LOOK AT THIS are we making a breakthorugh???

[EnsignParis]

It is virtually impossible to create a computer that understands language.

There is no way that I can ever see it possible...

The human brain is capable of adapting, which is why it is able to understand language. Computers are not capable of adapting, they do what they are programmed to do, and that's it.

[Admiral_Tom_Paris]

I agree so we need to program them to understand

[Dax Orien]

Well think the impossible: Biotechnology.... Now I'm totally neutral on the side of messing around with computers with actual human brains backing them but perhaps it's possible. I mean it does sound a little wrong and maybe even more impossible, but here this and try to imagine this working out: have you ever played the game HALO? Well if you haven't there is a hologram with a direct interface to the main character "Master Chief" who thinks and acts like a Human! And she has personality and attitude to boot. Well anyways I think that we can eventually get that far if we honestly try. Like I said, I'm neutral about using an actual brain but hey, you never know right?

[EnsignParis]

Biotechnology, now that is an interesting idea, I will give you credit for that one...but we are FAR FAR FAR away from something that complex, it would take several million (probably billion) dollars and decades or maybe even centuries of research, for something that, quite frankly, might not even work.

But even so, we would have to look into the practical uses of a hologram. They would need to have some sort of way to touch matter in order to be of any use, otherwise they are just an ultra-smart computer with a flashy appearance. That much money (in my opinion, and probably the government's as well) is just plain not worth it.

Also, you must realize it is not NASA's goal to make Star Trek a reality, but to explore and gain knowledge of the universe. Just because it might be possible to create a hologram, doesn't mean it will further their cause.

[Admiral_Tom_Paris]

hello Ensign Paris do u know that anyone who would want to create a hologram would probobly be a multi millionair /billionair

[EnsignParis]

Yes, I realize this, but hello, do you know how much that would cost?

You would need a little something called GOVERNMENT GRANTS.

They don't give those out to people just so they can be come millionaires or billionaires. They give those out to companies that are researching something for a good cause and the progression of science.

And even if a single person did have the money to be able to build a hologram (supposing the technology is possible to create), it would take them thousands of years to complete the coding required for something that extensive.

The Hubble Space Telescope has 4 million lines of code. It would take one person 2000 years to write that themself.

A project as massive as making an interactive hologram would (most likely) take much much more than 4 million lines of code.

[GhostOfAMemory]

[EnsignParis]

Voice commands are one thing. When was the last time you actually saw your dad having a conversation with his cell phone (you know what I mean).

[Admiral_Tom_Paris]

your right Ensign Paris but it is just a few steps away

[webtaz99]

There is a company which has developed a way to project true holograms into empty space as far as 40 feet from the projector unit. There are no screens or surfaces - the images "float" in midair. The viewer does not need goggles, glasses or anything else (besides eyeballs). The images are generated in real time by a computer, much like those on a computer display. They can be seen from any angle that does not block the beams generating the image. The images can be transparent at low levels or bright enough to be opaque. The current units are monochrome and low density, but the technology is real and should steadily improve.

Holograms have BADLY mis-represented by the media. A hologram is ONLY a three-dimensional image. No touch, substance, smells, or sounds.