Star Trek Holodeck

The Holodeck wasn’t the first, but it is the best.

The end goal, the big kahuna, the finish line of hologram design is Star Trek’s Holodeck. First shown on Star Trek The Next Generation in it’s first episode. It upped the ante for future technology and holograms by leaps and bounds. Used in many episodes, the holodeck serves a grand purpose in future life aboard the USS Enterprise, Deep Space 9 and USS Voyager. Skip straight to the part that let’s me create one for my home!

The Holodeck allows it’s user to live their most enchanting fantasies and deepest desires in a fully 3 dimensional arena that looks, feels, sounds and smells like the real thing. Pre-programmed applications and custom programs are run, from combat training to sunsets on other planets. The possibilities for learning, sports, fighting or even where a shy nerd (like many Star Trek fans myself included) can practice interacting with the opposite sex to get unlimited practice!

The advantages to having a Holodeck are numerous. Serving aboard a vessel on long missions, things can get quite boring seeing the same scenery. Thankfully the transporter technology allows the Holodeck to create grass, trees and even water. Exercise has never been more fun.

But how does the Holodeck let a person travel the streets of a city and walk the moons of Vulcan? It’s not clear how every part of it is done, but technological trickery is a large part. Cleverly placing walls and obstacles help make the Holodeck seem a lot bigger then the moderate-sized room the person is really in.

So how do you get one for your home? Your expecting me to say you can’t until 2020 or some date like that, but you actually can get started on your own hologram system for a project yourself in the next 5 minutes. It’s not as advanced as the one on the Enterprise, but you have a head start to get it there before the 24th Century. Create your own Holograms.