# "Picard to Commander Data..." - is there a delay that is unaccounted for? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523 "2003-09-19T02:21:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/1 "2003-09-19T02:21:54Z")
In Star Trek people communicate throughout the ship by tapping the button on their shirt and saying “Picard to Commander Data” or “Picard to LeForge”, etc…So we see Captain Picard saying this, then it cuts to the other person (say LeForge), who hears from the speaker “Picard to LeForge”. In every Star Trek I’ve watched This communication is instantaneous, i.e. LeForge will hear the Captain saying “Picard to LeForge” as the captain says it, then respond. Another example is when the camera just shows the person sending the message - when you see Picard say “Picard to LeForge”, LeForge will respond with “Yes Captain” through the speaker almost instantaneously after the message ends… Wouldn’t the computer need to hear the entire “Picard to LeForge” before being able to actually deliver the message to LeForge? I’d expect some sort of delay. I know it’s a minor nitpick, but I’m wondering if I’m right or if there’s some other explanation. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/2 "2003-09-19T02:25:27Z")
You never heard of an intercom? Why would the computer need to deliver the message when there’s plenty of point-to-point communications technologies that can effectively deliver information immediately in real time? Like radio, wired telephony, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Fire\_Fox\_40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fire\_Fox\_40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fire_Fox_40)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/3 "2003-09-19T02:42:35Z")
An intercom is point to point as you stated, Picard never makes a reference as to which point the message is to be delievered. So with that in mind the destination would have to be known beforehand. That is unless the Picard to LeForge message is broadcast to the entire ship. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/4 "2003-09-19T02:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*You never heard of an intercom? Why would the computer need to deliver the message when there’s plenty of point-to-point communications technologies that can effectively deliver information immediately in real time? Like radio, wired telephony, etc. \*\* Anyone hear that whooshing sound? The answer to your question, **Bob55** , is that it’s a TV show, and they can get away with stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/5 "2003-09-19T02:45:04Z")
I think his point is that the computer is sending this message to Le Forge, and Le Forge only. Not necessarily to the whole ship. The computer has to hear “Picard to Le Forge” to connect the two. Also, it’s not an intercom because they use the communicators on the surface. I believe the little things on their shirts actually have the speakers and (If I recall correctly from the Voyager episode when Everyone was speaking a dif language) they have the translators built into them as well. So there would most definitely have to be a delay. But shit, what are we talking here? Fractions of a micro second? How fast can an electron move? Especially with neuro bio-circuits and gel packs. And freaking tera-quads… Anyway, is this really a GQ? Arent we just guessing here? ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/6 "2003-09-19T02:50:56Z")
“Picard” (computer ID’s caller and checks against voice-print in a nanosecond or so) “to LaForge” (computer recognizes keyphrase to direct call and does so in a nanosecond or so) ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/7 "2003-09-19T02:51:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bear\_Nenno \* > \*\*So there would most definitely have to be a delay. But shit, what are we talking here? Fractions of a micro second? \*\* No, not fractions of a microsecond, at least 2 or 3 seconds - I’m saying that the computer would need to know the final destination of the message before even begginning to broadcast it to the person on the receiving end. And my factual question was whether I was correct or there was another explanation. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/8 "2003-09-19T03:02:50Z")
The only answer is the one **Fire Fox 40** alluded to. The message is broadcast shipwide. In the given instance, La Forge always touches his com badge before replying doesn’t he? Hence, message to whole ship, person who is addressed acknowledges the call with a Com Badge touch, taking it to a private circuit. Since we never hear “Maintenance Supervisor Slord to Custodian Gromp” perhaps we can assume that only bridge officers have the authority to make such open broadcasts and lesser personell have to accept the time delay. So Slord would really say “Custodian Glomp - Supervisor Slord here.” and Glomp would hear only “Supervisor Slord Here.” and know that since it came out of his com badge it was directed at him. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/9 "2003-09-19T03:39:00Z")
The Star Trek TNG Encyclopaedia (I think it is) has an explanation for this phenomenon, but as I am not a Trekker I do not have this book to transcribe it for you. But rest assured, it uses Treknology and unlikely leaps of logic to explain how a simple TV conceit works. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/10 "2003-09-19T04:02:18Z")
Ah, but the Encyclopedia is not canon. My far more logical explanation fits the universe without Treknology and with just as much authority. Especially since my answer seems more of a realistic possibility, thus keeping this an answerable GQ ,while the Treknology answer would take us shooting right over to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/11 "2003-09-19T04:20:14Z")
Would you believe we actually had [a recent General Questions thread about this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210356)? I still like my explanation best. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/12 "2003-09-19T04:23:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BoringDad \* > **Since we never hear "Maintenance Supervisor Slord to Custodian Gromp"** 😃 LOL I think you’re right - I think they do always hit their receiver after they hear the message - it must be a ship-wide broadcast. I hadn’t thought of that. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/13 "2003-09-19T04:29:14Z")
Or perhaps the computer, or communicator listens the “Picard to LaForge”, and then repeats the message in LaForge´s communicator after directing the call. ---
**Author:** ![Bob55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Bob55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob55)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/14 "2003-09-19T04:56:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ale \* > \*\*Or perhaps the computer, or communicator listens the “Picard to LaForge”, and then repeats the message in LaForge´s communicator after directing the call. \*\* I don’t think so, because they always respond right away - if it were a personal message there would have to be a delay. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/15 "2003-09-19T04:57:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob55 \* > \*\*No, not fractions of a microsecond, at least 2 or 3 seconds - I’m saying that the computer would need to know the final destination of the message before even begginning to broadcast it to the person on the receiving end. And my factual question was whether I was correct or there was another explanation. \*\* It’s established that the ships computer knows where all personelle and passengers (at least those authorised to be on the ship and thus identifiable by their com-badge signal/life signs) are at all times. (It’s a common trick to make a crewmember seem to be somewhere they’re not by leaving their combadge, but the computer can also identify passengers who don’t have combadges, so I’d assume it uses both methods - combadges (which probably uses less processor power) for crew, life-signs for passengers.)) Under similar circumstances, MODERN computers, whose processing power hasn’t advanced to the point where they need to invent a whole new unit to measure it, can send a message from one person to another in no time at all (or, rather, the time is imperceptable to humans.) The Enterprise(Voyager/DS9/Defiant)'s computer is…a lot faster, so we’re talking fractions of a nanosecond, even if you assume it’s not just a broadcast. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/16 "2003-09-19T05:16:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > **The Star Trek TNG Encyclopaedia (I think it is) has an explanation for this phenomenon, but as I am not a Trekker I do not have this book to transcribe it for you.** I do. (Where’s the nerd smiley?) But I’m looking up “communicator,” and there’s nothing in the entry about how this might work. Mayhap you saw the explanation elsewhere. There’s a very similar communication thing that bugs me: The starship sidles up to a planet, the captain steps forward and says “hail them,” and immediately we hear, “Greetings, this is the President of Sphinctron IV; welcome” as if the head of the planet _leaped_ for the phone as soon as the vessel pings them. It’s rarely a flunky, like a spaceport apparatchik or a customs dude or whatever, and they never have to wait. I know, I know, it’s TV, they cut out the boring bits to get to the story, but it’s _distracting._ Come on, guys, just skip those scenes; think up a better way to give us the exposition. It’s not that hard. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/17 "2003-09-19T05:20:24Z")
There’s no reason GQ should have all the fun. I’ll leave the other recent thread here for factual answers about the potential technical problems and move this one to Cafe Society for technobabble explanations about why there is no technical problem. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/18 "2003-09-19T05:30:39Z")
Heisenberg Time doodly woosit: the message is actually delivered before it is sent. Replace all coins BUT the penny. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/19 "2003-09-19T06:23:22Z")
Actually, they don’t always hit their badges before responding. Especially Riker. ftr, we discussed a bunch of this on Phil Farrand’s old Nitpicker’s Guide website (around 1995 or so), and we decided the communicators and computers and comm links are all part of a sentient being _WHO IS ALSO PRESCIENT_. It’s the only logical explanation. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523/20 "2003-09-19T06:47:18Z")
Well, the communications protocol on the show has always seemed to work like this: Picard taps his combadge, and says “Picard to Crusher, hey good lookin’, I’ll be back to pick you up later.” But, even granting that the Enterprise computer is fast enough to instantly connect Picard to Crusher as soon as he finishes saying “Crusher,” the show has always shown that the _person being paged hears_ the words “Picard to Crusher,” and not just the content of the message. Therefore, it seems like the computer _couldn’t_ be relaying the initial voice page in real-time, because it would still have to replay the “Picard to…” part of the message for the person who’s getting the message. At _least_ a 1-second delay, or so, assuming that the computer starts replaying “Picard to Crusher…” as soon as Picard speaks the word “Crusher.” After that, of course, the conversation would be without delay, like using a walkie-talkie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/picard-to-commander-data-is-there-a-delay-that-is-unaccounted-for/202523.md?page=2)