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From: zubbie@ihlpa.UUCP (Jeanette Zobjeck)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Viewscreens
Message-ID: <229@ihlpa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-May-85 12:47:04 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpa.229
Posted: Fri May 10 12:47:04 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 11-May-85 03:13:11 EDT
References: <148@ucdavis.UUCP> <572@wjh12.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 45

> > 
> > People have been calling the viewscreens "windows" or "crts from different
> > cameras around the ship."  Well, this can't be.  The Enterprise is moving
> > at trans light speeds.  Disregarding the possibility of moving at such
> > speeds, how are normal 'video cameras' going to function at such speeds?
> > Any image would be highly distorted and probably obsolete by the time a
> > human eye could see it.
> Well, whatever WEAPONS they're using probably have the same problems, right?
> If the phasers move at lightspeed (and not through whateverspace as I've
> assumed from the phaser scene in Wink Of An Eye), then since the eye couldn't
> see the motion in time, neither could an attempted phaser strike hit the
> ship.
> 
> > A more reasonable devise would be a tactical map using the sensors.
> > A one dimentional view of three dimentional space doesn't seem to be the
> > best way to determine what is around you.  Maybe this is why Saavik is so
> > easily ambushed in the KM test.
> > 
> > 	Kevin Chu
> > 	Computer Center @ UC Davis
> > 	...ucbvax!ucdavis!vega!ccs020
> > 
> 
> They DID indeed use a tactical map.  But that wasn't as interesting to look
> at, was it?  (I love the way the new photon torpedoes scintillate...)
> 
> -- 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Name:		G. T. Samson
> Quote:		"No matter where you go...there you are." -- B. Banzai
> Other_Quote:	"You speak treason!" "Fluently!" 	  -- The Doctor
> ARPA:		gts@wjh12 [preferred] OR samson%h-sc4@harvard
> USMail:		Lowell H-41, Harvard U., Cambridge, MA 02138

Assuming the premise of translight speed the natural reaction might be
to develop a long heat detector and hetrodyne its output into the visible
spectrum to provide **normal** vision at translight velocities. This
would also permit aiming and delivering weapons systems which operated 
at sublight velocities against translight targets.

I believe e.e.smith described such a device in both the LENSMAN and the
SKYLARK series of novels.

jeanette zobjeck
ihnl4!ihlpa!zubbie