Geordi La Forge
Geordi La Forge
Species:	Human
Gender:	Male
Home planet:	Earth
Affiliation:	Starfleet
Posting:	USS Victory USS Enterprise-D helmsman (1st season) and chief engineer USS Enterprise-E chief engineer
Position:	Helmsman Chief Engineering Officer
Rank:	Lieutenant Junior Grade Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander
Portrayed by:	LeVar Burton

Geordi La Forge is a regular character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, played by LeVar Burton. He served as helmsman of the USS Enterprise-D in the first season, then occupied the role of the chief engineer for the rest of the series and in the TNG-era films. The character was named after George La Forge, a fan of the original Star Trek series who died from muscular dystrophy in 1975. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification. ... In the Star Trek science fiction universe, Humans/Terrans (Homo sapiens sapiens) are one of the races undertaking interstellar travel. ... Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ... The shield and spear of the Roman god Mars, which is also the alchemical symbol for iron, represents the male sex. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... USS Victory (NCC-9754) is a starship in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) (or Enterprise-D, to distinguish it from prior starships with the same name) is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. ... The fictional Sovereign-class USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E or Enterprise-E) is the primary setting of the films Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis. ... A helmsman is an person who steers a ship. ... Lieutenant Junior Grade is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... Lieutenant is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Levardis Robert Martyn Burton Jr. ... A helmsman is an person who steers a ship. ... The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) (or Enterprise-D, to distinguish it from prior starships with the same name) is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The starship Enterprise as it appeared on Star Trek Star Trek is a culturally significant science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. ... Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of genetic, hereditary muscle diseases that cause progressive muscle weakness. ...

Born blind, La Forge wears a VISOR (Visual Instrument and Sensory Organ Replacement), a half-moon-shaped prosthetic attached at the temples that provides him with vision. Interfacing directly with his brain, the device enables him to "see" much of the electromagnetic spectrum – radio waves, infrared, ultraviolet, but not normal light perception.[2] Although the neural interaction of the device causes him considerable chronic pain, La Forge throughout TNG declines alternate treatments as they could have hampered the functioning of the VISOR and his ability to see. By the beginning of Star Trek: First Contact, La Forge received ocular implants with the same abilities.^[1] Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or psychological factors. ... A VISOR as worn by Geordi La Forge. ... A United States Army soldier plays table football with two prosthetic arms Jon Comer, professional skateboarder with a prosthetic leg. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Cybernetics is the study of feedback and derived concepts such as communication and control in living organisms, machines and organisations. ... In animals, the brain or encephalon (Greek for in the head), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behaviour. ... Legend γ = Gamma rays HX = Hard X-rays SX = Soft X-Rays EUV = Extreme ultraviolet NUV = Near ultraviolet Visible light NIR = Near infrared MIR = Moderate infrared FIR = Far infrared Radio waves EHF = Extremely high frequency (Microwaves) SHF = Super high frequency (Microwaves) UHF = Ultra high frequency VHF = Very high frequency HF = High... Radio waves are electromagnetic waves occurring on the radio frequency portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. ... Image of two girls in mid-infrared (thermal) light (false-color) Infrared (IR) radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. ... “UV” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... “Hurting” redirects here. ... Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount Pictures, 1996; see also 1996 in film), is the eighth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ...

Biography

La Forge was born February 16, 2335 in the African Confederation on Earth to Silva La Forge (a Starfleet command track officer) and Edward M. La Forge (a Starfleet exozoologist) (TNG: "Interface"). He attended Zefram Cochrane High School (Star Trek: First Contact) and then Starfleet Academy from 2353 to 2357 (TNG: "Conundrum"). February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 24th century of the anno Domini (common) era will span the years 2301–2400 of the Gregorian calendar. ... The African Confederation is a fictional nation on Earth in the Star Trek science fiction universe. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... Astrobiology (in Greek astron = star, bios = life and logos = word/science), also known as exobiology (Greek: exo = out) or xenobiology (Greek: xenos = foreign) is the term for a speculative field within biology which considers the possible variety of extraterrestrial life. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Interface is an episode from the seventh season of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount Pictures, 1996; see also 1996 in film), is the eighth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... The official logo of Starfleet Academy, circa 2370. ... The crew attempt to discover their identities. ...

In 2357, he was assigned as an ensign aboard the USS Victory under Captain Zimbata (TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data"). After his first cruise, he was transferred to the USS Hood for her 2361-64 cruise, during which he was promoted to lieutenant junior grade (TNG: "Conundrum"). Ensign is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... USS Victory (NCC-9754) is a starship in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... Elementary, Dear Data is the third episode of the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... A Lieutenant, Junior Grade, is a division officer in the United States Navy. ...

At some point in his career, La Forge piloted Jean-Luc Picard in a shuttlecraft. Picard made an off-hand comment about the shuttle's engine efficiency not being up to spec. La Forge stayed up all night altering the shuttle (TNG: "The Next Phase"). In 2364, he was assigned as helmsman on the Enterprise-D under Picard's command. In 2364, William Riker, under the influence of Q, grants La Forge normal sight, which he rejects (TNG: "Hide and Q"). Jean-Luc Picard is a fictional human Star Trek character portrayed by actor Patrick Stewart. ... The Next Phase is a fifth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Captain William Thomas Will Riker is a Star Trek character, played by Jonathan Frakes. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... The visual system is the part of the nervous system which allows organisms to see. ... Hide and Q is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, first broadcast November 23, 1987. ...

In 2365, he was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from helmsman to chief engineer (TNG: "The Child"). In 2366, he was promoted to lieutenant commander (TNG: "Evolution"). In 2369, La Forge aided in the recovery of Montgomery Scott and worked alongside the original Enterprise chief engineer (TNG: "Relics"). Lieutenant is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... The Child is the first episode of the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... Evolution is the first episode of the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Scotty redirects here. ... The USS Enterprise, (NCC-1701) is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek, which chronicles the vessels most famous assignment, its Five-Year mission. ... Relics is the fourth episode of the sixth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

Twice aboard the Enterprise-D, La Forge's VISOR proved a security risk: in ("The Mind's Eye"), Romulans capture him and use the device's input ports to send commands directly to his brain. In Star Trek: Generations, Tolian Soran manipulates the device to transmit signals back to the Duras sisters, who use the information to allow their weapons to penetrate the Enterprise's shields. Sometime between Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek: First Contact, La Forge received ocular implants^[1]. The Minds Eye is the 98th episode in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... Romulans are a fictional alien species in the Star Trek universe related to Vulcans. ... Star Trek: Generations (Paramount Pictures, 1994, see also 1994 in film) is the seventh feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Tolian Soran is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe, portrayed by Malcolm McDowell in the film Star Trek: Generations. ... In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Klingon sisters Lursa (played by Barbara March) and BEtor (played by Gwynyth Walsh) are collectively known as the Duras sisters (TNG: Redemption, Part I). Lursa (who is older) (TNG: Firstborn) and BEtor appear in three episodes of Star Trek: The Next... Star Trek: Generations (Paramount Pictures, 1994, see also 1994 in film) is the seventh feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount Pictures, 1996; see also 1996 in film), is the eighth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ...

In 2372, he is transferred to the new Sovereign class starship Enterprise-E. When the ship travels back in time to the 21st century, he works alongside Dr. Zefram Cochrane and helps him successfully launch Earth's first warp-capable vessel and achieve first contact with the Vulcans (Star Trek: First Contact). During the Ba'ku incident, La Forge began to experience annoying pain in his eyes after sojourning on the planet. Doctor Crusher removes his ocular implants to discover that his optic nerves have regenerated and he has gained normal sight. This effect is caused by the healing properties of the Ba'ku ring system and, at the time, it is speculated that the effect will fade after La Forge leaves Ba'ku (Star Trek: Insurrection). This diagnosis proved correct; La Forge again wears the implants in Star Trek: Nemesis. This article is on the Sovereign class ship in the Star Trek fictional universe. ... Zefram Cochrane is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe created by Gene Roddenberry. ... First contact is a term used to describe a first meeting of two previously unknown cultures. ... It has been suggested that Tplana-hath be merged into this article or section. ... Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount Pictures, 1996; see also 1996 in film), is the eighth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ... Spoiler warning: The Baku are a race in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... This article is about the anatomical structure. ... A planetary ring is a ring of dust and other small particles orbiting around a planet in a flat disc-shaped region. ... Star Trek: Insurrection (Paramount Pictures, 1998) is the ninth Star Trek feature film. ... Star Trek Nemesis (Paramount Pictures, 2002; see also 2002 in film) is the tenth feature film based on the popular Star Trek science fiction television series. ...

Alternate time lines

In the alternate timeline of TNG series finale All Good Things..., La Forge has by 2395 married Leah Brahms and had three children (Alandra, Brett, and Sydney) with her. He has left Starfleet and become a novelist. However, these events may never happen because of the divergence of the time line at the episode's end. All Good Things. ... Leah Brahms, a character in the Star Trek fictional universe, was one of the main engineers responsible for developing the warp drive on Galaxy class starships, most notably the USS Enterprise-D. Leah Brahms is played by Susan Gibney. ...

In the alternate 2390 future in Star Trek: Voyager's "Timeless", La Forge is a captain and the commanding officer of the USS Challenger, doing his best to stop Harry Kim and Chakotay from altering the time line. However, Kim and Chakotay succeed in their mission, erasing the alternate time line. The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... Timeless, the sixth episode of the fifth season of Star Trek: Voyager, was also the series 100th episode. ... Captain is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... The commanding officer (CO) is the officer in command of a military unit. ... The USS Challenger is a starship from the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Harry Kim is a fictional character of the Star Trek universe, played by Garrett Wang, who served aboard the Starship Voyager, with the rank of Ensign and as its chief operations officer, on Star Trek: Voyager. ... Chakotay, played by Robert Beltran, is a character in Star Trek: Voyager. ...

Personal life

The major childhood trauma of being alone in his burning home caused him great distress, though he was pulled to safety after only two minutes (TNG: "Hero Worship"). His parents frequently having separate assignments also strained him as a child. For the Sandra Bernhard album, see Hero Worship. ...

He enjoyed the senior officer's weekly poker game, and though his artificial "eyes" allowed him to detect bluffing and sometimes see his opponents' cards in the ultraviolet spectrum, he never "peeked" until a hand was over^[2]. A game of Texas hold em in progress. ... “UV” redirects here. ...

He also delighted in scale model building of old sailing ships, chess, swimming, skin-diving, the history of his profession, and fencing. He was not well-suited for writing or the mandolin, despite a preference for guitar music. He liked iced tea and pasta, such as fungilli. Because of his nomadic upbringing, he was adept at various languages including Hahlian. For either of the songs named Sailing, see Sailing (song). ... Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... This article concentrates on human swimming. ... Freedive photographer Free-diving is an aquatic sport, considered an extreme sport, in which divers attempt to reach great depths unassisted by breathing apparatus. ... The title page to The Historians History of the World. ... Fencing advertisement for the 1900 Summer Olympic Games This article is about the sport, which is distinguished from stage fencing and academic fencing (mensur). ... Illustration of a scribe writing Writing, in its most common sense, is the preservation of and the preserved text on a medium, with the use of signs or symbols. ... A mandolin is a small, stringed musical instrument which is plucked, strummed or a combination of both. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ...

Notes

External links

• Character biography at the official Star Trek website
• Geordi La Forge article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki