 An example of an LCARS computer screen In the Star Trek fictional universe, LCARS (an acronym for Library Computer Access and Retrieval System, pronounced "ELL cars"), is a computer operating system used on Federation starships. Within Star Trek chronology, the term was first used in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in subsequent shows. In a real-world context, the term "LCARS" is frequently used to describe the style of the computer displays of the LCARS system, especially the screens from The Next Generation. The term "Okudagrams," named for Michael Okuda, the designer of the graphics, is also used to refer to this style. The design is popular among Star Trek fansites. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (864x576, 49 KB) Summary Screenshot from Star Trek DVD Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (864x576, 49 KB) Summary Screenshot from Star Trek DVD Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Enterprise-E_LCARS.jpg Summary http://www. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Enterprise-E_LCARS.jpg Summary http://www. ...
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. ...
The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ...
A fictional universe is an imaginary world that serves as the setting or backdrop for one or (more commonly) multiple works of fiction or translatable non-fiction. ...
The NASA Columbia Supercomputer. ...
// An operating system (OS) is a set of computer programs that manage the hardware and software resources of a computer. ...
This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...
One of the fictional ships called the Starship Enterprise from Star Trek, one of the most famous fictional starships. ...
The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...
Michael Okuda is an graphic designer who is best known for his work on Star Trek. ...
A fansite or fan site, is a website created and maintained by the fans or devotees interested in a celebrity or a particular cultural phenomenon. ...
Overview The LCARS GUI was designed by scenic art supervisor and technical consultant Michael Okuda. The original design concept was influenced by a request from Gene Roddenberry that the instrument panels not have a great deal of activity on them. This minimalized look was designed to give a sense that the technology was much more advanced than in the original Star Trek. The early display panels were made out of colored Plexiglas with light behind them. This can produce complex looking displays very cheaply. A graphical user interface (GUI) is a type of user interface which allows people to interact with a computer and computer-controlled devices which employ graphical icons, visual indicators or special graphical elements called widgets, along with text labels or text navigation to represent the information and actions available to...
Michael Okuda is an graphic designer who is best known for his work on Star Trek. ...
Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American scriptwriter and producer. ...
Structure of PMMA: (C5O2H8)n Structure of methyl methacrylate Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polymethyl-2-methylpropanoate is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. ...
The distinctive visual theme of LCARS interfaces include:
- Solid colors on a black field.
- Panes, often two arranged vertically with swept corners on the left.
- Narrow all caps fonts.
- Pill shaped buttons.
- Distinctive color palettes:
As the show progressed there was more use of animations. Most of the animations seen on the show are displayed on special 24-frame video equipment built into the sets. 24-frame video equipment is required so the screens do not appear to flicker when filmed. A paned window is a window that is divided into sections known as panes. ...
In typography, all caps (short for all capitals or all capitalized; often written as ALL CAPS) refers to text or a font in which all letters are capital letters. ...
In typography, a typeface is a co-ordinated set of character designs, which usually comprises an alphabet of letters, a set of numerals and a set of punctuation marks. ...
In computing, a button (sometimes known as a command button or push button) is a widget that provides the user a simple way to trigger an event, like searching for a query at a search engine, or to interact with dialog boxes, like confirming his actions. ...
The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...
In Star Trek - This section is an overview of LCARS, written within a Trek technical context.
LCARS is the collective designation for a set of hardware configurations, software algorithms, and communication protocols that, collectively, define operational design standards for technology devices that form the computational backbone relied upon by Starfleet systems. Treknobabble is a portmanteau of Star Trek and technobabble (itself a portmanteau of technology and babble). It is used humorously by fans of the various Star Trek television series, and disparagingly by its critics, to describe the infamous amount of pseudoscientific gibberish packed into many episodes of these television series. ...
For other uses, see Hardware (disambiguation). ...
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Computer program. ...
In mathematics, computing, linguistics, and related disciplines, an algorithm is a finite list of well-defined instructions for accomplishing some task that, given an initial state, will terminate in a defined end-state. ...
For other senses of this word, see protocol. ...
Starfleet Command symbol In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet is the paramilitary defense, research, diplomacy, and exploration force of the United Federation of Planets (UFP) with – as of the late 24th century – hundreds of starships and starbases at its disposal. ...
Below is a brief overview of the three specification sets (also termed specsets) that make up LCARS:
Hardware A number of circuitry configurations and component designs are specified for use in Federation computing devices. The diversity of designs included within the hardware specset reflects the wide variety of capacities and applications which the LCARS standard encompasses. Of the three specsets, hardware is the most loosely defined, due to continuing technological development, as well as the need to integrate existing systems on member worlds. Contemporary technology revolves around isolinear optical chips and newer bio-neural gel packs, which can be enhanced in large-scale systems through the application of subspace fields. Isolinear Chips In the Star Trek fictional universe, the isolinear optical chip is a common format for data storage among the more developed warp-capable cultures of the alpha and beta quadrants. ...
In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Bio-neural gel pack is a form of computer technology used by Starfleet, first developed in 2370 for the new Intrepid class starship. ...
Scene from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope depicting the inside of the Millenium Falcon when entering hyperspace. ...
Software The LCARS software-spec (LCARS/ss) is based on 114 subsets of reusable, interoperable code modules. Each subset is designed to handle most functions associated with computing applications. Within each subset are specialized variants, geared to specific applications. For example, within the Pattern subset are code modules designed to enhance vocalization in communicator audio; detect radiation anomalies in nebulous matter; and detect evasion patterns in combat situations. These modules are exhaustively specced, enabling anyone from an engineer to a field-user to adapt them to unique uses. In computer programming, the word code refers to instructions to a computer in a programming language. ...
A pattern is a form, template, or model (or, more abstractly, a set of rules) which can be used to make or to generate things or parts of a thing, especially if the things that are generated have enough in common for the underlying pattern to be inferred or discerned...
Communication Protocols This specset is perhaps the most diverse, as it must accommodate the communication needs of thousands of species, their languages, and their various modes of communication. A core element of the comm-spec is the Universal Translator (UT), a highly recursive set of algorithms that can decode unknown forms of communication. Data sets generated by the UT are regularly introduced into the Comm specset, after review by Federation linguistics specialists. Communication is a process that allows beings - in particular humans - to exchange information by one of several methods. ...
The universal translator is a fictional device common to many science fiction works, especially on television. ...
Linguistics is the scientific study of language, which can be theoretical or applied. ...
Real Life There have been a number of attempts at emulating the look and feel of LCARS on existing hardware and software platforms, though few are dedicated systems such as the fictional LCARS platform.
The LCARS interface has been echoed on countless websites with their own individual schemes and shape sets. However, the LCARS Standards Development Board has set out to create a unified theme and colour set that can be downloaded and used on websites and client side applications. The LCARS SDB has existed since January 2003 and currently covers colors and components. Other suggested standards are Layout, Sounds, Animation and Font. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...
Color is an important part of the visual arts. ...
The bouncing ball animation (below) consists of these 6 frames. ...
A font can mean: A member of a typeface family; or digital font - file format that encapsulates a typeface family in a database. ...
Trekker Reactor is the best example of LCARS web implementation with newer, blue LCARS design that was introduced in Star Trek Nemesis. The color scheme is stated in the web site's database as well as simple design tips. Trekker Reactor also features original LCARS sounds.
One attempt at making a usable and practical LCARS environment for existing hardware is the LCARS 24 project by Bill Morris. The project currently exists on top of an existing operating system such as FreeDOS or FreeDOS32 and is a viable alternative to shell emulators. The platform comes with a set of games, utilities, and other enhancements that provide functionality similar to earlier Windows and Mac versions. LCARS 24 is a GUI desktop environment inspired by the LCARS interface found in Star Trek. ...
FreeDOS (formerly Free-DOS and PD-DOS) is an operating system for IBM PC compatible computers. ...
This article is about emulation in computer science. ...
Another LCARS implementation has been done in the free German DOS based operating system DESKWORK, which shows a user interface very similar to the "Okudagrams" (screenshots) and uses an own metadata-based file system called LCARS.
References Star Trek: the Magazine was an authorized monthly tabloid-size periodical published in the United States and Canada devoted to the Star Trek franchise. ...
See also The following are designed to work in tandem with the LCARS system from the TNG timeframe onwards: The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ...
Collection of PADDs In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Personal Access Display Device (PADD) is a hand-held LCARS-based computer device that function as portable links to the ships main computer, other portable devices, or data stored on isolinear chips. ...
The universal translator is a fictional device common to many science fiction works, especially on television. ...
Tricorders (TNG era) In the Star Trek universe, the tricorder is a handheld device used for scanning an area, interpreting and displaying data from scans to the user, and recording information to isolinear chips. ...
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