Tricorder

From Star Trek: Gamma One

Tricorders are small and powerful devices with electromagnetic, magnetic, audio, chemical and subspace sensors. They are further equipped with databanks of scientific and historical information. They also have subspace communicators simlar to those in PADDs and combadges. Tricorders are capable of scanning for both biomass and energy, but cannot detect both at the same time - they must switch between mass and energy modes. ["Blowthrough"].

Engineering Tricorder: These tricorders contain a special engineering peripheral (EP) that contains specialized sensors for detecting energy fluctuations and energy particles and strange power signatures.

All Starfleet officers are expected to be proficient in the use of a tricorder. A basic refresher of tricorder operations is provided below.

Tricorder Operation

A standard tricorder

When closed, the tricorder is protected by a tough duranium casing. Once opened, it provides a number of input/output interfaces.

PWR STBY: Tricorder standby mode indicator.

F1/F2: Most controls on the tricorder have two separate functions. This control switches between the two.

I(Internal) & E(External): The "I" switch allows the tricorder to access data from its own sensors, while the "E" switch allows the tricorder to receive data from remote sources, including a starship's main computer.

Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma: Four indicator lights which let the user know if the tricorder is recording (Alpha), accessing (Beta), processing (Delta) or transmitting (Gamma) data.

Display Screen: This small screen and the concealed speaker beneath it are capable of displaying any audiovisual information recorded by or stored in the tricorder. This screen can also display sensor data from the tricorder, including visual representations of IR, UV or other invisible forms of radiation. It is possible to use a tricorder to perceive objects and creatures normally invisible to humans.

Library A/B: The "A" function directs the unit to store data in its main memory; "B" directs the unit to store data on one of the unit's two removable isolinear optical chips.

GEO/MET/BIO: These switches direct the unit to perform geological, meteorological or biological (lifeform) scans. When used with three adjacent buttons, the unit can control and receive data from up to 27 remote information sources. Using its built in sensors, the unit can perform the following different scans:
- Biological, long-range: The unit can detect the number and position of all lifeforms of a given size within its range. Individual lifeforms can also be tracked.
- Biological, short-range: The unit can identify the type of lifeform (e.g., humanoid, energy being, reptilian), including the exact species if that lifeform is known to Federation science. General information about the creature's physical condition is also provided.
- Geological, long-range: The unit can locate large caves, significant mineral deposits, and important geological features, such as as fault lines. This setting also allows the device to determine the rough chemical composition of any substance within range and to locate large concentrations of any desired material.
- Geological, short-range: The unit can detect small caves and concealed features, such as underground water or small mineral deposits. The unit can also locate small concentrations (even a few grams) of a desired substance. The exact chemical composition of unknown substances can also be determined.
- Meteorological, long-range: The unit can analyze local weather patterns, predict the weather up to twenty hours in advance, and detect problems like ionic interference. This setting will also reveal the magnitude, type, and location of any large energy sources within its range (such as a shuttlecraft).
- Meteorological, short-range: The unit can determine the exact composition of the local atmosphere; it can also detect and locate small energy sources (such as another tricorder).

Comm Transmission: These four switches govern communications with other devices. "Accept" allows the unit to receive information from a remote source; "Pool" networks it with other devices; "Intership" links it to a ship's computer; and "Tricorder" links it with other tricorders in range. Like a personal communicator, a tricorder can contact a starship up to 60,000km away and another tricorder or combadge up to 500km away.

EMRG: This is an emergency transmission button. Once activated, the tricorder sends all its data to a starship. This transmission can take up to ten minutes and temporarily shuts down all other functions.

Image Record: These buttons allow the unit to record, play back and edit audiovisual recordings made by the unit. A tricorder may store more than 2,000 hours of high-density recording in its Library B memory.