h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: 'Star Trek' - The Tricorder - A55082441
Author: Galaxy Babe - U128652

You might mention that Chekov, being Russian, was aboard the American 'nuclear wessel' during the 'cold war' and could have been shot for spying.

You say that in the 29th century the tricorder's capabilities had grone enormously but only the size had changed.
Does this jsut mean that all the capabilties were jsut refinements of previous tricorders with no new abilities or am i just being stupid?
Either way() its a great article

Hi GB!

Before you finish editing your very fine entry on tri-corders, you may want to reassess your description of the size of the TOS version.

Here's a link that might help.
http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2008/04/design-features-of-screen-used-tos.html
I'd say that it looks to be more the size of a 1960s mini-taperecorder.

This site, http://tv.ign.com/articles/552/552235p1.html, claims that their replica's "dimensions are accurate to the original prop (7"H x 5.2"W x 2.3"D)", if that helps in any way.

Hi FT

<>

At 7"H x 4.5"W x 1.5"D, a thick paperback book seems a fair approximation doesn't it?

Thanks for reading nbb

Indeed the concept of the original tricorder was so good that the improvements to later models were mainly to do with better user interfaces - touch pads replacing physical buttons - faster processor units and a huge increase in storage capacity. These improvements mirror the changes to personal computers (PCs as they were called back then) of the late 20th/early 21st Centuries.

Hi there h5!

I know it doesn't sound like a lot in inches; but, by your figures, the tricorder was more than 15% wider and over 50% thicker.

And, the total area is even worse, of course: 83.72" vs 47.25", for a difference of over 56%.

I don't know that I'd consider up to a 50-60% difference a good approximation. What do you think?

Well done, GB - this is good. I'm sure all the Star Trek geeks will fix the detail for you.

"Three life forms behind that rock, Captain"

My contribution was actually quite minor, just the 2nd para of The Medical Tricorder. I'm quite happy to add the dimensions of the original Tricorder as a footnote if that will settle the issue

Done

Nice Job, GB!

The footnote works fine.

You know, considering how hard it was to find any dimensions, this may be a more valuable Trek-based entry than it might have been originally thought to be!

Thank you very much for your invaluable input, FT

gee, thanks

Noth€r

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