# Non-sexual uses for the holodeck **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 10, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325 "2005-11-10T02:20:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/41 "2005-11-11T02:48:54Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > Simulations of all the greatest cities in the Federation… at 1/100 scale. > > \*\*\*RRRRAAAAUUUUGGGGHHH!!! \*\* \* > > (TINY HOLOGRAPHIC VOICES: “Oh no! Our phasers are useless! The beast is heading for the lithium-cracking station pylons!”) The local buildings codes are inadequate! This water tower displeases me! ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/42 "2005-11-11T02:50:27Z")
Revenge fantasies. People you know, historical figures, fictional characters you hate…all fair game. Let the simulated blood flow until the holodeck drains start to scab over. Even better if it’s in a holo-setting that’s programed to act like you have superhuman strength—hey, that’s another one: see what it’d be like to have superpowers. Bringing dead pets & friends back to life (sorta). Misc. God playing. (Creating AIs, Emergency [blank] Hologram prototypes, etc.) Tonight, on Enterprise Payperview: Afrikakorps vs. Genghis Khan! _Who—Will—Win?_ Testing the limits of the safety protocols. (Like “how close to being burned alive can I be made to feel without actually injuring myself?”) Alternate holoporn: make _other_ people or characters have sex. (Xena and Gabrielle, I’m lookin’ at you.) Or even…holographic pseudo-sex change operations? (Not what I’d go for myself, but I probably wouldn’t napalm myself, either) ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/43 "2005-11-11T05:58:38Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > But, that assumes the computer running the holodeck is better than a human historian or SF writer at calculating and extrapolating the probable effects of a point-of-divergence. > > Then again, if it weren’t actually better, how would you know? > > I guess it depends on whether you’re primarily interested in the holosim as a recreational or intellectual tool. Myself, for this scenario, both. I think a computer more accurately calculating the effects of divergence better than human historian would be a pretty safe bet in Star Trek. Purely recreational holoism would have me sexually serviced by three naked Naomi Campbells, each with six inch long prehensile tongues. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/44 "2005-11-11T06:48:41Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Misc. God playing. Best. Game of Civ. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/45 "2005-11-11T07:13:08Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Purely recreational holoism would have me sexually serviced by three naked Naomi **Campbells,** each with six inch long prehensile tongues. Oh thank God…I read that as Naomi _Wildman_ for a moment. :eek: I think it’s time to take some more NyQuil and sleep through weekend, now. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/46 "2005-11-11T08:33:38Z")
I’d program a simulation of being the captain of a starship warping around the galaxy and going on missions. Er, wait a minute… ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/47 "2005-11-11T08:41:13Z")
I’ve been a martial-arts and medieval-war geek for a long time. I’d love to see what it’s like to use all those techniques for real, without having to worry about killing or dismembering a training partner. I’d probably get “killed” a lot at first since I’d undoubtedly do stuff wrong or hold back unconsciously. **Podkayne** already took most of my other good ideas. Great minds think alike 🙂 Interactive fiction and immersive role-playing games get a big thumbs-up from me. I came up with a semi-practical concept for a live action computer role-playing game when I was in high school. Tech still hasn’t quite gotten to the point where I could do it for real. Yet. Fighter pilot training. Spacewalks. Any adventure sport you want. Matrix-style ass-whoopin’ goodness. Meeting famous people to see if you’d actually like them if you met them in real life. Social training; trying out different things with people in your life to see what would happen and fine-tune your responses so that you make faux pas less often, yet can also better judge when you can get away with taking risks. Damn, I’d never leave the 'deck. I wonder how well it could be used for therapy, like someone pointed out earlier. If you had the bent, you could indulge in all your sadistic fantasies through the holodeck and it might keep you from doing it in real life. Rape and torture, no problem, 'deck it! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/48 "2005-11-11T08:46:37Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Oh thank God…I read that as Naomi _Wildman_ for a moment. :eek: > > I think it’s time to take some more NyQuil and sleep through weekend, now. :smack: Well, there was an alternate future episode in which the adult Naomi _and_ Icheb looked more than qualified and legal for some adult holo-action. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/49 "2005-11-11T08:48:09Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Some have imagined that, if the holodeck were real, most people would spend every waking minute screwing celebrities. > > Probably so, but what other uses can you think of? Ultimate Myst Declan ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/50 "2005-11-11T08:58:33Z")
I’ve always thought that if you have the technolgy for a programmable holo-deck that certainly it could be a powerful research tool into interdimensionality. You might be able to pull out a refractive image of higher dimensions with a few twists. With the proper program it could turn into an “infinite machine”. I see an interesting script with this unexplored concept. Overtones of Herbert West, Re-Animator (HPL). ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2005, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/51 "2005-11-11T12:53:49Z")
I never understood why, with holo-deck technology, the helm and tactical interfaces were still buttons and sliders and two-dimensional displays. A holo-deck (or “holo-bridge”) could give the captain a god’s-eye view of a developing situation (particularly combat). You could use tactile, visual, and audio cues to pass information along. The computer could scale time and distance to make things comprehensible by the humanoid using the information. For example, instead of a helmsman siting at a console, in the holo-bridge the captain could just push a “model” of his starship in the direction he wanted to go, just like we all used to make our toy X-wings swoop around in our backyard. Inertia and available power limits would be represented by resistance to this push. Shield stregth could be represented by color on the “model” of a ship. Weapons control would be easier; just point at where you want to hit, and tell the computer which weapon to fire. I know - the bridge as depicted in the various incarnations of Star Trek makes for better drama. I just always thought it was kind of useless. Or at least anachronistic. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2005, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/52 "2005-11-12T00:50:41Z")
Re-writing the endings/plots of stories that you hated. (Little Nell _LIVES!_) ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/53 "2005-12-24T23:23:18Z")
I’m surprised they don’t use the Holodeck-type tech, or even plain holograms, to do the sets for the little stage plays they do (such as “Frame of Mind”). Holograms for your sets? Man, that would change playwriting — you could completely change the backdrop with a few keystrokes. You could even simulate your lighting with holodeck tech, setting it up for indoor lights, candlelight (without unsafe flames), simulated sunlight, grass on the stage, carpet, whatever. Best of all, actors can’t trip over holograms and tip 'em over during the Wells Fargo Wagon number. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/54 "2005-12-25T02:38:04Z")
Agh, I read the whole thread and the last poster beats me to it. Overcoming your stage fright: there’s no need for it, since you’re the only person there. Be a spear-carrier in a production of _Hamlet_ with Laurence Olivier, Ian MacKellen, Sir John Gielgud and Patrick Stewart (or maybe that would cause some kind of rift in the Trek universe)! Or direct the show, rewrite it, and make the author crazy with your Michael Bay-esque plot changes. In _Illuminatus!_, there’s a brief discussion of a machine that allows you to recast any movie with whatever actors you please. That’d be a fun time, too - after all, you can’t be active in this Holodeck all the time. Once in a while you’d want to relax. Remake _It’s a Wonderful Life_ with Peter Lorre as the star and have yourself a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/55 "2005-12-25T02:49:00Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Re-writing the endings/plots of stories that you hated. (Little Nell _LIVES!_) You could be a character in a movie and make changes as you go along and the other characters would automatically adapt. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/56 "2005-12-25T02:56:24Z")
Angelina Jolie being there, and _I’m_ fitted with 3 prehensile tongues is a thought with merit… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/57 "2005-12-25T03:27:00Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > (Little Nell _LIVES!_) The Little Match Girl? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2005, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325/58 "2005-12-25T09:46:34Z")
Holographically simulate your own starship…then go into the Holoship’s holodeck, and repeat the process. Again and again and again. Take bets on which overloads first—the ship’s computer, or your brain. You could do something similar by taking a Holovacation in downtown [R’lyeh.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R'lyeh) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-sexual-uses-for-the-holodeck/330325.md?page=2)