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In the two part series “All Good Things” Captain Picard mysteriously travels back and forth through time, both past, present, and future. This episode deals greatly with security and defense in two ways. The first being the actual technology in which they have to help discover possible disturbances, enemies, and etc. as well the overall defense of mankind itself. It’s quite interesting to think that a character like Q has the ability to control mankind and it’s existence by testing to see if humans have the ability to continue to evolve. Not only does Picard and his crew need the necessary technology for defense and security of their ship when it comes to enemies, but also need to prove themselves that they can continue to think intelligently and think outside the box, so that their whole existence does not come to an end.

            In this day and age we worry about our national security when it comes to attack, such as 9/11 never mind a higher power such as Q deciding we are not worthy enough exist anymore. It’s interesting to think that if we had the security technology that the Enterprise and other ships have in our time period now what a difference the world would be. Could it be possible to have defense shield around the borders of nations to prevent attacks from other countries? People living without any worries of attacks because they know their border is impenetrable. What a difference that could make for nations in Africa or the Middle East who are next to each other and have been fighting wars for years. Some day though we could have this kind of defense security that exists on Star Trek and thus our planet could be that much more peaceful.

In the series finale of The Next Generation, “All Good Things…”, Captain Jean-Luc Picard is spit between time periods trying to figure out a spacial anomaly. What we see are 2 very different ships throughout the episode. First, we see the classic USS Enterprise. Next, we see the futuristic USS Pasteur. There are some very visible changes between the two ships. The Pasteur looks so much more advanced then the Enterprise even though it is only a Medical ship. The design of the ship shows how much time has changed technology.

An interesting thing portrayed throughout the entire Next Generation Series is the use of humans on USS ships. Even when Picard is portrayed as an old man, humans are still piloting ships. Gene Roddenberry definitely kept to the idea of humans still having a part in technology. I recently watched Will Smith’s I, Robot and would like to relate it to this episode. Will Smith lives in the world where Robots do everyday chores. While Star Trek does use its fair amount of machines (ie: replicator, computer), there is still an emphasis placed on the importance of humans.

Another point I would like to bring up is the idea of time shifting. Time shifting can very easilly ruin a present timeline. Picard even suprises Data with his knowledge of the future when he shifts from future to past to present. The idea of humans shifting time periods and traveling at will can seriously damage the future. I do not believe that time travel should ever be allowed. Humans are way too reckless as a species and would no doubt mess up the past in some sort of unchangeable way. In many Star Trek episodes we have seen in class, someone or something has changed the course of the future and the episode is spent trying to right the wrong. It is just too dangeorus to change the past.

Time is controller of everything. With time, we get older. With time, technology further advances and the possibilities become endless. One day, we might be able to beam to other countries or above ships. One day, world hunger might end. For now, all we can do is think and imagine.

I would like to thank everyone that made #TrekClass so memorable this semester. I have to say that I have become a Trekkie after this class. This past weekend, I watched Generations, Insurrection, Nemesis, and the 2009 Star Trek. I have to say that it’s amazing to see how television has changed so much and made to look so much more realistic. Well, that’s all for me. Till we meet again.

-Jordan

In the final episode All Good Things… of Star Trek Next Generation, the improvement and progression of technology can be seen in three different time periods when Captain Picard experiences time travel. While Captain Picard tries to figure out how to stop humanity from dying, the time lapse he experiences depicts how both design and engineering of the Starfleet vessel has changed. 

For example, when Captain Picard tries to investigate the spatial anomaly in the neutral zone, he is confused at how to go about this mysterious nebula in space, however as he travels into the future and cycles back to the past, he brings back valuable and new ways of approaching theories that his crew members on board at simply astonished by his commands. Before Data even suggested a specific way of explaining the anomaly and shifting time, Captain Picard was able to beat him to the answers. This surprises Data.

The changes in the future focuses on technology and engineering that have not been seen before in the past. The reasoning and knowledge behind the history of space is far more in depth and detailed then Captain Picard’s first space exploration. The vast amount of technology on board the future of Starfleet ships have been able to calculate greater predictions and explanations that could not have been answered in the past.

Another example of how technology has adanced and changed is from the status of Geordi Laforge. In the future, Geordi will have regain his full vision from the advancement in technology.

Overall, although this episode helps wrap up the Next Generation series, it is a great episode that depicts the changes from the start of Captain Picard’s command on the Enterprise to the future when Data retires and becomes a professor at Oxford. 

It is reasonable to say that as humans we strategize ways to carry out plans effectively, so one day, near or far from now, we don’t look back and wish we did something differently. At this point, we are cognizant of the fact that time only goes in one direction and in many ways we learn from our past without being able to change things. However, after watching the episode Endgame, I question whether or not people would go back in time and alter situations if given the option to do so. An article from the San Francisco Chronicle suggests that science has the power to change events that have already occurred, noting, “Such are the perils of retrocausality, the idea that the present can affect the past, and the future can affect the present.” It comes down to quantum physics and experiments that engineer signals to the past, testing photons and the series of outcomes it produced. Many experiments have been conducted similar to the one presented in the picture, giving an ambiguous suggestion as to whether or not the past can be affected.

The article further states, “If you could see the effects of your choice before you make it, could you then make the opposite choice and subvert the laws of nature? Some researchers have suggested retrocausality can occur only in limited circumstances in which not enough information is available for you to contradict the results of an experiment.”I am forced to question what kind of implications this knowledge would have on our system of defense? On others’ defense? Even venturing as far back as reshaping the big bang. It also forces me to discuss the potential fear that what we learn from creating mistakes would be taken for granted; as humans we are emotionally driven and demand a standard of living, a type of system that brings as many people as possible home from war with advancements in technology, weaponry, and strategies. If we were able to alter outcomes it seems as though our findings would become somewhat arrogant and perhaps too risky. There is a great sense of anxiety when making large decisions; with the knowledge that we could reverse time and try again seems as though we’d be more willing to try things on a larger scale of harm.

To speak on the other side of things, I must admit that knowledge of this nature could greatly be used to our advantage, highlighting flaws and imperfections made and key points in leadership—what it takes to maintain security and bring about safety. Such iterations could put us ahead of our time, allowing for constant progress. Although a very abstract idea it seems to be something good for discussion, creating questions that may not have answers such as would we be compromising our moral character and things of that nature?

Article- “Science hopes to change events that have already occurred”. Written by Patrick Barry, San Francisco Chronicle. 

In the Pale Moonlight, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

In the Pale Moonlight, many of the essential themes of the episode are relative to what people face in their everyday lives; choosing between the lesser of two evils. Relevant to security, privacy does become compromised at times of distress. In In the Pale Moonlight, the alternatives that are placed before Captain Sisko are questionable at best, but he decides to make compromises in order to achieve a more efficient solution. However, with the consultation of Garak, he realizes through a series of events that transpire that all that ends up happening is digging himself and his fleet into a deeper hole. Eventually, the Romulans do end up joining the Federation against the Dominion, and Sisko realizes that that was the price to pay in order to achieve what was best.

This episode in turn becomes highly relative to situations faced by the United States during periods of war, in which privacy is compromised for the sake of security. The gel used in the episode could almost be viewed as todays weapons, and how Sisko made a deal for the sake of achieving a greater good regardless of how dangerous his decision could have potentially been. The Cardassian data rod, which was sought out for in hopes of matching a certain level of authenticity was interesting because it relates to dirty trades made for a personal solution. Im sure that at some point in the United States history, politics have been played in order to convince one side to go against the other, in which legitimacy is compromised.
In today’s society, people are questioning where the government and others should draw the line, in which they breach privacy for the sake of efficient security. The truth is, that even though people’s privacy is violated (phone taps, computer tracking, airport security etc.) it is very important in order to insure the safety of people. According to Nude Awakening, people feel their bodies and privacy are being violated by going through the scanner so that airport security can further precaution against bringing threats and weapons on a plane. In reality, however invasive, it is a cost that people must prepare to pay in order to travel because it guarantees safety. The greatest concern, as stated in the article is that the images may leak. If that were the case, then TSA would be sued for millions of dollars.

If not currently implemented, there will eventually be some sort of anonymous randomizer unless the person passing through has some sort of violations on their record. This is all part of a defense system, and if something bad goes under someones record, then they should be prepared to have to go through this if they travel, on the condition that if guarantees the security of the masses.

For a minute, lets take a look at the logistics of star trek security.

If something happens, Tuvok sends a security team to intercept the threat. The entirety of star trek security relies on passive systems. Waiting for something to possibly happen.

But lets take another a look on how this could possibly effect IT security. One thing that Voyager points out is that physical security will always be a problem! There are multiple times throughout the series where the crew gets taken over by hunters, borg and other alien species. At every junction their computer systems are easily crippled. Thus, physical security of ship information will always be vulnerable!!

Ok, lets look at another problem, there is very little monitoring of the crew thus allowing for an insider threat or spy to easily cripple the crew and their operations. When the Maquis first arrived on Voyager there were two people spies onboard the enterprise and they operated unobstructed until they revealed themselves. That is definitely a disadvantage because systems really easily compromised and destroyed by the infiltrators.

In conclusion, these are just two of many ways that security of the Star Ships come up lacking. For more information check out: http://ha.ckers.org/blog/20090918/what-star-trek-predicts-about-the-future-of-information-security/

Nyota Uhura servers as a communications officer aboard the Enterprise under the command of James T. Kirk. She is a remarkable woman, who seems to always keep her composure even under the toughest situation. Even in the episode while under attack by the Romulan Uhure keeps her calm and focuse. In my opinion she seems to be one of the striogest character in the series along with Kirk and Spock.