LCARS

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Image:LCARS Example.jpg Image:Enterprise-E LCARS.jpg

In the Star Trek fictional universe, LCARS (an acronym for Library Computer Access and Retrieval System), is a computer operating system used on Federation starships. Within Star Trek chronology, the term was first used in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in subsequent shows. In a real-world context, the term "LCARS" is frequently used to describe the style of the computer displays of the LCARS system, especially the screens from The Next Generation. The term "Okudagrams", named for Michael Okuda, the designer of the graphics, is also used to refer to this style. The design is popular among Star Trek fansites.

1 Overview
2 In Star Trek
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

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Overview

LCARS was designed by scenic art supervisor and technical consultant, Michael Okuda. The original design came about from a request from Gene Roddenberry that the instrument panels not have a lot of activity on them. This was to give a sense that the technology was much more advanced than in the original Star Trek, by giving them a minimalized look. The early display panels were made out of colored Plexiglas with light behind them. This can produce complex looking displays very cheaply.

As the show progressed there was more use of animations. Most of the animations seen on the show are displayed on special 24-frame video equipment built into the sets. 24-frame video equipment is required so the screens do not appear to flicker when filmed.

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In Star Trek

This section is an overview of LCARS, written within a Trek technical context.

LCARS is the collective designation for a set of hardware configurations, software algorithms, and communication protocols that, collectively, define operational design standards for technology devices that form the computational backbone relied upon by Starfleet systems.

Below is a brief overview of the three specification sets (also termed specsets) that make up LCARS:

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Hardware

A number of circuitry configurations and component designs are specified for use in Federation computing devices. The diversity of designs included within the hard-spec reflects the wide variety of capacities and applications which the LCARS standard encompasses. Of the three spec-sets, hardware is the most loosely defined, due to continuing technological development, as well as the need to integrate existing systems on member worlds. Contemporary technology revolves around isolinear optical chips and newer bioneural gelpacks, which can be enhanced in large-scale systems through the application of subspace fields.

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Software

The LCARS software-spec (LCARS/ss) is based on 114 subsets of reusable, interoperable code modules. Each subset is designed to handle most functions associated with computing applications. Within each subset are specialized variants, geared to specific applications. For example, with the Pattern subset are code modules designed to enhance vocalization in communicator audio; detect radiation anomalies in nebulous matter; and detect evasion patterns in combat situations. These modules are exhaustively specced, enabling anyone from an engineer to a field-user to adapt them to unique uses.

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Communication Protocols

This spec-set is perhaps the most diverse, as it must accommodate the communication needs of thousands of species, their languages, and their various modes of communication. A core element of the comm-spec is the Universal Translator, a tightly-recursive set of algorithms that can decode unknown forms of communication. Data sets generated by the UT are regularly introduced into the Comm spec-set, after review by Federation linguistics specialists.

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