CD's as parabolic mirrors? - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

11 Dec 2000

...
  On December 8, Megan wrote:
  I remeber
reading that a hologram of a lens would refract light in the
same was as a real lens would. This concept has formed the basis for
the flight-of-fancy holodeck/holosuite concept from Star Trek.  
 <ot>
 The holodeck supposedly uses both hologram projectors and transporter
 technology... I suspect it should also use shield technology, too...
 </ot>  
   The Trek world's holodecks don't have anything at all to do with
 holographic lens technology.  They use a combination of holography
 (for background scenes and "wall extension") and transporter-style
 matter synthesis for "solid" objects. 
I wasn't talking about the explanation Giordi LaForge would give
for how it worked, but how the writers were likely inspired to 
create the plot device.

regards,
-dq