Holoprogram Software

Within the USS Matrix you can visit three main holographic rooms on Deck 11. In addition, a set of twenty smaller personal holographic simulators suites are situated on Decks 12 and 33. Also there is large engineering holographic simulator on
Deck 17. A Tactical Training Holodeck has been added on Deck 22. The physical difference between this Holodeck and normal Holodecks is size. The deck is roughly twice the size, two decks tall and covering twice the square footage. The TTH'S systems work in exactly the same as other Holodecks, just on a larger scale. The reason for such a Holodeck is to provide Security Officers, Away Team members, and Starfleet Marines specifically with an area to practice skills. The TTH's systems also are able to provide users with weightless environments for Zero-G Combat, Atmospheric Jumps, and Starship Boarding Tactics. Both are specialized holodecks used for special engineering simulations and strategic purposes.

Each holodeck is connected to subprocessor which provides acces to main  computer library. Personal holodeck suites, as well, are connected to subprocessor. A set of four personal holodeck to one subprocessor.

The Engineering holodeck and Tactical Holodeck are each connected with two specialized subprocessors and also directly into Main Computer Core in the Engineering Hull.

Any crewmember can choose from the huge database of holo-stories. Those holo-stories are created from a data-base of a written literature or 2-D visual media found on many Federation worlds. It is by no strange coincidence that Terran culture is the favored source for much of the
data-base for it being so rich in such media. Some of this 2-D media, called "movies" or "Television" (term often used in 20th century), have been recreated in a 3-D format on the Holodeck for crewmembers to play out roles portrayed in the visual story.

Holodecks programs also can be used to recreate numerous landscapes and terrains from any number of worlds and well as create origional landscapes using a data-base of millions of flora, fauna, and animal lifeforms.

For the Engineering Holodeck there is a restricted area of holoprograms designed fro purpose of simulations. Those programs are created by specialy trained crewmembers from computer devision or by engineers. The same criteria exists for the Tactical Holodeck and these Holo-programs are  strictly controlled by the Chief of Security and Marine Commander.

For the creation of a new holoprogram a set of predesigned components is available. Those components can be incorporated into the program at any time of development. Developing of such program can be sometimes very difficult and can take a very long time. The actual writing of the program is fairly simple, however the intergration of elements usually is the most time consuming.

Created programs are stored in Main Computer Core in the Engineering Hull. Only CO, XO, 2XO, Chief of Security, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Engineer, Chief Computer Specialist and several chosen crewmembers from Engineering and Computer Science Division have the acces rights to this segment in Main Computer Core, where these programs are executed and are stored.

Programs can be reviewed in 2-dimensional view on a panel or even on PADD, where you have to put your acces code. If the program is under development, certain security levels must be chosen. That means this program is not send to the computer memory trough the ODN, but is directly stored on isolinear chip (capacity is 4.3 kiloquads) and is incorporated into the Main Computer Core after it is finished and approved by all the officers.

The software for creating such program is reachable by the Enhanced LCARS (E-LCARS) due to its security measures.

Software for holodeck in general is using main computer library for creating designed objects. That means object is incorporated into the program and if the program is execute the object is created by forcefields emitted by OHDs.

When the program is under construction, a system of commands must be added to any object within the program as to whether it is a hologram (and given OHD parameters) or the program must "replicate" the object. This system is very memory-consuming. So for most objects, such as food, water, air etc. the syntax of those commands is added as a default. Objects that are not within these syntaxes, are overseen by other programs which replicate real objects within the running program. When the crewmember has to touch any object in the program that is not a replication, OHD fields are automatically focused to the point of contact so that the object 'feels real.'

Program parameters for living beings and animals are so complex, that normally stored 'baseline' parameters are kept in memory and can be accessed and modified to suit the program. Only the most experienced Holoprogrammers should attempt to create a Holosimulation of a living being or animal.

Author - Ensign Tomas Kocvara
Date - December 1, 1998