How to use your tricorder

5 responses to “How to use your tricorder”

1. 

   Michael J

   May 12, 2023

   The coolest thing about that to me is how interactive the on-screen UI feels to button presses. Almost like it’s actually doing Tricorder things.

   I wonder how much interest there would be in a phone UI that imitated the TNG-style graphics and interfaces…

   1. 

      scottlowther

      May 12, 2023

      Do you one better: imagine a TriPhoneCorder. Basically a Tricrder that not only has a phone integrated into it, but a full suite of actual sensors. Alpha, Beta, Gamma and EM detectors, atmospheric data (temp, pressure, humidity), gravity reading, sound meters, laser range measuring, microscope, chemical detectors (nerve gas and other toxins, O2/CO2/CO reading, etc.). It *should* be possible for a serious company to create.

      1. 

         Michael J

         May 12, 2023

         Actually I could imagine something like that would be pretty handy in some circumstances. Maybe in construction, energy, and industry. Geologists could use it to explore places like caves or volcanoes. It would be super handy for future Mars colonists, for that matter. Give it an iPad-esque screen, a satellite internet connection, line-of-sight radio, and maybe a fold-out keyboard, and a good battery, and you have a do-everything, take-it-anywhere computer.

         1. 

            scottlowther

            May 12, 2023

            Indeed so. The concept of the tricorder has been a good one since the mid 1960’s. the only real problem I’ve had with it are the *tiny* displays and minimal inputs, especially the classic TOS tricorder

            This does, though, open up a possibility for a clever Trek producer/writer/VFX group to correct these flaws without wrecking canon. It’s known that holographic displays are in common use. So what the phasers (which have never had decent sights) and tricorders do is project a large, high-rez display right in front of the users eyes… a display that’s seen from only an extremely narrow field of view. The user can see it, somebody leaning over their shoulder maybe can… but if *you* are looking at *them* you can’t see the display.

2. 

   Jeff Wright

   May 14, 2023

   I seem to remember hearing stories like this ever so often
   https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/amp/ncna755631
   https://trekcentral.net/real-life-star-trek-tricorder-comes-to-life/?amp=1

   The best are in the medical field
   https://hellovein.com/product/lite2-0/?gad=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIp_yRoYP0_gIVIfTjBx2nOAOwEAQYASABEgIUj_D_BwE

   Other functions are tougher
   https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a40450717/tech-allows-troops-to-see-through-walls/

   https://www.omnicontrols.com/product/flir-e95-14-464-x-348-pixel-advanced-thermal-camera/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyJfF3oP0_gIVB9DjBx3crA7jEAQYASABEgLQvfD_BwE

   Bond-level, but not Trek Tech yet.

   Batman—but not Iron Man.