Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ut-sally.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!hao!seismo!ut-sally!barnett From: barnett@ut-sally.UUCP (Lewis Barnett) Newsgroups: net.startrek Subject: Re: Front viewing screen Message-ID: <3472@ut-sally.UUCP> Date: Wed, 26-Sep-84 12:47:48 EDT Article-I.D.: ut-sally.3472 Posted: Wed Sep 26 12:47:48 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Sep-84 06:03:37 EDT References: <1742@pegasus.UUCP> <975@ut-ngp.UUCP> <177@oliveb.UUCP> Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas Lines: 34 [ Phasers, Mr. Sulu... ] I think it's pretty clear that the front screen *is* for projection from various sources: in addition to the various communication and "visual aids" we've seen on it, remember that there is a magnification factor added to the screen when we're viewing the outside world. (The most recent episode I've seen with an example of this was "The Corbomite Maneuver," where Kirk requests that the magnification be decreased so that he can see all of the Fesarius at once. Further evidence is the interference encountered in STII when Kirk, et. al. were chasing Khan around in the nebula. I'm at a loss to explain the dome effect witnessed in Menagerie, but I do have a couple of points to make about it: 1) It was badly done -- the scale was completely wrong, as was the viewing angle 2) The scene was really from a pilot episode, so they may not have worked all of this out yet 3) In addition to 2), this scene was produced by the Talosians, and while maintaining historical accuracy, maybe their grasp of the particulars of Earth star ship construction was shaky In addition to all this, it should be noted that there are real viewports on the Enterprise, and they're protected by a movable shield for structural reasons. The only instance I can think of where we see one of these in action is in "The Mark of Gideon." Kirk opens the viewport so he and Odona can see what the stars really look like, and instead are greeted by the crowd pressing against the exterior of the mockup Enterprise. Lewis Barnett,CS Dept, Painter Hall 3.28, Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX 78712 -- barnett@ut-sally.ARPA, barnett@ut-sally.UUCP, {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!barnett