85)

> I enjoy the viewscreen's limitless ability to put out lumens.  How many
> times has the bridge filled with a blinding white light from that
> screen?  Don't they have limiters or something?  Or a brightness control?

Or a fuse even?
-- 
Tony Li ;-)		Usc Computer Science
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gts@wjh12.UUCP (G. T. Samson) (05/06/85)

> > I enjoy the viewscreen's limitless ability to put out lumens.  How many
> > times has the bridge filled with a blinding white light from that
> > screen?  Don't they have limiters or something?  Or a brightness control?
> 
> Or a fuse even?
> -- 
> Tony Li ;-)		Usc Computer Science
Actually, the viewscreen's output was better handled in the Star Trek Log
books.  The flash is only blinding until the computer can get to it and tone
the screen down (or off as the case may be).  Apparently, the computer is not
as fast as it could be, because the flash still blinds, if only for an instant.

-- 
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john@hp-pcd.UUCP (john) (05/10/85)

<<<

  Actually it makes sense NOT to limit the output of the viewscreens to 
a low level during battle. A starship is designed with men and machines
combined into what is essentially a new life form. Limiting the output
of the viewscreen prevents the bridge personnel (The brain) from feeling
pain whenever the body is hurt. While that may sound desireable it may
actually do more harm than good.

  Almost all life forms feel pain when they are hurt. It would not be so
universal unless it played an important role in  the survival of the life
form. You could display a status message that would inform the crew of
"Pain" in the ship but would they understand it at the same level as when
they feel pain? The blinding flashes could be an intentional way to make 
the crew feel that they are part of the ship and not just playing a video
game.

  That sounds better than saying it is a cheap effect they threw in to 
show all the epsilon minuses that theres a battle going on.



John Eaton
!hplabs!hp-pcd!john