data star trek next gen

Specifications

A diagram of Data's systems

Data was composed of 24.6 kilograms of tripolymer composites, 11.8 kilograms of molybdenum - cobalt alloys and 1.3 kilograms of bioplast sheeting. ( TNG : " The Most Toys ") All told, his mass was approximately one hundred kilograms. ( TNG : " Inheritance ") Data's upper spinal support was a polyalloy designed to withstand extreme stress. For instance, Data once leaped into a deep underground cave and was able to safely fall down 11.75 meters to the bottom without damaging himself. ( TNG : " The Arsenal of Freedom ") His skull was composed of cortenide and duranium . ( TNG : " The Chase ") His legs were exactly 87.2 centimeters in length. ( Star Trek: Insurrection ) Data was built with an ultimate storage capacity of eight hundred quadrillion bits ( 100 petabytes ) and a total linear computational speed rated at sixty trillion operations per second . ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ") However, he later augmented his computational speed by converting his interlink sequencer to an asynchronous mode of operation, removing the performance constraint created by virtue of having space between his positronic links. His computational speed became virtually instantaneous after this modification. ( TNG : " The Quality of Life ") Data's construction also included teeth , an artificial tongue and tear ducts . ( TNG : " Code of Honor ", " The Bonding ", " Brothers ", " Phantasms ", " Thine Own Self "; Star Trek Generations )

His physical and mental capabilities were far superior to that of virtually any organic or cybernetic humanoid, including Klingons, Humans, and even Borg drones . His strength was such that he was capable of casually holding a 1950's automobile at bay against the full force of its engine with a single hand. ( TNG : " The Neutral Zone ", " The Ensigns of Command ", " The Chase ", " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II ", " Emergence "; Star Trek: First Contact ) These superhuman capabilities made him an important asset to the Enterprise -D, and the fact that he was either unaffected by or highly resistant to conditions such as disease , radiation , oxygen deprivation, mind control, and chemical imbalance was crucial to the survival of the ship on numerous occasions. ( TNG : " Unnatural Selection ", " The Vengeance Factor ", " Hero Worship ", " Clues ", " Disaster ", " The Game "; Star Trek: First Contact ) However, he was apparently more vulnerable than either Humans or Klingons to atmospheric conditions that involved the presence of high concentrations of ions. For instance, during the Enterprise 's mission to Galorndon Core in 2366, Commander Riker noted that had Data been with the away team, the crew would have been "unscrambling his circuits for a week". ( TNG : " The Enemy ")

As a Soong-type android, Data was incapable of alcohol intoxication , yet components in his processing systems were susceptible to disruption by polywater intoxication . ( TNG : " The Outrageous Okona ", " The Naked Now ") He did not require sustenance , but occasionally ingested semi-organic nutrient suspension in a silicon -based liquid medium to lubricate his biofunctions. ( TNG : " Deja Q ") Though capable of consuming more traditional food and drink, Data had no sense of taste and therefore tended not to bother eating. ( TNG : " Hero Worship ") Data also did not sleep, nor apparently did he require rest of any kind. Though he had attempted sleep from time to time, presumably simply to emulate Humans more thoroughly, he appeared to have remained almost constantly active before 2369 . After this date, Data suffered an accident which activated a series of circuits in his positronic net that allowed him to experience dreams. After this, he began to sleep regularly in order to experience these dreams. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part I ") Data also demonstrated immunity to telepathy and other psionic abilities. Deanna Troi could not sense him empathically ; nor was he affected by the telepathic broadcasts of the Bendii Syndrome -afflicted Sarek . ( TNG : " Night Terrors ", " The Game ", " Violations ", " Phantasms ", " Sarek ") This was known to trouble him to a certain degree, as he believed that it was possible that there was simply nothing "real" in his mind for these individuals to read; that his consciousness was comprised only of "algorithms and programmed responses". However, the psionically-gifted Betazoid Tam Elbrun vehemently disagreed with this possibility, thinking Data was simply "different". In fact, Tam greatly appreciated this quality in Data, as it meant that he had to talk with Data to understand his personality rather than involuntarily receiving that information telepathically, as tended to be the case when he interacted with other humanoids. ( TNG : " Tin Man ")

Data and Dr. Bashir

Data had an aging program designed to simulate the external effects of aging in his physical appearance. The blinking of his eyes was governed by a Fourier series , to simulate randomness. ( TNG : " Inheritance ") In 2369 , Dr. Julian Bashir further expressed his fascination for all the trouble Dr. Soong took to make Data seem "Human." He was especially surprised with regard to how "personable" Data was. He also questioned Data about whether his hair grew, and observed that Data was "breathing" and had a "pulse." However, these seemingly aesthetic elements of his person did in fact serve a functional purpose, as his circulatory system was designed to produce biochemical lubricants and regulate micro-hydraulic power, and his respiratory system helped to maintain thermal control of his internal systems. Neither system was entirely necessary however, as Data was known to be capable of functioning for extended periods in a vacuum and was able to withstand exposure to space without suffering any problems. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part I ", " We'll Always Have Paris "; Star Trek Nemesis )

Data seemed to favor his left hand for tasks such as painting, ( TNG : " 11001001 ") using a pen, ( TNG : " Time's Arrow ") gun tricks, ( TNG : " A Fistful of Datas ") and more. However, he was completely ambidextrous and was even capable of performing such tasks as painting two pieces at once. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part I ")

Data demonstrates his flotation capabilities

Before 2370 , Data was apparently incapable of swimming as his body structure was too dense for him to float in water. He apparently learned this through trial and error, as at one point prior to the date in question, he decided to go swimming in Devala Lake while sailing with Geordi La Forge . He immediately sank straight to the bottom, and he ended up having to walk 1.046 kilometers across the lake bed to the shore, as he did not possess enough buoyancy to get back to the surface. It took nearly two weeks to get the water out of Data's servos . ( TNG : " Descent, Part II ") Data had rectified this problem as of 2375 , and installed some sort of flotation device within his body which was buoyant enough to support not only his own weight but that of others. ( Star Trek: Insurrection )

Human development

Spot in 2367

Data asserted that he did not only perceive data and facts, but also the "substance" and "flavor" and other ineffable qualities of the experience, which would be lost when downloaded to a conventional computer. ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ")

Data always sought to become more Human in his behavior, sometimes with unfortunate results. His attempts at humor were not successful, nor were his attempts at romance and love. He maintained a relationship with Jenna D'Sora , but it did not last long. ( TNG : " In Theory ")

Besides humor and romance, Data also tended to avoid using contractions in regular speech as he had difficulty defining the nuanced occasions on which they were used, although this was part of his programming by Dr. Soong. ( TNG : " Conspiracy ", " Datalore ")

In an alternate timeline, Data appeared to have mastered contractions by the 2390s. ( TNG : " All Good Things... ")

During his stay aboard the Enterprise -D, Data kept a cat as his pet , whom he named Spot . Spot was quite fussy in her relationships. Besides Data, she only enjoyed the company of Reginald Barclay . She also had kittens in 2370 . In 2371 , Spot survived the destruction of the Enterprise . Data, newly imbued with emotions as a result of his emotion chip , cried tears of joy over Spot's survival. ( TNG : " In Theory ", " A Fistful of Datas ", " Force of Nature ", " Genesis "; Star Trek Generations )

Emotion chip

Data began using the emotion chip in 2371 , about a year after he acquired it from his brother Lore . ( TNG : " Brothers ", " Descent, Part II "; Star Trek Generations ) At first, he had some difficulties adjusting to the onslaught of emotions, as simple things such as scanning for lifeforms on a planet caused him great pleasure – whereas by contrast, Data was temporarily immobilized with terror when put in a situation where he would experience fear for the first time. He eventually learned to control the feelings. After the initial adjustment period, he was able to activate and deactivate the chip's functioning within his positronic net, and later even to remove it completely in situations where emotions would be a hindrance. ( Star Trek Generations ; Star Trek: First Contact ; Star Trek: Insurrection )

Service record

Creation and early life.

Data was constructed on the planet Omicron Theta around 2336 . He was the fifth of six known androids designed by Dr. Noonien Soong . The previous, Lore, had been deactivated over the protests of Soong's wife, Juliana . ( TNG : " Datalore ", " Inheritance ") Soong claimed he built Data to perfect his design of his androids, and when Data was perfected, apply his improvements to Lore. ( TNG : " Brothers ") Juliana had come to view Data as her beloved son, but always feared that he would fail, as his previous "brothers" had, or become dangerous, like Lore, and would have to be dismantled. ( TNG : " Inheritance ")

In his earliest existence, Data was much like a baby, struggling with motor control and sensory input. ( TNG : " Inheritance ") Over time, Data had learned about himself and his world, and his programming was refined by Dr. Soong, who attempted to eliminate certain undesirable behaviors. Problems included a disregard for social niceties, courtesies like "please" and "thank you", and a lack of appreciation for clothing, Data did not see any necessity since he "didn't suffer from the elements". In regards to the latter issue, the Soongs had to write a "modesty subroutine ", because the colonists objected to an anatomically-accurate android being unclothed. ( TNG : " Inheritance ")

Eventually Soong decided to feed Data with the logs and journals of the colonists, while simultaneously wiping his memory of his early existence. Unfortunately, while Data was still deactivated, a mysterious Crystalline Entity attacked the colony. ( TNG : " Datalore ") Juliana's fears that Data would be another failure motivated her to lie to her husband when they fled, forcing him to leave Data behind, inactive. ( TNG : " Inheritance ")

Data remained alone on the planet, inactive and abandoned by the colonists until he was discovered by a landing party from the USS Tripoli on Omicron Theta.

Discovery and early career

Data was found and reactivated on the planet Omicron Theta by the USS Tripoli on February 2 , 2338 , after the Crystalline Entity destroyed the entire colony on the planet. ( TNG : " Datalore ", " Conundrum ")

In the first few weeks after Data was reactivated, and without the early presence of Noonien and Juliana Soong, Data claimed he had no one to guide him as his neural net was developing and achieving sentience . ( TNG : " The Offspring ") In that process, more complex pathways replaced simpler ones. As the integration of these pathways became increasingly difficult, the probability of cascade failure increased. As a consequence, Data considered shutting himself down and beginning all over again. He eventually considered the situation a challenge and continued on. He later expressed to La Forge that, in essence, he considered suicide at a difficult point in his early life. ( TNG : " Eye of the Beholder ")

His connection with Starfleet resulted in his choice to enter Starfleet Academy . ( TNG : " Brothers ") Upon applying for admittance to the Academy, Data met with some resistance from Bruce Maddox – who, desiring the opportunity to avail his cybernetic research interests, became, as Data put it, " the only member of the evaluation committee to oppose [Data's] entrance on the grounds that [he] was not a sentient being. " Eventually, Data was admitted to the Academy in 2341 , and spent four years there. ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " The Measure Of A Man ") While at the Academy, Data undertook advanced training in the operation of auxiliary space vessels where he received a high grade . ( TNG : " Unnatural Selection ")

Prior to 2364 , Data had been cited in several bio-mechanical texts. ( TNG : " The Naked Now ")

During his time at Starfleet Academy, Data did extremely well scholastically, but his lack of understanding often created social obstacles for him. He fell victim to several practical jokes and had difficulty with social gatherings. ( TNG : " The Game ") Nonetheless, in 2345 , Data graduated, with honors in exobiology and probability mechanics . ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " The Measure Of A Man ", " Tin Man ")

One of Data's first assignments after he graduated Starfleet Academy was aboard the USS Trieste . ( TNG : " Clues ") He spent three years as an ensign and twelve as a lieutenant before being promoted to lieutenant commander in 2360 . ( TNG : " Datalore ") In 2364 , he was assigned to the USS Enterprise -D as its second officer .

By 2365 , he had earned the Starfleet Command Decoration for Gallantry , Medal of Honor with clusters, Legion of Honor , and the Star Cross . These were considered by Wesley Crusher to be "Some of the highest awards in Starfleet." ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ", " The Most Toys ") By early 2368 , Data had encountered 1,754 non-Human races during his tenure with Starfleet. ( TNG : " Darmok ")

Aboard the Enterprise

Data served as operations officer and second officer on board the USS Enterprise -D from 2364 until the vessel's destruction in 2371 . ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " All Good Things... "; Star Trek Generations ) Since he did not require sleep, he routinely stood night watch on the bridge. ( TNG : " Data's Day ") His quarters were located on deck 2, room 3653. ( TNG : " A Matter Of Time ") He frequently participated in away missions undertaken by the crew, as was indicated by standard procedure for the second officer of a Federation starship.

Shortly after the Farpoint mission, the Enterprise crew was infected with a polywater intoxication which caused the crew members and even Data to act irrationally, as if mentally unstable. Fortunately, Dr. Crusher found an antidote, and with Data's help the recovered crew was able to retain control of the ship. ( TNG : " The Naked Now ")

Data gives Lore a tour of the ship

During the Enterprise 's first year of active service, it visited the former colony of Omicron Theta, stopping there to investigate the site of Data's discovery. The crew of the Enterprise encountered another Soong-type android in an underground facility, named Lore. Lore was subsequently reassembled and activated aboard the Enterprise . Masquerading as Data, Lore attempted to take control of the ship, but was prevented from doing so by Data. Lore was transported, by Wesley Crusher off the ship, into space (Lore drifted in the interstellar void for two years before being rescued by a passing Pakled trade ship ). ( TNG : " Datalore ", " Brothers ")

Later that year, Data took overall command of the Enterprise when the Quazulu VII virus incapacitated the entire crew while in orbit around Angel I . Although the ship had been ordered to the Romulan Neutral Zone , Data's precise and reasoned interpretation of the orders allowed the Enterprise to remain in orbit long enough to rescue the away team members stranded on the planet. ( TNG : " Angel One ")

Data had been regarded as property by the Ferengi , who wanted to purchase him. He was also referred to as "just a device" by Armus . ( TNG : " The Battle ", " Skin Of Evil ") He continued to be regarded as such in 2365 and was even questioned legally as to whether or not he was property of Starfleet.

Android rights and freedoms

Data was a major influence in the process to legally and socially recognize the sentience of Soong-type androids. In 2365 , Jean-Luc Picard was asked by Admiral Nakamura on behalf of Commander Bruce Maddox to submit Data to an untested procedure that Maddox believed and had advocated would grant Federation cybernetic science a greater understanding of the technology of Data's positronic brain . Data studied Maddox' proposal and found it to be flawed; persuading William T. Riker and Picard of the legitimacy of Data's position as to the scientific merit of Maddox' project; prompting Maddox to present Nakamura's duly-logged orders requiring Data to submit.

Data refused, and resigned from Starfleet. Maddox challenged Data's right to do so, implying that Data should not be considered a sentient being with rights to self-determination (Louvois reminds Maddox " …we have Rule of Law in this Federation. You cannot simply seize people and experiment on them to satisfy your pet theories! "). Maddox's petition prompted Louvois' supposition of a legal issue as to whether or not Data was property and not to be accorded rights to self-determination (" Would you permit the Enterprise computer to refuse a refit? " Maddox asked Louvois). This position was supported in a preliminary ruling, by Captain Phillipa Louvois of the Judge Advocate General 's office, 23rd Sector, based on the 21st-century Acts of Cumberland . (" Data is a toaster. Have him report to Commander Maddox immediately for experimental refit. ")

Captain Jean-Luc Picard adversarially challenged this ruling, and sought due process of law in Data's regard. Picard asserted a position in favor of Data's sentience as a matter of law, in a legal hearing wherein Picard advocated on Data's behalf while Riker advocated a position benefiting Maddox (Riker was forced to argue against Data's sentience or Louvois would summarily rule in favor of Maddox without a counter-argument). After a conversation with Guinan , Picard became inspired to assert that Data represented an entire race, and that duplicating Data for the purposes of enforced and potentially-dangerous labor, without legal recognition of rights to self-determination, essentially would result in the institution of slavery. Ultimately, Louvois ruled that Data was not the property of Starfleet, and had the legal right to choose whether to acquiesce to Maddox' requests. ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ") Data refused Maddox' procedure, but did instead offer to openly communicate with him in assisting him in his work, which the cyberneticist accepted. ( TNG : " Data's Day ")

Data also later asserted specific reproductive rights. In 2366, Data perfected submicron matrix transfer technology, necessary to reproduce a positronic brain . Data designed and built his " daughter ", whom Data named Lal ; Data says "Lal" means "beloved" in Earth's Hindi language; using his own positronic brain as a design template. Thus, Data briefly succeeded at Maddox' aspiration. As Starfleet Vice Admiral Haftel , himself a cybernetics specialist, wanted to move Lal off the Enterprise -D to a Starfleet cybernetics research facility for study in order to add to Federation cybernetics expertise, against Data's wishes, Picard again came into conflict with the Starfleet Admiralty as to Data's civil rights. The issue was rendered moot when Lal ceased functioning due to positronic neural-pathway cascade failure arising from the positronic development within Lal of the simulation of Human psychological emotional response. This, despite the best efforts of Data and Haftel to prevent Lal's positronic matrix from ceasing to function as a result. ( TNG : " The Offspring ")

Many agreed with Data that Soong-type androids were sufficiently advanced to be considered indeed sentient, so much so that, as of 2372 , Data was considered the only sentient artificial lifeform in Federation society. ( VOY : " Prototype ")

Further service

Lieutenant Commander Data in 2366

In 2366, the Enterprise -D was contacted by Sheliak Corporate for the first time in 111 years. In a recorded message, set on repeat broadcast from the Shelia system, they demand that on Tau Cygna V , a planet that was ceded to the Sheliak from the Federation in the Treaty of Armens has been discovered to contain a Human colony. The Sheliak insist they be removed before they arrive at the planet, or the Humans will all be killed. Data – immune to the deadly hyperonic radiation that exists on the planet – was ordered to take a shuttle craft and land at the planet and prepare the colonists for evacuation. Unfortunately, the colony's leader Gosheven was both far too stubborn and nostalgic for all his ancestors' accomplishments on the planet to agree to leave even after several attempts to persuade him or other colonists, even with the help of Ard'rian McKenzie , one of the few reasonable colonists. Eventually, through a demonstration of the firepower of a Type 2 phaser , Data was able to finally convince the colonists to leave, thereby saving over 15,000 Humans from certain death. ( TNG : " The Ensigns of Command ")

In late 2366, Data was apparently killed when the shuttlecraft he was using to ferry hytritium , desperately needed to neutralize contamination of the water on Beta Agni II , exploded en route from the freighter Jovis to the Enterprise -D. In fact, Data had been abducted by the owner of the Jovis Kivas Fajo , who had added Data to his collection of "rare and valuable" items – which, now besides Data, included a Lapling , a Roger Maris Baseball card , and a Varon-T disruptor . Fortunately, Data, with the assistance of Fajo's partner Varria , as well as the arrival of the Enterprise , was able to escape the Jovis ; the unanticipated ease with which the hytritium purified Beta Agni II's water suggested that the contamination had been man-made, leaving the crew suspicious of Fajo – and, after hearing the computer's description of only a part of Fajo's collection, they had concluded that Data could be considered a "rare and valuable object", leading them to the possibility that Data had not been on board the shuttle when it exploded. Upon Data's return to the Enterprise -D, Fajo was arrested. Data had previously mentioned to Fajo his ability to use deadly force and had it not been for the functioning of the Enterprise transporter retrieving Data from the Jovis , Data would have successfully shot and killed Fajo with the Varon-T disruptor, in retribution for Fajo previously having killed Varria with it and through a cold, logical decision that all nonlethal options had been exhausted. ( TNG : " The Most Toys ")

When later that year, Captain Picard was captured and assimilated as Locutus by the Borg , Data was instrumental in not only rescuing Picard from the Borg, but also in finding a way to destroy the Borg cube approaching Earth by "put[ting] them all to sleep," accessing the command codes that controlled regeneration and convincing the Borg that they all needed to regenerate, thus shutting the ship down and triggering a feedback loop that caused the cube to self-destruct. ( TNG : " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II ")

A year later, in early 2367 , Data, under the control of Dr. Soong, took control of the Enterprise and commandeered it to the planet of Terlina III . Unfortunately, the same program had activated in Lore's positronic brain, and brought Lore to Soong's lab as well. Soong explained he had brought Data because he had created an emotion chip for him, and that he had thought Lore to be dead. Lore incapacitated Data, and Soong mistakenly implanted the chip in Lore instead. After obtaining the chip under these false pretenses, Lore attacked Soong and escaped. Soong died shortly afterward, his last words being to assure Data that Data would grieve for him in his own way. In return, Data called Soong "Father" for the first time. ( TNG : " Brothers ")

Data once more took command of the ship later that year when, with the Enterprise trapped in a Tyken's Rift , the crew began to suffer from lack of REM sleep , causing to the organic crew of the Enterprise -D the loss of concentration and to perceive hallucinations. The brainwaves of the crew were being affected by a ship trapped on the other side of the rift, whose crew was attempting to communicate with the Enterprise , but Data's android nature and his inability to sleep or dream rendered him immune. Along with Counselor Troi , Data freed the ships by releasing hydrogen ; which when combined with a substance carried by the other ship released enough energy to collapse the rift. ( TNG : " Night Terrors ")

During the blockade of the Klingon-Romulan border during the Klingon Civil War in 2368 , Data was placed in command of the USS Sutherland . Despite the first officer being hostile to his android nature, the Sutherland managed to detect the cloaked Romulan ships trying to supply the forces of Duras . Once back aboard the Enterprise , Data submitted himself to Captain Picard and recommended he be disciplined for disobeying the direct order of a superior officer, but was instead praised by Captain Picard for his ingenuity in discovering the cloaked Romulan convoy: " Starfleet does not want officers who blindly follow orders. " ( TNG : " Redemption II ")

Later that year, alien entities took control of the minds of Data, Deanna Troi and Miles O'Brien . The three insisted the Enterprise conducted a systematic survey of the polar region of a moon ; a notion Captain Picard, Commander Riker and the rest of the crew considered absurd. When Riker questioned their reasoning, the three staged a violent revolt and took control of the ship. It was later determined by the command crew that the three were controlled by the "spirits" of deceased criminals from Ux-Mal , and eventually the spirits left the Enterprise for their banishment on the moon. Though Data had no control over his actions while under the control of the Ux-Mal criminal, he nonetheless apologized for his behavior toward his fellow officers. ( TNG : " Power Play ")

Data's head

In late 2368 , the Enterprise crew was summoned to San Francisco to evaluate a discovery of extraterrestrial life on Earth that dated back to the late 19th century . They were shocked to discover Data's head, old, dusty, and dead, had been found among the ruins of some 19th century artifacts. When La Forge concluded that the only species capable of time travel and of assuming Human form existed solely on the planet Devidia II , the Enterprise set course for the planetoid.

Data meeting Guinan on Earth in 1893 after he had seen her picture in a local newspaper

Arriving at Devidia II, Troi psionically sensed lifeforms, but none were seen to be physically present. Since Data was the only hope for controlling the distortion in phase displacement, he beamed down and soon disappeared, reappearing in the San Francisco of the late 1800s. He quickly adapted to his surroundings and set out to build a sensory device to sense the Devidian time-shifts in order to ultimately return to the 24th century and the Enterprise -D. Shortly thereafter, he incidentally met Guinan , who was hiding out from her father on Earth at the time.

Seeking to recover Data, the senior staff transported to 19th century San Francisco to find him. In a local morgue , Riker and Crusher realized the aliens from Devidia II, disguised as Humans, were slowly killing off the population by appropriating their neural energy and sending it to the 24th century to feed their own people. The Enterprise -D command crew were soon able to find and stop the Devidia II aliens. Even though Data's cranial unit had been severed from his body when he tried to control the Ophidian that controlled their time-travel technology, the crew were able to take Data's body back through the time-rift and use the cranial unit they had recovered from the Presidio mine site to reassemble Data (Data subsequently passing on a message from Picard that Picard had entered into his head in the past with an iron filing to tap out a binary code in his brain). ( TNG : " Time's Arrow ", " Time's Arrow, Part II ")

Later that year, Data and La Forge proposed to connect Data to the ship's systems so he might act as an emergency backup system in case of a ship-wide systems failure. As a result of the experiment, however, Lt. Worf , his son Alexander , and Counselor Troi were trapped in a malfunctioning Old West holodeck program wherein every character physically resembled Data. ( TNG : " A Fistful of Datas ")

The event was recalled by Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler in 2381 when she suggested that they bury the evil computer AGIMUS , rather than taking him with him, "like Data's head." Boimler, corrected Mariner stating "actually, Data's head was in a cave, and it's our duty to respect sentient life. ( LD : " Where Pleasant Fountains Lie ")

Data wore a command division uniform when Jellico made him XO

Captain Edward Jellico briefly took command of the Enterprise while Captain Picard participated in a covert mission in Cardassian space. Jellico came into conflict with Commander Riker and eventually relieved Riker of duty. Being next in the chain of command after Riker, Data took the position of first officer until Captain Picard's return. ( TNG : " Chain Of Command, Part II ")

In early 2370 , he was among the away team that beamed down to the Ohniaka III outpost , whose distress call the Enterprise had responded to. On the surface, Data experienced his first emotion while fighting off a Borg drone, violently beating the drone against the wall. With the captured drone Crosis , Data took a shuttlecraft and left the Enterprise . Captain Picard and an away team tracked Data down and were shocked to find him under the influence of his brother Lore, who had directed the Borg's attacks as part of an attempt to win Data to his side. Lore modified the chip so it could remotely instill anger and hatred in Data. Confused with his new emotions, and with his ethical program deactivated, Data betrayed the crew of the Enterprise , resulting in the capture of Picard, La Forge and Troi. Fortunately, La Forge was able to instruct Picard in modifying a Borg interlink transceiver to reset Data's ethical program with a kedion pulse , restoring his sense of right and wrong; he would still experience negative emotions, however, he could at least choose whether or not to act upon them. With Data's ethical program reactivated, and Riker and Worf leading a rescue attempt with the help of the drone Hugh (who had spent time aboard the Enterprise earlier that year) Picard and his team were able to reactivate Data's ethical program and Data subsequently shot Lore, recovering the emotion chip while Lore was later dismantled. ( TNG : " I Borg ", " Descent ", " Descent, Part II ")

Data with a beard

Later that year, with Captain Picard presumed dead and Commander Riker missing in action, Data assumed command of the Enterprise once more, in an effort to find those responsible for Picard's apparent death and Riker's capture. Even though he was lower in rank, Lieutenant Worf was appointed as acting first officer instead of Lieutenant Commander La Forge, but Worf and Data came into a confrontation when Worf questioned his orders openly in front of the crew on a number of occasions. ( TNG : " Gambit, Part I ", " Gambit, Part II ")

Data fires his phaser at Riker in 2370

After being sent to recover a crashed probe, Data lost his memory and sought refuge with primitive villagers nearby. He was quickly assimilated into the village and given the name "Jayden" by the villagers. However, the radioactive material from the probe that he was transporting was a danger to them. Even without his memory, Data, through observation and scientific method, discovered it was the metal he had brought with him that was the cause. Once he had the radioactive metal secured to prevent further harm, he came up with an antidote that would completely reverse the effects and while being confronted by the fearful villagers, dumped it into the local water supply. In their ignorance, they killed "Jayden" and buried him, but turned his grave into a commemorative monument in his honor after they realized his cure had saved them. Data was later retrieved by Commander Riker and Dr. Crusher, repaired and his memory was restored aboard the Enterprise , although his time on the planet was lost in turn. ( TNG : " Thine Own Self ")

Shortly after the incident, La Forge found behavior nodes in Data's positronic net and he thought that an alien "archive" was using Data to create different people and that this transformation was still going on. Counselor Troi added that Data was experiencing the android equivalent of "multiple personalities" and that it was indeterminate how many would emerge. Picard later confronted Data, through whom the D'Arsay Sun God of Masaka now spoke, wearing the mask of Korgano . Masaka thought she was alone and did not have to share the sky with anyone when Korgano told her that without him she was not complete. Korgano soon convinced Masaka was getting tired to brighten the sky forever. Masaka replied Korgano should begin the hunt again, and at that moment Masaka fell asleep. When Picard asked Data whether he was all right, Data answered he was not entirely certain what happened and wondered if he had been dreaming again. ( TNG : " Masks ")

Return to the emotion chip

Data laughs, his emotion chip installed

In 2371 , at the ceremony honoring Worf's promotion to Lieutenant Commander, Data witnessed an incident where Worf was "accidentally" sent into the water in a holographic simulation of a ship at sea. Misinterpreting the laughter it evoked, he then spontaneously pushed Dr. Beverly Crusher overboard. He was disheartened to find out that it wasn't quite as amusing as he had assumed. The incident led him to think his development had reached an impasse. This influenced Data's decision to install the emotion chip he had acquired from Lore previously that year.

Data sings a song while scanning for lifeforms

The results were unpredictable and later attributed to the overload of new and unfamiliar emotion. During an away mission with Geordi La Forge on board the Amargosa observatory , his recall of previous humorous incidents led to the emotion chip overloading, fusing into his neural net (much to La Forge's annoyance) and rendering Data helpless as Tolian Soran sneaked on board and kidnapped La Forge. Unable to deal with the sudden onset of fear as a result, Data curled up in a corner as Soran beamed away with La Forge. As the Enterprise investigated, Data was overcome by yet another emotion: Regret, over getting La Forge captured. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, himself trying to get over news of the death of his brother and nephew, helped Data get through his anguish, and the two managed to figure out where Soran was headed, and why.

Data celebrating after the victory at Veridian III

Data protecting Troi from falling debris on the Enterprise bridge

" I am happy to see Spot, yet I am crying. "

Upon arrival at planet Veridian III , where Soran was planning to implode the Veridian sun with a trilithium missile so that Soran could enter the Nexus , Data was finally able to experience relief as Geordi La Forge was returned to Enterprise unharmed. Data continued to work on controlling his emotions throughout the mission, Enterprise 's battle with the Duras sisters , and the crash landing of the saucer section on Veridian III. By the end of the mission, when Starfleet came to recover the Enterprise crew and anything that could be salvaged from the saucer section, Data reckoned to have experienced 261 distinct emotional states. He learned one more emotion before leaving Veridian III: Tears of joy, after finding Spot alive in an empty barrel. ( Star Trek Generations )

By 2373 , Data had developed the ability to activate and deactivate his emotion chip at will, since he had learned how to better control its function and integration into his positronic net. ( Star Trek: First Contact )

The Enterprise -E

Data captured by the Borg in 2373

Data transferred to the new USS Enterprise -E in 2372 , along with most of the senior staff of the Enterprise -D. In 2373 , the Enterprise took part in the Battle of Sector 001 , against Starfleet orders. Thanks to the ship's intervention, the Borg cube was destroyed, but not before it launched a sphere , which generated a temporal vortex and time-traveled to the year 2063 . The Enterprise pursued, and destroyed the sphere with quantum torpedoes preventing its forecast mission to prevent the first flight of Zefram Cochrane aboard the Phoenix warp ship. Along with Captain Picard and Dr. Crusher, Data beamed down to the surface, to inspect any damage to the Phoenix . Upon suspecting a Borg presence aboard the Enterprise , however, Picard and Data transported back to the ship. While fighting off the Borg near main engineering , Data was captured and brought before the Borg Queen . Instead of attempting to assimilate Data, she embarked on a transformative process to make Data more "Human," by attaching Human skin onto his android skeleton.

When it appeared impossible to deter the Borg any longer, Picard was persuaded by Lily Sloane to initiate the self-destruct of the Enterprise and he ordered all remaining crew to evacuate. However, Picard went to Engineering to find Data and to force the Queen, whom he had encountered several years previously when he was Locutus , to release Data. Picard even declared that he was prepared to take Data's place at the Queen's side and become her equal. However, Data stated he did not wish to go, even after the Queen ordered him away. Data then canceled the auto-destruct sequence and restored computer control; even as Picard begged him not to, the android gave one quick glance to his former commander, before walking past him as if he was nothing. Thus, the Queen ordered Picard's assimilation (Data assured her that Picard would "make an excellent drone"), but not before witnessing the destruction of the Phoenix by Data.

Data altered by the Borg Queen

However, his "assimilation" had all been a ruse – the quantum torpedoes fired by Data missed the Phoenix by the smallest of margins, and quickly thereafter Data ruptured a plasma coolant tank (the Queen had been too busy taunting Picard to notice his approach to it), releasing plasma coolant – which would dissolve organic material on contact. Picard was able to escape, but the Queen – or, at least, that version of her – was killed, pulled into the coolant by Data as she tried to take Picard down with her. Helping Data standing up (with the Borg-given skin melted away, but his mechanical parts undamaged, the android admitted that he didn't feel as bad as he must look), Picard asked him if he was ever tempted to join the Borg's cause. Data replied that, for 0.68 seconds, he was. He added that, for an android, that is "almost an eternity." ( Star Trek: First Contact )

The Ba'ku mission

Data on the Ba'ku planet

In 2375 , while assigned to a United Federation of Planets / Son'a duck blind operation on the Ba'ku planet , Data discovered a cloaked holoship submerged in a picturesque Ba'ku lake. The ship was intended as a means to relocate the Ba'ku people from their home world without their knowledge, clearing the way for the mining of metaphasic radiation from the planet's rings. Upon discovery of the cloaked ship, Data was fired upon by a Son'a weapon.

The attack resulted in minor physical damage to his neck and some of his memory engrams, causing Data's memory loss fail-safe system to activate. Data's ethical and moral subroutines asserted themselves over all his basic functions. Effectively, Data had entered a self-preservation mode in which "all" he knew was right and wrong. Before he was finally subdued by Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Lieutenant Commander Worf , Data had revealed the duck blind to the Ba'ku people, and had warned them that the Federation / Son'a presence was a threat – and attacked Ru'afo's flagship with the mission scout ship he hijacked.

The Enterprise crew was able to piece together what had happened – and staged an insurrection against the Federation-Son'a partnership. Data joined some of his crew mates as they defended the Ba'ku on the surface from aggressive Son'a abduction attempts. Later, Data attacked the Son'a flagship with a scoutship, firing tachyon bursts into the shield grid and forcing the ship to rotate its shield harmonics. This allowed the transport of the Son'a ship's crew off their bridge and onto the cloaked holoship.

During his time on Ba'ku, Data reflected on never having been a child. He became friends with Artim and learned how to play. ( Star Trek: Insurrection )

By 2379 , Data was expected to succeed Commander Riker as first officer following Riker's promotion to captain of the USS Titan . En route to Betazed for the second phase of Riker's wedding to Counselor Troi, the Enterprise discovered B-4 , one of the three prototype Soong-type androids Data had learned about years earlier, physically identical to him but having a less sophisticated positronic brain. Trying to help him become more Human, Data copied his own memories into B-4's positronic net.

Data sacrifices himself

Before Data could take the role of first officer of the Enterprise , the Enterprise was ordered to Romulus where a new praetor , Shinzon , had come to power . Shinzon's self-asserted good intentions, however, were soon found to be false. In reality, Shinzon was discovered to be a clone of Captain Picard and, due to genetic degeneration, he was in need of Picard's blood in order to restore his life. After Shinzon's vessel, the Scimitar , had all but destroyed the Enterprise , Shinzon planned to eliminate the crew with his thalaron radiation weapon before turning it on Earth. Though Picard was able to defeat Shinzon in hand-to-hand combat, Picard was trapped aboard the Scimitar due to damage to the Enterprise transporters. With no other option, Data elected to physically jump into the vacuum of space through a hull breach in the forward section of the Enterprise – and force his way aboard the Scimitar from the outside. Proceeding to the Scimitar bridge, Data utilized a prototype emergency transport unit concealed in his forearm, to return Picard to the Enterprise . With the thalaron radiation weapon seconds away from firing, Data used his phaser to destroy it, which resulted in the complete destruction of the Scimitar – and Data as well.

As the Enterprise crew mourned the loss of their fallen comrade, Captain Picard tried to explain Data's uniqueness to B-4, though to the captain's dejection, the android did not understand. However, B-4 soon began to quietly sing the same song Data had previously sung, "Blue Skies", at the Riker wedding to himself. Though Data was gone, perhaps his memories would continue to live on. ( Star Trek Nemesis )

A crate containing bottles of Commander Data limited edition bubble bath (and one bottle with a Lore head)

At some point later in his career, Data was commemorated with a limited edition bubble bath ; the bottle of which bore his likeness, wearing a late 2370s uniform. A Lore edition was also released and its head could be surreptitiously substituted for that of Data's. ( LD : " An Embarrassment Of Dooplers ")

Data as he appeared in Picard's dream

Despite the android's best effort, Data's attempts to copy his own memories into B-4's positronic net ultimately failed, and as a result most of Data's positronic net was lost. B-4 was ultimately disassembled and preserved at the Daystrom Institute 's Division of Advanced Synthetic Research . ( PIC : " Remembrance ")

Data also briefly appeared to the Zhat Vash in the Admonition , an ancient storehouse of preserved memories on the planet Aia left behind by the Aia natives which warned about the dangers of intelligent synthetic life .

Approximately fifty years after his construction, Noonien Soong's son Altan Soong , assisted by Bruce Maddox, successfully created the Coppelius androids via the fractal neuronic cloning of one of Data's positronic neurons . Multiple androids were created as offspring of Data, including Beautiful Flower , twins Jana and Sutra , and twins Dahj and Soji Asha , of whom the latter four were also eventually created based on the likeness of his painting Daughter . ( PIC : " Broken Pieces ")

Data painting in Picard's other dream

Captain, and later Admiral, Picard continued to remember Data fondly. During his retirement, Picard had a series of recurring dreams in which he played poker with the android aboard the Enterprise -D. In 2399 , Picard had a dream of witnessing Data painting Daughter in the Picard family vineyards after he met Dahj. ( PIC : " Remembrance ", " Broken Pieces ")

The simulated Data prepares for the end

Despite the destruction of Data's physical form, the memories he uploaded into B-4 before his death as well as a single neuron were used by Bruce Maddox and reconstructed by Altan Soong, the biological son of his creator and "brother", to allow Data's consciousness to continue to exist in a massively complex quantum simulation. Because he had died after the upload to B-4, it was impossible for him to remember his death as that was not part of those memories, but he was aware of the death of his physical body and the circumstances in which he gave his life for Picard. Just as with Lore and B-4, Data considered Altan to be his brother as well.

In 2399 , Data encountered the consciousness of Jean-Luc Picard while his memories were in the process of being uploaded to Soong's golem . The two had a discussion in which Data confirmed he did not regret sacrificing his life for Picard and that he was aware of Picard's love and affection for him.

The simulated Data's final moments

As Picard was preparing to leave the simulation, Data made one last request to his old friend – that Picard terminate his consciousness. He explained to Picard that the finite nature of Human life helped define and give it meaning. Once Picard left the simulation, he complied with Data's request. As he deactivated the simulation, Picard postulated that despite the "violence and corruption and willful ignorance" of Humanity, Data was still able to see kindness, curiosity, and greatness of spirit possessed within the Human race, motivating his desire to be a part of the Human family. Data spent the time he had left enjoying a glass of wine, listening to " Blue Skies " on a record player , then reclining on a sofa until he rapidly aged and passed with a simulated Captain Picard, just as he was during the years on the Enterprise -D, by his side. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

A shared body

Daystrom Android M-5-10

After the ban on synthetics was lifted, Altan Soong began construction on a new golem that would serve as a 'totality', combining parts of B-4, Lore, Lal and a large amount of Data into a singular being. While everything that Data had copied to B-4 had previously been unsalvageable, the lifting of the ban gave Soong the chance to work on it more and finally extract Data from B-4 properly. Soong gave the new golem an older appearance, based on an aged Soong, hoping to reflect the wisdom of age. However, he died before he could complete the project and his work was seized by Section 31 and stored at Daystrom Station . ( PIC : " The Bounty ") The integration of the personalities was not successful, and while B-4 and Soong were mostly dormant, Data and Lore were at odds with each other inside the golem. ( PIC : " Dominion ") The partition separating Data and Lore was later lowered, and despite Lore seeming to triumph, in taking Data's memories, Lore had effectively become Data himself, allowing Data to override Lore permanently and integrating elements of Lore's personality into himself. As part of the successful integration, Data's mannerisms became more human than they had previously - for instance, Data started using contractions in his speech, and remarked that he could truly feel emotion. ( PIC : " Surrender ") With the renewed threat of the Borg , Data resumed his old post aboard the rebuilt USS Enterprise -D to save the Federation, playing a crucial role in the endeavor by flying the Enterprise -D through a seemingly impossible path on the inside of a Borg cube based on a gut feeling. ( PIC : " Võx ", " The Last Generation ")

Following the destruction of the Borg, Data began adjusting to his resurrection in an organic body and all of the emotions that came with it. ( PIC : " The Last Generation ")

Personal interests

Holodeck adventures.

Data and La Forge in a Sherlock Holmes holonovel

Data was fond of Sherlock Holmes and enjoyed playing the great detective in a holodeck program, often accompanied by Geordi La Forge in the role of Dr. Watson. ( TNG : " Elementary, Dear Data ", " Ship In A Bottle ")

Picard and Data in " The Big Good-Bye "

Data also twice accompanied Picard in his holonovels of the Dixon Hill series , playing " Carlos , from South America," one of the private eye's associates. ( TNG : " The Big Goodbye ", " Manhunt ")

Data had been known to play poker with people from other time periods, including Stephen Hawking , Albert Einstein , and Sir Isaac Newton , out of interest as to how they would interact in such a situation. He called the exercise "most illuminating". ( TNG : " Descent ")

Data playing the guitar in 2368

Data pursued many of the higher arts of Earth . He developed his painting skills, creating art of many styles and subjects. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part I ", et al. ) He performed in plays and wrote poetry, although his lack of emotions meant that his poems commonly focused more on accurate poetical structure without the content evoking any kind of emotional reaction. ( TNG : " Schisms ", " The Defector ", " Frame of Mind ", " Emergence ") He played the violin and performed on several occasions. ( TNG : " Sarek ", " Tin Man ", et al. ) He also played classical guitar and the oboe . ( TNG : " Silicon Avatar ", " In Theory ") He dabbled in singing, most notably performing " Blue Skies " at William T. Riker and Deanna Troi 's wedding. ( Star Trek Nemesis )

Personal relationships

Friendships.

Data maintained close relationships with most of the Enterprise senior staff – during his time aboard the Jovis , after La Forge's furious refusal to accept that Data himself was somehow responsible for the shuttlecraft explosion that supposedly killed him, Riker told Captain Picard that, for someone incapable of emotion, he certainly evoked them strongly in others around him. ( TNG : " The Most Toys ")

Jean-Luc Picard

Data regarded Picard as something of a father figure throughout his service, asking for Picard's advice on numerous occasions in his quest to become more Human. Picard always gave Data advice whenever he could.

Following Tasha Yar 's death in 2364 , Data was puzzled about her death, thinking not about Yar but rather how he would subsequently feel in her absence, thinking that he missed the purpose of her memorial but Picard assured him that he understood the purpose of the memorial perfectly. ( TNG : " Skin Of Evil ")

Data discussing his rights with Picard

In 2365 , Data's existence was threatened when Commander Maddox wished to disassemble and study Data to gain a better understanding of how his positronic brain functioned. Data refused to submit to Maddox's procedure, finding his research flawed but Maddox claimed that Data was property of Starfleet and therefore not a sentient being and as a result had no choice other than to submit to the procedure. Captain Louvois supported Maddox's claim and Picard intervened by challenging their reasoning, saying that Data was indeed sentient and deserved the freedom to make his own decisions. He also said that Data represented an entire race and that forcing him to submit to Maddox's procedure was tantamount to slavery – strictly prohibited under Federation law. Ultimately, Louvois sided with Picard's standpoint and agreed that Data, android or not, was indeed sentient and entitled to the same rights as any other Starfleet officer. ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ")

In 2367 , Picard's seemingly unbreakable trust in Data was tested when Data refused to fully co-operate in an investigation into a number of events that happened within a 24-hour time span although Data claimed that the time span was only thirty seconds. Data's intransigence threatened to end his Starfleet career and even his own existence but it was later revealed that Captain Picard was himself responsible for Data's unusual behavior after an encounter with the Paxans in a T-Tauri type star system. ( TNG : " Clues ")

During the Klingon Civil War from 2367-8, the Federation made an indirect intervention with a blockade of Starfleet vessels placed in formation to use the pioneering tachyon detection grid in an effort to expose Romulan support for the House of Duras . Picard assigned all of his senior officers positions on board other ships except for Data. Data questioned Picard about why he was not assigned command of a vessel considering that there was a severe lack of senior officers available for the mission, wondering if he felt that his being an android made him unsuitable for command. Picard, slightly embarrassed by Data's question, assigned Data command of the USS Sutherland . During the blockade Data disobeyed direct orders from Captain Picard and was able to expose the Romulan's involvement in the war. Data submitted himself for disciplinary action for disobeying a direct order from his superior officer but Picard praised Data for not following his orders as he believed that doing so was appropriate under the circumstances. ( TNG : " Redemption II ")

In 2369 , Data refused to allow a group of exocomps to be sacrificed in order to save the lives of Captain Picard and Lieutenant Commander La Forge, who were trapped on board the Tyrus VIIA station , believing that they were sentient and therefore capable of making their own decisions. After agreeing to a compromise suggested by Commander Riker, the exocomps were released and able to save the lives of Picard and La Forge. Picard understood the predicament that Data was faced with as he had defended Data's sentience just a few years previously but this time the exocomps had no advocate and Data felt compelled to act on their behalf. Picard considered Data's actions to be the most "Human" decision that he had ever made. ( TNG : " The Quality of Life ")

Later that year, following an accident in main engineering that activated a dormant program in his positronic brain , Data sought advice from several officers, including Captain Picard, on his "visions." Picard was curious why Data was studying thousands of different cultures to interpret his visions. Data said that he had no culture of his own but Picard told Data that he did have a culture; a culture of one and that its validity was no less than that of a billion. Picard suggested that Data should consider what the visions meant to him instead of what they meant to other people. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part I ")

After a malfunctioning emotion chip fused with Data's positronic net in 2371 , Data felt guilty for not saving La Forge from capture by Tolian Soran on board the Amargosa observatory . Data was overwhelmed by emotions and requested being shut down until the chip could be removed. Although Picard felt sympathy for Data, he told him that part of having emotions was integrating them into your life and learning to live with them and denied Data his request. ( Star Trek Generations )

In 2373 (when the Enterprise -E traveled back to the year 2063 on Earth ), Picard and Data initially went down to the planet to observe the damage the Borg had done to Zefram Cochrane 's missile complex in Montana . Down in the missile silo of the Phoenix , Picard, upon touching the missile that would make history by becoming the first Human starship traveling at warp , explained to Data that sometimes a touch can make objects more "real." Upon suspecting Borg presence aboard the Enterprise , Picard and Data transported back to the ship. Fighting off the Borg near main engineering, Data was soon captured and brought to the Borg Queen . Instead of attempting to assimilate Data, the Queen made him physically more Human by attaching Human skin onto his android skeleton.

When it appeared impossible to hold off the Borg any longer, Picard was convinced to initiate the Enterprise 's auto-destruct sequence and ordered all remaining crew to evacuate. He himself went on to engineering to find Data and to convince the Queen, who he had encountered several years previously, to let Data go. Picard was even prepared to take Data's place at the Queen's side, willingly, thus becoming her equal. However, Data claimed he did not wish to go; even after the Queen ordered him away. Thus, the Queen ordered Picard's assimilation, but not before witnessing the destruction of the Phoenix by Data.

Data fired a spread of quantum torpedoes but they missed by the smallest of margins, and quickly thereafter he burst a plasma coolant tank, releasing plasma coolant, which would liquefy organic material on contact, killing the Borg. The Queen was killed, but Picard survived. While helping Data to his feet, Picard asked him if he was ever tempted to join the Borg's cause. Data, hinting at his kiss with the Queen, replied that for a fraction of a second (zero point six eight seconds), he was. He added that for an android, this brief moment was like an eternity. ( Star Trek: First Contact )

Following the wedding of William Riker and Deanna Troi in 2379 , Data was confused by Captain Picard's mixed feelings for the couple – although the captain was happy that Riker was due to accept promotion to the rank of Captain and take command of the USS Titan and that his new wife was to transfer over to the Titan and take position as the ship's counselor , Picard was somewhat saddened by their departure and tried to explain to Data that experiencing feelings of both happiness and sadness at the same time are common in these situations.

At the climax of the Battle in the Bassen Rift , Data jumped across the void of space from the Enterprise -E to the Scimitar , saving Picard by using a prototype emergency transport unit but he sacrificed his own life to save the crew of the Enterprise by firing at the thalaron radiation generator and so destroying the Scimitar . Following the battle, Captain Picard held a toast with the Enterprise -E's senior officers as a tribute to their fallen comrade. ( Star Trek Nemesis )

Twenty years after Data's death in the Bassen Rift, Picard encountered Data's preserved consciousness in a complex quantum simulation. As Data's sacrifice had greatly weighed on Picard's mind after all this time, Data reassured Picard that he did not regret sacrificing his life to save Picard. Before Picard was brought back, Data asked Picard for a final favor in terminating his consciousness, as he wished to live knowing that his life was finite. Picard honored the request, and within the simulation, a version of Captain Picard of the Enterprise -D remained at Data's side as he passed away. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 ")

William T. Riker

Data with Riker in 2364

William Riker first met Data on the Enterprise holodeck in 2364 . Data was trying to whistle " Pop Goes the Weasel ", but could not finish the last few notes. At Data's memorial service, Riker could not remember what song Data was trying to whistle. ( Star Trek Nemesis ) Riker helped him finish the tune, later giving Data the nickname " Pinocchio ", in reference to Data's wish to become Human. At first, Riker was skeptical about Data's abilities as a machine, assuming his rank of lieutenant commander was merely honorary. Despite Riker's misconception, Data had earned his rank, just as every other Starfleet officer of the same rank and above had done. ( TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ")

In 2365 , Data's status as a sentient individual came into question. A hearing was held on Starbase 173 , but the base lacked a complete legal staff. As first officer of the Enterprise , Riker was forced to act as counsel for Bruce Maddox and was given the task of convincing Judge Phillipa Louvois that as an android, Data was the property of Starfleet. Riker very nearly proved that Data was property by means of deactivating him. Picard's defense later made Louvois hold that Data was a machine, was not the property of Starfleet, and had the right to choose whether to comply with Maddox's requests to study him. Riker was distressed over the incident, and he felt terrible that he had nearly cost Data his rights. Data did not hold any ill will towards Riker or Maddox; on the contrary, Data was actually grateful that Riker participated, telling Riker that if he did not, the initial ruling being appealed would have remained in Maddox's favor, and by Riker going against his conscience and potentially condemning his friend and colleague to be disassembled, that action wounded him in order to save Data's life, and was something Data would never forget. ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ")

Data sought Riker's help and advice on several occasions. One instance was when he asked for Riker's advice on friendship and betrayal, following a mission involving Ishara Yar in 2367 . ( TNG : " Legacy ") Data also asked for Riker's help when Keiko Ishikawa temporarily called off her wedding to Miles O'Brien in 2367 . ( TNG : " Data's Day ") He came to Riker once more for advice when he started to date Jenna D'Sora . ( TNG : " In Theory ")

Geordi La Forge

Data assists Geordi La Forge with his VISOR on Vagra II

Data's closest friend during his time aboard the Enterprise was Geordi La Forge. As of 2367, Data considered La Forge to be his best friend. ( TNG : " Data's Day ") Because Data was an android, La Forge was better equipped to effect repairs and maintenance on him than was Dr. Crusher as chief medical officer. Their long-term friendship dated back to 2364, when both were assigned as bridge officers aboard the vessel. La Forge's promotion to chief engineer the next year reflected his expertise with machinery, though he experienced difficulties in establishing relationships with other people, especially women. These personality traits may have accounted for La Forge's ability to so easily maintain a relationship with a sentient machine such as Data; that being said, La Forge never saw Data as an android or a machine per se, but as a close friend and treated him no differently than he would have if Data were a sentient biological organism. ( Star Trek Generations ; TNG : " Encounter at Farpoint ", " Code of Honor ", " Booby Trap ", " Galaxy's Child ", " Eye of the Beholder ")

Data with La Forge at his memorial service

Their friendship was tested in early 2370 , during the Enterprise 's encounter with the individualized Borg. Lore used the emotion chip stolen from Dr. Noonien Soong to influence Data to join him, deactivating Data's ethical program and transmitting negative emotions (such as hatred, sadism, and anger) to Data. While under Lore's influence, Data participated in a neurological experiment with La Forge as the primary subject. The experiment caused La Forge a great deal of pain and would have eventually resulted in La Forge's death. Fortunately, Captain Picard and others of the Enterprise crew were able to reactivate Data's ethical program. It was Data's friendship with La Forge that eventually allowed the android to overcome his brother's influence. ( TNG : " Descent, Part II ")

La Forge reluctantly agreeing to install Data's emotion chip

In 2371 , following an incident on the holodeck in which Data pushed Dr. Crusher off a sailboat in the water, Data decided to finally have the emotion chip Dr. Soong gave him years earlier installed in his neural net. La Forge assisted Data by installing the chip after the latter made this life-changing decision, though La Forge later reacted negatively to his friend's erratic behavior that accompanied the initial acquisition of emotions. When La Forge was later threatened by Dr. Soran aboard the Amargosa observatory , Data was afraid to intervene, but he later learned to live with his newly acquired emotions. ( Star Trek Generations ) When Data secretly transported himself to the Scimitar to save Picard, La Forge helped him do it, knowing this would be the last time the friends would see each other. ( Star Trek Nemesis )

Data's death emotionally broke LaForge, but it was also the memory of him that allowed LaForge to pull himself back together, and believed their friendship had made him a better man and become a better father after his two daughters were born. The discovery of Daystrom Android M-5-10 in 2401 with Data's complete memory as recovered from B-4, allowed Data to reunite with LaForge and continue their friendship after decades apart. ( PIC : " Dominion ", " Surrender ")

Beverly Crusher

Crusher teaching Data to dance

Dr. Beverly Crusher and Data had a special relationship, with Data seeking advice from Crusher on subjects ranging from parenting ( TNG : " The Offspring ") to dancing. She taught Data to tap dance, not knowing that he had intended to learn how to dance for the wedding of Miles O'Brien and Keiko Ishikawa. ( TNG : " Data's Day ") Data also came to her for advice on whether or not to consider the exocomps alive, and she was present when Data learned they were indeed sentient. ( TNG : " The Quality of Life ")

As the ship's chief medical officer , Dr. Crusher had some knowledge of how to repair and "heal" Data, though mostly it was Geordi La Forge who filled that function, since Data was an artificial lifeform. ( TNG : " Datalore ", " The Game ")

In 2369 , Data incorporated a subroutine for small talk. At the recommendation of Captain Picard, he studied Commander Hutchinson while the Enterprise underwent a baryon sweep at Arkaria Base . Dr. Crusher was the first person Data tried to engage in small talk using his observations of Hutchinson, to her astonishment and delight. ( TNG : " Starship Mine ")

During Worf's promotion ceremony in 2371 , Dr. Crusher tried to explain to Data the humor behind Worf being dunked after walking the plank on the holodeck recreation of the sailing ship Enterprise . Data did not completely understand and then pushed Crusher into the water, as an attempt at the same type of humor. However, Dr. Crusher and the rest of the senior staff did not find it nearly as amusing. La Forge later recommended that Data stay out of sickbay for a few days following the ceremony. ( Star Trek Generations ) In 2379 , Dr. Crusher remarked that she thought Data had nicer eyes than his predecessor, B-4. ( Star Trek Nemesis )

Data enjoyed an excellent professional relationship and a solid, if low-key, friendship with the cantankerous Klingon. They had two important things in common: first, both were rescued by the Federation after their homes were destroyed by enemy attacks, instilling in each of them a high regard for the Federation's ideals. Second, both were Starfleet pioneers; Data and Worf were, respectively, the first android and Klingon Starfleet officers. Although most of their time together was in the line of duty (such as bridge duty and away missions), both were frequent participants in the senior staff's poker games, and they often spent time together off-duty in Ten Forward . Moreover, Worf was one of the only people that Spot , Data's cat, warmed up to, even though Worf was not fond of the feline.

When Data's shuttlecraft exploded while returning to the Enterprise -D in 2366 , all Worf could do was stare in shock at the viewscreen and mutter his friend's name. As it turned out, the explosion was staged in order to kidnap Data, and he was subsequently rescued. ( TNG : " The Most Toys ")

In 2367 , Data sought Worf's help in finding a wedding present for Miles and Keiko O'Brien . ( TNG : " Data's Day ")

When Geordi La Forge and Ensign Ro Laren were presumed dead in a transporter accident in 2368 , Data volunteered to arrange the memorial service, but he was unsure about what kind of ceremony to have and asked Worf for advice. Worf told him that for Klingons, an honorable death in the line of duty was a cause for celebration, not mourning. Data took his advice and arranged a very upbeat party, giving people the chance to share their pleasant memories of the 'deceased'. His arrangments were very well received by the crew, and was only enhanced when La Forge's and Ro's states were returned to normal. ( TNG : " The Next Phase ")

A year later, Data again sought Worf's guidance, this time in researching the "dreams" he was having. Worf, preoccupied with rumors that his father had survived the attack on Khitomer , gave Data some cryptic answers, but Data seemed to understand what he was saying and went on his way. Data later returned this favor when Worf learned that the apparently returned Kahless the Unforgettable was actually a clone of the legendary Klingon; Data's reflections about how, after learning of his android nature, he chose to consider himself a person who could progress and grow over time rather than a machine who would never be more than the sum of its parts, convinced Worf to accept Kahless as the symbol that he could be for his own people rather than define him by the circumstances of his origins. ( TNG : " Birthright, Part I ", " Rightful Heir ")

Their friendship was severely tested in 2370 when Data, acting as commanding officer, privately admonished Worf for challenging his orders in front of the bridge crew. Afterward, Data apologized to Worf if the dressing-down had ended their friendship, but Worf took the high road, saying that if the friendship was in jeopardy, it was his fault alone. After that exchange, their working and personal relationship quickly returned to normal. ( TNG : " Gambit, Part II ")

Katherine Pulaski

When Dr. Pulaski came aboard the Enterprise in 2365 , she was not very kind toward Data, because of her discomfort with technology. She saw him as no more than a machine, pronouncing his name "DAT-uh" rather than "DAY-ta," and did not understand that he had a preference. ( TNG : " The Child ") She was also condescending towards Data and often spoke to him through other crewmembers. ( TNG : " Where Silence Has Lease ") She believed that Data's methodical way of looking at situations meant that he could never solve a traditional Sherlock Holmes mystery, which led to the creation of the program which brought about the sentient Professor Moriarty. ( TNG : " Elementary, Dear Data ")

However, later during the year, she began to value Data and look upon him as an equal and as a sentient individual. The major turning point was during the crisis surrounding the Darwin Station children. Data stayed to support Pulaski for a long period of time after she had become infected, something for which she was very grateful. ( TNG : " Unnatural Selection ") Pulaski even challenged master Zakdorn strategist Sirna Kolrami to a game of Strategema , believing that Data could win. When Data was unsuccessful, he interpreted it as a possible weakness and relieved himself of duty. Dr. Pulaski talked to Data and made him realize that one letdown did not necessarily mean total failure and encouraged him to return to duty, but with no success. Finally, Captain Picard told Data that a loss can be had with no mistakes made and convinced him to return to duty. Data later forced Kolrami to a stalemate, much to Kolrami's chagrin. ( TNG : " Peak Performance ")

Data combing young Timothy's hair

Tasha Yar observed that Data viewed the world with the wonder of a child. ( TNG : " Skin Of Evil ") During his service Data had befriended several children. Data befriended an alien girl named Sarjenka in violation of the prime directive. To mitigate the damage, Picard ordered Dr. Pulaski to erase Sarjenka's memory. ( TNG : " Pen Pals ") Data befriended a ten-year-old boy named Timothy after Timothy was orphaned in the explosion that destroyed the Vico. Timothy wanted to be incapable of emotion like Data because he wrongfully blamed himself for the Vico's destruction, so he pretended to be an android and attempted to mimic Data in every way. ( TNG : " Hero Worship ") Data befriended an alien girl named Gia when he lost his memory on Barkon IV . This friendship was similar to his friendship with Sarjenka, only this time, it was Data who lost all memory of the friendship, and the child who would never forget him. ( TNG : " Thine Own Self ")

Spock offering his assistance to Data in 2368

As an unemotional member of the crew, and a respected advisor to the captain, Data shared many similarities to Spock on board the first USS Enterprise . However, where Spock often believed himself to be superior to Humans, Data aspired to be more Human (Data once stated that having no emotions made him closer to Vulcans than Humans, but he found their stark philosophy to be limited). The contrast between the two was instantly apparent to them when they met on Romulus . Spock noted that Data's complete lack of emotion and superior physical capabilities were qualities to which Vulcans aspired, but Data wished to be more Human. Data noted that as a half-Human, Spock abandoned what Data had sought his entire life by choosing the Vulcan way of life. ( TNG : " Unification I ", " Unification II ")

Data was programmed with multiple techniques and was "fully functional." Data had a sexual relationship with Natasha Yar during the influence of polywater intoxication and attempted a romantic relationship with Jenna D'Sora in late 2367 . ( TNG : " The Naked Now ", " In Theory ") In 2373 , the Borg Queen seduced him in an attempt to convince Data to join the Borg's cause. ( Star Trek: First Contact )

Natasha Yar

Tasha Yar and Data under the influence of polywater intoxication in 2364

Data had a short sexual relationship with Natasha Yar in 2364 . Yar was at least slightly attracted to Data and had sex with him while under the influence of polywater intoxication . She later told him that the incident "never happened." ( TNG : " The Naked Now ") Data, since he has perfect memory (he can remember everything that has ever happened to him like it just happened), still felt a special connection to Tasha. He kept a holographic image of Tasha to remember her after her death. When Data's rights as a sentient being were called into question, his romantic encounter with Tasha was a strong influence for Judge Phillipa Louvois to rule that Data was in fact a sentient lifeform. ( TNG : " The Measure Of A Man ") La Forge and Wesley Crusher found the holoimage when they visited Data's quarters after his apparent death in 2366 . ( TNG : " The Most Toys ")

Jenna D'Sora

In late 2367 , Lieutenant Jenna D'Sora found herself in love with Data. After she expressed her affection for him by kissing him on the lips, Data asked his friends for advice on what to do, and decided to pursue the relationship. Since he had no real emotions or feelings, Data created a special program in his neural net to guide him through the intricacies of love. However, as his relationship with Jenna progressed, Data discovered that in romance, the logical course is not always the most appropriate.

Later that year, they decided to end their relationship. D'Sora explained that her previous boyfriend had been unemotional, and felt that her choice of Data, an android completely incapable of emotion, indicated a pattern. Without a second thought, Data, seeing the validity of her point, agreed to discontinue his program. ( TNG : " In Theory ")

In 2063 , during the Borg attack on the Enterprise -E, which had arrived from the year 2373, Data was abducted by a Borg drone . Unable to assimilate the android, the Borg Queen attempted to bribe Data into subservience by offering him live flesh instead of his polymer. Data played along, having suggested sexual relations with the Borg Queen, who wanted him as a partner to ease the loneliness of her role as the one individual in the Collective, Data essentially 'replacing' Locutus. Data ultimately betrayed the Borg Queen, killing her with warp engine coolant, which also removed the new flesh she had grafted onto him. He subsequently admitted to Picard that a part of him was still sorry about her death, noting that her offer to bring him closer to Humanity had briefly tempted him (albeit for only 0.68 seconds, a duration that, according to Data, equates – for an android – to "nearly an eternity"). ( Star Trek: First Contact )

Alternate realities and timelines

An alternate timeline where Data has blue eyes instead of his normal yellow.

In 2366 , the USS Enterprise -C emerged from a temporal rift . Its disappearance from the year 2344 caused an altered timeline, where the Federation was losing a war against the Klingons. Data was still the ship's operations officer. ( TNG : " Yesterday's Enterprise ")

Data in an unknown future timeframe

In 2370 , Lieutenant Worf encountered a quantum fissure which caused him to begin shifting between quantum realities . In several universes, Data was still the Enterprise 's operations officer, and attended a surprise birthday party for Worf. In at least one of these realities, Data's eyes were blue instead of their characteristic yellow.

In another reality, Data was still the operations officer and second officer but was outranked by Commander Worf, who served as the ship's first officer under Captain Riker, Picard having been lost in the Battle of Wolf 359 in 2367 . He determined that the Worf from the primary reality did not belong in his reality as his quantum signature was not consistent with the resonance of matter in the rest of the universe and that he had originated from a different quantum universe. This version of Data theorized that it would be possible to seal the fissure if the shuttlecraft Curie from the primary reality re-entered the fissure and emitted a broad spectrum warp field . According to Captain Picard, the Data from the primary reality had reached the same conclusion. All the events following Worf's encounter were erased from the timeline once the fissure was sealed. ( TNG : " Parallels ")

In an unknown, alternate future timeframe , Data was a professor (the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics ) at Cambridge University and lived at Isaac Newton 's house with a housekeeper and several cats . Apparently in this future, he had grasped the concept of humor, stating that his housekeeper Jessel made him laugh. In addition, his everyday speech had much more nuance and inflection, and he appeared to have finally mastered the use of contractions. He had also dyed part of his hair grey as he believed that it made him look distinguished. However, Jessel was of the opinion that it made him look like a "bloody skunk ." ( TNG : " All Good Things... ")

Data as part of The Three Musketeers

Data was holographically duplicated on a number of occasions.

• Lt. Reginald Barclay in 2366 recreated at least two Datas when he was suffering from holo-addiction . One program had Data as part of The Three Musketeers , while the other recreated the entire crew of the Enterprise -D. That recreation of Data was present when Barclay said goodbye to his fantasies and deleted the programs. ( TNG : " Hollow Pursuits ")
• Barash recreated the entire command crew of the Enterprise -D in 2367 on Alpha Onias III to keep Commander Riker there. This recreation took place in a 2383 where Data had been promoted to Commander and had become the first officer . Inaccuracies of this holographic reproduction of Data, including inability to perform calculations at the speed of the real Data and the use of contractions in his speech, served to aid Riker in recognizing the holographic scenario as false. ( TNG : " Future Imperfect ")
• In 2369 , Geordi La Forge and Data attempted to establish an interface between Data and the Enterprise-D ’s computers so he could serve as a backup in case of a ship-wide systems failure. There was a power surge, which resulted in all the characters in the currently running Holodeck "Ancient West" Deadwood program taking on the appearance and abilities of Data. ( TNG : " A Fistful of Datas ")

Memorable quotes

" Do you consider yourself superior to Humans? " 
" I am superior, sir, in many ways. But I would gladly give it up, to be Human. " 
" Nice to meet you, Pinocchio ! " 
(Data looks perplexed)
 " A joke. "
 " Hm. Intriguing. 
" "You're going to be an interesting companion, Mr. Data. "

" He speaks the truth, sir. From your point of view, he is only a facsimile, a knock-off, a cheap imitation... " " ...thank you, Mr. Data. "

" 1 – 7 – 3 – 4 – 6 – 7 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 4 – 7 – 6 – Charlie – 3 – 2 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 7 – 7 – 7 – 6 – 4 – 3 – Tango – 7 – 3 – 2 – Victor – 7 – 3 – 1 – 1 – 7 – 8 – 8 – 8 – 7 – 3 – 2 – 4 – 7 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 7 – 6 – 4 – 3 – 7 – 6 – Lock. "

" I am not less perfect than Lore. "

" As I experience certain sensory input patterns, my mental pathways become accustomed to them. The input is eventually anticipated and even 'missed' when absent. "

" I could be chasing an untamed ornithoid without cause. " 
" A wild goose chase? "

" I never knew what a friend was, until I met Geordi. He spoke to me as though I were Human. He treated me no differently from anyone else. He accepted me for what I am. And that – I have learned – is friendship. "

" I am perceiving an apparent change in the way others behave toward me. "

" It is… it is… it is green. "

" I understand your dilemma. I once had what could be considered a crisis of the spirit. " " You? " " Yes. The Starfleet officers who first activated me on Omicron Theta told me I was an android, nothing more than a sophisticated machine with human form. However I realised that if I were simply a machine, I could never be anything else. I could never grow beyond my programming. I found that difficult to accept, so I chose to believe that I was a person, that I had the potential to be more than a collection of circuits and sub-processors. It is a belief which I still hold. " " How did you come to your decision? " " I made a leap of faith . "

" I must admit, Data, I never get used to seeing you like this. "
 " I do not understand. You are constantly working on similar electronic systems, yet their appearances do not disturb you. "
 " But you're not just another electronic system. "
 " Thank you, Geordi. Nor are you just another biological organism. "

Appearances

• " Encounter at Farpoint "
• " The Naked Now "
• " Code of Honor "
• " The Last Outpost "
• " Where No One Has Gone Before "
• " Lonely Among Us "
• " Justice "
• " The Battle "
• " Hide And Q "
• " The Big Goodbye "
• " Datalore "
• " Angel One "
• " 11001001 "
• " Too Short A Season "
• " When The Bough Breaks "
• " Home Soil "
• " Coming of Age "
• " Heart of Glory "
• " The Arsenal of Freedom "
• " Symbiosis "
• " Skin Of Evil "
• " We'll Always Have Paris "
• " Conspiracy "
• " The Neutral Zone "
• " The Child "
• " Where Silence Has Lease "
• " Elementary, Dear Data "
• " The Outrageous Okona "
• " Loud As A Whisper "
• " The Schizoid Man "
• " Unnatural Selection "
• " A Matter Of Honor "
• " The Measure Of A Man "
• " The Dauphin "
• " Contagion "
• " The Royale "
• " Time Squared "
• " The Icarus Factor "
• " Pen Pals "
• " Samaritan Snare "
• " Up The Long Ladder "
• " Manhunt "
• " The Emissary "
• " Peak Performance "
• " Shades of Gray "
• " Evolution "
• " The Ensigns of Command "
• " The Survivors "
• " Who Watches The Watchers "
• " The Bonding "
• " Booby Trap "
• " The Enemy "
• " The Price "
• " The Vengeance Factor "
• " The Defector "
• " The Hunted "
• " The High Ground "
• " A Matter of Perspective "
• " Yesterday's Enterprise "
• " The Offspring "
• " Sins of The Father "
• " Allegiance "
• " Captain's Holiday "
• " Tin Man "
• " Hollow Pursuits "
• " The Most Toys "
• " Ménage à Troi "
• " Transfigurations "
• " The Best of Both Worlds "
• " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II "
• " Brothers "
• " Suddenly Human "
• " Remember Me "
• " Reunion "
• " Future Imperfect "
• " Final Mission "
• " The Loss "
• " Data's Day "
• " The Wounded "
• " Devil's Due "
• " First Contact "
• " Galaxy's Child "
• " Night Terrors "
• " Identity Crisis "
• " The Nth Degree "
• " The Drumhead "
• " Half a Life "
• " The Host "
• " The Mind's Eye "
• " In Theory "
• " Redemption "
• " Redemption II "
• " Ensign Ro "
• " Silicon Avatar "
• " Disaster "
• " The Game "
• " Unification I "
• " Unification II "
• " A Matter Of Time "
• " New Ground "
• " Hero Worship "
• " Violations "
• " The Masterpiece Society "
• " Conundrum "
• " Power Play "
• " The Outcast "
• " Cause And Effect "
• " The First Duty "
• " Cost Of Living "
• " The Perfect Mate "
• " Imaginary Friend "
• " The Next Phase "
• " The Inner Light "
• " Time's Arrow "
• " Time's Arrow, Part II "
• " Realm Of Fear "
• " Man Of The People "
• " Schisms "
• " Rascals "
• " A Fistful of Datas "
• " The Quality of Life "
• " Chain Of Command, Part I "
• " Chain Of Command, Part II "
• " Ship In A Bottle "
• " Face Of The Enemy "
• " Tapestry "
• " Birthright, Part I "
• " Birthright, Part II "
• " Starship Mine "
• " Lessons "
• " The Chase "
• " Frame of Mind " ( hallucination )
• " Suspicions "
• " Rightful Heir "
• " Second Chances "
• " Timescape "
• " Descent "
• " Descent, Part II "
• " Liaisons "
• " Interface "
• " Gambit, Part I "
• " Gambit, Part II "
• " Phantasms "
• " Dark Page "
• " Attached "
• " Force of Nature "
• " Inheritance "
• " Parallels "
• " The Pegasus "
• " Homeward "
• " Sub Rosa "
• " Lower Decks "
• " Thine Own Self "
• " Eye of the Beholder "
• " Genesis "
• " Journey's End "
• " Firstborn "
• " Bloodlines "
• " Emergence "
• " Preemptive Strike "
• " All Good Things... "
• Star Trek Generations
• Star Trek: First Contact
• Star Trek: Insurrection
• Star Trek Nemesis
• ENT : " These Are the Voyages... " (voice only)
• " Remembrance " (dreams only) (Season 1)
• " Broken Pieces " (vision only)
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 " (vision only)
• " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2 "
• " The Bounty " (archive footage) (Season 3)
• " An Embarrassment Of Dooplers " (likeness on bubble bath bottle)
• " Reflections " (likeness on bubble bath bottle)

Background information

Data was played by actor Brent Spiner in all of the character's television and film appearances. The character of Data appeared in all episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation , with the exception of season four 's " Family ". He also appeared in all four TNG-era Star Trek films . In 2005 , Spiner recorded a brief, voice-only cameo as Data for the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , " These Are the Voyages... ": Data was heard speaking to Deanna Troi over a com-link (for which Spiner was not credited). Spiner had previously played Arik Soong , an ancestor of Data's creator, in a 2004 story arc on Enterprise . In 2020 , Data appeared in four episodes of Star Trek: Picard , albeit only in dreams and visions and as a version of Data's personality downloaded into B-4 prior to the actual Data's death in Nemesis .

According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion  (2nd ed., p. 15), Data was inspired by The Questor Tapes , a movie created for television created by Gene Roddenberry and Gene Coon during the 1970s . It featured Robert Foxworth as the title character (as well as including Majel Barrett and Walter Koenig ), and was intended as the pilot for a series which would have detailed the adventures of an android with a childlike personality.

However, Susan Sackett felt Data was more consciously inspired by Spock than by Questor. She commented, " Gene was always fascinated by artificial intelligence . Data was sort of like the Spock character who could be logical and see things in a different way. The difference is this one wants to be Human, unlike Spock, who did not want to be Human. I don't think he was consciously thinking of The Questor Tapes." ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 58)

The Vulcan character of Xon from the aborted Star Trek: Phase II television series has also been noted as a "forerunner" or "early version" of Data, including by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens . ( Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series , p. 28) In particular, they highlighted the similarity of the two characters' efforts "to replicate human behavior without being able to understand it." ( Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series , p. 83)

Wherever Roddenberry's thoughts lay in creating Data, Robert H. Justman concurred that such an android character would be a boon for the series. " I thought we could establish a new series 'regular' – an android programmed by Starfleet Command with all of the familiar abilities and characteristics of Spock fused with the leadership and humanistic qualities of Captain Kirk , " Justman recalled. " A new character like this would give us any number of dramatic or humorous avenues. " ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 58)

Rick Berman observed that Data was similar to multiple other fictional characters. " He was a little like the characters in The Wizard of Oz , " Berman pointed out. " He wanted to be a real boy, like Pinocchio , but he also he wanted to have a heart, wanted to have a brain. " ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 96)

According to Melinda M. Snodgrass , Data wasn't just similar to characters from child fiction but was extremely child-like himself. " I've always used Data as the child, " Snodgrass commented. " Data is exploring what any child does as they grow up. You can allow Data to make a mistake, learn from it, and rectify it in a way that if you have someone else to make that mistake, it seems unbelievable because these are such highly trained professionals. " ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , pp. 96-97)

The March 1987 TNG Writers/Directors Guide provided a backstory for Data that was jettisoned rather quickly during the series. In that version, he had been manufactured by highly advanced, but never seen, aliens who placed into him all the memories of a doomed "Earth-Asian" space colony to preserve their existence. His personality would thus have been influenced by the colonists. Elements of this backstory, such as Data retaining the memories of a group of colonists, survive in a version of his backstory established in " Datalore ".

Robert Justman reckoned there were "several ways to go" when casting Data and took inspiration, in this regard, from actor Lance Henriksen 's portrayal of the android Bishop in the film Aliens . ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 58) Among the performers who were considered to portray Data were John Lone , Robert Englund , actress Kim Miyori ( Creating the Next Generation ), Mark Lindsay Chapman , Kevin Peter Hall , Eric Menyuk , and Kelvin Han Yee . The latter four were being considered as of 13 April 1987 , at which point Chapman was regarded as seemingly the favorite choice for the part. [1]

When Brent Spiner won the part of Data, he was anxious about how much it would allow him to do. " Initially when I took the part, my biggest fear was that it was going to be the most limited character, not only on the show but on television, because the canvas on which I was being allowed to paint was such a narrow one, " Spiner explained. ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 96)

Becoming Data, bit by bit

When Gene Roddenberry cast Brent Spiner in the part of Data, the android's appearance was not yet determined. Spiner went through thirty-six makeup tests, as makeup artist Michael Westmore painted him an enormous variety of colors, including bubblegum pink and battleship gray. The preproduction personnel finally settled upon bright gold, with yellow irised contacts. Spiner was opposed to the idea of wearing makeup for his character at first. " My argument with Gene was, 'If you could make a creature that moves like this and looks like this and thinks like this, why can't you do the skin?' And Gene's response was, 'What makes you think what you have isn't better than skin?' And that's very difficult to argue with. " ( Trek: The Next Generation Crew Book )

In his portrayal of Data, Brent Spiner drew his inspiration from two different sources. The first was taken from Riker's reference to Data as Pinocchio in " Encounter at Farpoint ", a comparison which he used in his portrayal. " He's a machine who'd love to be Human, and is fascinated by Humans, " Spiner observed. " I suppose in his journey he'll get closer and closer to being one. " The second was the Blade Runner character Roy Batty , as according to Spiner, " I like to think of myself as the Rutger Hauer of this show, " adding, " but then I like to think of myself as Rutger Hauer in real life: strikingly handsome, irresistible to women, an intergalactic enigma. " ( Trek: The Next Generation Crew Book )

Brent Spiner's portrayal of Data had an effect on the number of stories featuring him, as Rick Berman pointed out: " Brent was so good at it that all the writers felt a great desire to want to write for that character. " As a result, Spiner himself was delighted to find his "biggest fear", that Data would be quite a limited role, wasn't being realized. " It was incredible for me […] I just lucked into a part that turned into the most unlimited role on television, " Spiner enthused. ( The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years , p. 96)

In "The Questor Tapes," Questor was to have experimented with sexuality, making love to a female character. Network censors did not allow this scene to be used in the film, but a decade later, more relaxed standards allowed an "intimate relationship" to occur between Data and Tasha Yar in " The Naked Now ". Data's assurance that he is a "fully functional" Human male is a quote from the telemovie. A scene from " The Royale " wherein Data repairs loaded dice is also from The Questor Tapes . [2]

The ending for Star Trek Nemesis suggested that B-4 may become a replacement for Data, thus possibly becoming Data in the process and mirroring Spock's rebirth and the allusions to it at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . However, Spiner noted that he had visibly aged out of the role and that it would be implausible for him to continue playing an android whose appearance should not change with time (though the seventh-season episode " Inheritance " establishes that Data has an aging program that ages his appearance, and "All Good Things…" shows an appearance-aged Data). Hence, B-4's presence (and the suggestion that he has a copy of Data's memories stored) was most likely meant to have been a tease.

Other than in alternate realities, Data has always appeared as a lieutenant commander throughout the entire run of TNG and the subsequent movies. Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher are the only other characters to remain at the rank they started with. Data was also one of the few non-Vulcans to master the Vulcan nerve pinch on-screen, as seen in " Unification II " and Star Trek Nemesis .

A reference to Data is made in the VOY Season 2 episode " Prototype " by B'Elanna Torres when she is conversing with Automated Unit 3947 . While assisting him in developing a prototype robot capable of using a uniform power module, Torres describes Data as the only truly sentient artificial life-form in her culture while 3947 reflects that he would be interested to meet a machine with equal status to a "Builder".

On 9 April 2008 , the character of Data was inducted into Carnegie Mellon University's Robot Hall of Fame. Attending the ceremony on the android's behalf was Spock actor and Carnegie Mellon alumni Zachary Quinto . [3]

In 2016 , Brent Spiner expressed a willingness to pass on the portrayal of Data, saying, " I don't think I'll get proprietorial about it. I'd like to see Tilda Swinton play Data. Don't you think that'd be cool? " ( SFX , issue 275, p. 67)

Academy graduation inconsistency

In " Encounter at Farpoint ", Data says he graduated with the Starfleet Academy Class of '78, despite the facts that the episode took place in 2364 and Data was assembled in the late 2330s . In the extended cut of " The Measure Of A Man ", it was established that Data was admitted to the Academy in 2344 and graduated in 2348. Later, for his personnel file in " Conundrum ", these dates were changed to 2341 and 2345.

Use of contractions

Data's tendency to avoid the use of verbal contractions in ordinary speech is remarked upon in " Datalore " and " Future Imperfect ". While episodes preceding "Datalore" routinely show his use of contractions, this rule was adhered to for most of the remainder of the series with some notable exceptions. These can be categorized in one of three broad ways: as a single instance not commented upon during the episode, as part of portraying a new character or persona, or to denote some future change or enhancement to his original programming.

• In " Encounter at Farpoint ", Data tells McCoy, " I'm an android, " and later, about Q, he says, " At least we're acquainted with the judge. "
• In " Where No One Has Gone Before ", he says, " It's off the scale, " when referring to the ship's velocity and " We're here… " as an explanation as to why the Enterprise should stay and study the galaxy M-33 .
• In " The Arsenal of Freedom ", after destroying one of several weapons, Data says to Yar, "must've".
• In " We'll Always Have Paris ", three versions of Data are figuring out which of them is in the correct time continuum. The correct Data concludes aloud "it's me!"
• In " Manhunt ", when Captain Picard summons Data to Lwaxana Troi's boudoir to help him escape from an awkward situation, Data replies, " I'm on my way. "
• In " Elementary, Dear Data ", Data asks La Forge to open the door to the drawing room, saying, " Let's not keep the inspector waiting. "
• In " Shades of Gray ", Data says to La Forge, " I'm always careful. " He also appears to say "you're" seconds later.
• At the end of " Datalore ", Data tells Wesley Crusher , " I'm fine, " and in " We'll Always Have Paris ", he makes the remark, " It's me. "
• During the teaser of " The Naked Now ", Data uses contractions several times, including " What we've just heard is impossible " and " I'm sure he meant now. "
• In " The Last Outpost ", Data states, " Captain, this shouldn't be " and " I'm afraid not. "
• In Star Trek: Insurrection , he remarks to a child that " You'll be safer. " This is said in a rushed, seemingly emotional tone. But is after Data receives his emotion chip.
• In " The Big Goodbye ", Data appears to be able to use contractions with ease on several occasions while participating "in character" during the Dixon Hill simulation on the holodeck.
• In " Data's Day ", Data says to Troi, " In an effort to be helpful, I'm attempting to calculate the variables of a successful marriage. " Later, in the transporter room, Data says, " There's no record… "
• During " In Theory ", while creating a new program for use during a romantic relationship, Data utilizes the phrases " Honey, I'm home! ", " I'll join you ", and " You're not my mother! " When questioned about the last's apparent angry nature, Data reverts to a more characteristic response of " You are not my mother. " It is implied that Data was trying to act like "role models" he had found in the ship's computer.
• In " The Next Phase ", while telling a transporter chief to use a console on the bridge to scan for energy fields, Data says he will modify an emitter to "eliminate the fields, once they've been isolated."
• In " Time's Arrow ", when asked by the bellboy Jack London what the machine he's building is "gonna be", Data responds hesitantly, " What do you think it is… gonna be? "
• In " Inheritance ", when updating Commander Riker regarding their status, Data says " we'll be returning to the beam out point shortly. "
• For the alternate future timeline version in " All Good Things... " and for all of the TNG films , Data is shown using contractions.

In fact, "Datalore" did not explicitly assert that Data was incapable of using contractions, merely that he generally did not use them, and that his tendency was to "use language… formally." In " The Offspring ", Lal's ability to use contractions is depicted as an advancement beyond Data's abilities, but Data's actual words are that he has not "mastered" their use. Given the above instances, it is clear Data is capable of using contractions as an affectation. Perhaps what he had not "mastered" was the ability to use them spontaneously, in everyday speech.

Upon her death in "The Offspring", Data downloads Lal's programming and memory records into his own positronic matrix, so that she need not be completely "lost." Given her apparent "mastery" of spontaneous contraction use during her brief life, this may further explain Data's liberal use of contractions beyond 2366.

In the "Special Crew Profile: Lt. Cmdr. Data" in the TNG Season 6 DVD special features, Data's occasional use of contractions is pointed out as often being an error in the script – the writers would often mistakenly write them in or miss them in edits – or that Spiner would slip up on his lines and use the more natural contraction rather than Data's formal speech patterns.

The version of Data restored to life in a new android body , having fully reintegrated and asserted his own personality while incorporating elements and mannerisms from Lore, Altan Soong, Lal, and B-4, routinely used contractions from that point forward. ( PIC : " Surrender ")

Data's backstory from the March 1987 TNG Writer's/Director's Guide made it into David Gerrold's novelization of Encounter at Farpoint .

The graphic novel The Gorn Crisis showed Data during the Dominion War , where he was able to help the Federation forge an alliance with the Gorn in 2375 , defeating a Gorn leader in combat and thus demonstrating that Human ingenuity was superior and stronger than the Gorn.

The novel The Buried Age explores Data's first encounter with Picard, with Picard encouraging Data to assert himself and work beyond what his superiors request of him; prior to meeting Picard, Data had shown a lack of career advancement because he always did the job in front of him simply because it didn't occur to him to push himself further or ask for particular assignments over others, adhering to the chain of command without thinking of going beyond the rules. As a result of his actions in the novel, where he uncovers and averts attempts to sabotage the under-construction Galaxy -class starships as an ancient alien implants subtle flaws in their design specs, Data is promoted to lieutenant commander and offered a place on a Galaxy -class ship when they are completed.

The TNG Relaunch novel Resistance follows up the question of whether B-4 would become Data, when Picard and La Forge are forced to deactivate B-4 and send him away for analysis, having accepted that the moments where B-4 showed access to Data's memories were merely random occurrences rather than any sign that he had definitively progressed. However, the later novel Greater than the Sum establishes that the Federation Council overturned the decision and granted B-4 the right to choose his own fate.

Data is resurrected in the novel Cold Equations : The Persistence of Memory , when Doctor Soong – who survived his death by transferring his mind into an android body far more Human in appearance than Data's – transfers Data's memories from B-4 into his own body, unable to complete the new body he had been attempting to construct due to the recent Borg invasion and a sudden attack from the Breen . Although Data does not consider himself to have been "resurrected" – citing, as an example, his reluctance to return to Starfleet now that he possesses his father's memories and understands how Soong felt at the idea of Data not continuing his work – La Forge concludes that he is still Data in every way that matters, citing their continued friendship and Data's predisposition to not use contractions even when capable of doing so as proof.

Captain Data of the USS Enterprise -E

The comic book series Star Trek: Countdown , a tie-in to the 2009 Star Trek film, depicts Data as alive in 2387 , having successfully imprinted his neural nets onto B-4's programming; at one point, Spock , who was also brought back to life after dying, makes a note of the incredibly unique life experience the two share. In the comic, Data had become captain of the Enterprise -E; along with Captain Picard, his face is seen in the film's comic adaptation , in which the Delta Vega mind meld scene is depicted with a collage of images from Countdown . This promotion to captain is one of the pieces of trivia that appears on loading screens in Star Trek Online . The short story "Unexpected Honor", appearing in Star Trek Magazine  issue 167 (pp. 90-93) in 2012 , shows Data's captaincy ending with the Enterprise -E's destruction at the hands of the Undine in 2408; afterwards, Data retires from Starfleet to teach at the University of Oxford , a possible nod to the anti-time future in " All Good Things... " where he also became a university professor after leaving Starfleet.

In the short story "Our Million-Year Mission" from the anthology book Strange New Worlds VI set a million years in the future, Data Soong is a crewmember aboard the UberEnterprise , a ship populated by holographic replicas of famous Starfleet officers. He has modified himself to be able to experience every nuance of Human emotion as well as many alien ones.

In The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard , Picard and B-4 were paid a visit by Q shortly after the Enterprise -E returned to Earth following the battle with Shinzon. Over the objections of Picard, Q restored Data to life in B-4's body.

• Jayden , identity while amnesiac
• Carlos , a persona in the holodeck

External links

• Data at Wikipedia
• Data at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Data at the Star Trek Online Wiki
• 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Star Trek: Who Created Data And What Happened To Him?

In the long history of "Star Trek," few characters are as beloved by fans as the android Data (Brent Spiner). A cybernetic being powered by a positronic brain, Data served as second officer on Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) U.S.S. Enterprise, the setting of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." But while fans got to spend time with Data over the many episodes of TV and movies in which he appeared, far less is known about his reclusive creator, Doctor Noonian Soong (also Brent Spiner).

Indeed, the story of Data's creation by Soong is documented in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and additional information has been included in other movies and series, most recently "Star Trek: Picard." We've learned that the cyberneticist came from a long line of geniuses who worked to create new life forms using science, not all of whom were pure of heart. Indeed, Soong himself was driven by an obsession that lasted until his final moments. Though he was declared a madman and considered a disgrace by Federation scientists, he continued his work in secret. Eventually, he was destroyed by his own creations.

The mad cyberneticist Noonian Soong made Data and his evil twin Lore

Doctor Noonian Soong came from a long lineage of mad cybernetics experts, and they were engaged in some questionable experiments long before Data was assembled. Soong's ancestor, Adam Soong (Brent Spiner once again) went so far as to create a series of clones. All of them died with the exception of one, Kore, and he spun the fiction that he was her father in the traditional sense of the word. That history was depicted in Season 2 of "Star Trek: Picard." Adam may even have been connected to the creation of the villain Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), but that's a story for another time. Later, in the "Star Trek" timeline's 22nd century, Adam's descendant, Arik Soong, picked up the torch of genetic and cybernetic experimentation. The character was featured in multiple episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise."

This lineage eventually culminated with Data's progenitor, Noonian Soong, who worked in secret alongside his wife, Juliana O'Donnell (Fionnula Flanagan) to perfect his research and create the fan-favorite android. But Data was actually the fifth such android Soong built. The first three were far less capable and much closer to mindless robots. His breakthrough came with the fourth attempt, Data's evil brother Lore . Ultimately, it was Soong's fifth android, Data, whom the scientist considered to be the apex of his work. Unlike Lore, who had emotions but lacked a sense of ethics and therefore was a loose cannon, Data was not given the emotional programming, allowing him to function within certain ethical parameters.

Data's brother Lore killed their creator

Ultimately, it was Noonian Soong's own work that killed him. His fourth android, Lore, was much like Data but without the sense of ethics that kept him from being corrupted. Over time, Lore developed a deep resentment for his father figure, believing that Soong was playing favorites and preferred Data. Lore's paranoia was further confirmed when he learned that Soong was secretly developing an emotion chip for Data. The actual reason for this was that Soong mistakenly believed that Lore was disassembled and functionally dead, so he had no reason to work on Lore's own upgrades.

When Soong sent out a signal summoning Data to Terlina III, where he had secretly been furthering his cybernetic experiments, it also drew Lore's attention, and the two brothers converged on the planet in the Season 4 "The Next Generation" episode "Brothers." After Soong reveals in the episode that he'd created an emotion chip for Data, Lore's jealousy grows. He deactivates Data, then impersonates him in order to receive the emotion chip for himself. But since the chip wasn't meant for him, Lore becomes unstable and attacks the already sickly Soong.

In Soong's final moments, he compares Lore to the biblical Esau, Jacob's evil sibling who impersonated his brother to receive a false inheritance from their blind father, Isaac. But as Data, rescued by William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), comes to the aid of his dying creator, he finally refers to Soong as "father."

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Star Trek: The Next Generation – Season 3, Episode 2

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Cast & crew.

Patrick Stewart

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Episode Info

Star Trek: Picard: how Data died, and his appearance in Picard explained

The death of Data explained, and what his appearances in Picard mean

If you've been watching Star Trek : Picard, you may have a few questions about Data, the android who appears in Picard's dreams – and who may very well be the 'father' of new characters Dahj and Soji. Data was an important character in The Next Generation, which this new series is a direct continuation of, and he led an interesting life. So here's everything you need to know about Lieutenant Commander Data, including how he ultimately died in the movie Star Trek: Nemesis.

• How to watch Star Trek: Picard
• When is Star Trek: Picard episode 2 released?
• Our Star Trek: Picard episode 1 recap

Who is Data?

Data was an android designed by Dr. Noonian Soong, a brilliant cyberneticist. Other androids exist in the greater Star Trek universe, but Data's positronic brain gave him a greater depth and nuance of personality – to the point where the Federation considered him sentient, with the same rights as any biological being. 

Data was unable to feel emotion, however, and struggled to understand the many idiosyncrasies of the human race. But he was still capable of loyalty, wisdom, friendship and sensitivity, which earned him many friends when he served aboard the Federation starship Enterprise.

How did Data join Starfleet?

A mysterious alien life-form known as the Crystalline Entity destroyed a colony on the planet Omicron Theta, and Data's deactivated body was discovered among the debris by the USS Tripoli. He was revived by the Federation, and was accepted into Starfleet Academy when it became apparent that he had achieved a level of sentience never before seen in a synthetic being. 

Data graduated, despite the social challenges of being the only android in the academy, and served as an ensign aboard the USS Trieste, before being assigned to the Enterprise-D in 2364 – which is where we meet him in The Next Generation.

How did Data die in Star Trek: Nemesis?

Nemesis was the last of the Next Generation movies. Released in 2002, it starred Tom Hardy as Shinzon, a clone of Picard who stages a violent coup and becomes leader of the Romulan Empire. At the end of the movie, Data sacrifices his own life to save Picard's, destroying Shinzon's ship in the process. Before he died, Data downloaded his memories into a prototype Soong-type android, B-4. But this model's positronic brain was not as advanced as Data's, meaning he had none of his brother's individuality or personality: just raw memories.

How can Data be in Star Trek: Picard?

Brent Spiner reprises his role as Data in Star Trek: Picard, only in dreams so far. Picard is still haunted by the loss of his friend, and the heroic sacrifice he made to save his life. So whenever you see Data in the new series, it's Picard experiencing a vision; an echo of the past. But who knows what the rest of the series has in store? Perhaps we'll see a return of the old Data at some point in this story – although that might cheapen his sacrifice in Star Trek: Nemesis somewhat.

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Is Data still alive in Star Trek: Picard? 

Alas, the Data we knew from The Next Generation is gone forever. But a major plot point in season one of Picard is his memories – the ones he downloaded to B-4 – being used to create two 'daughters', Dahj and Soji. These android twins were designed by Dr. Bruce Maddox, a cyberneticist, using a process called fractal neuronic cloning. So while Lieutenant Commander Data of the USS Enterprise, lover of cats and Sherlock Holmes, is no more, his spirit lives on in them.

Star Trek: Picard is released every Thursday on CBS All Access in the US, and every Friday on Amazon Prime internationally. 

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Star Trek: The Next Generation - Data

• S1E12. Datalore

• S2E03. Elementary, Dear Data

• S2E06. The Schizoid Man

• S2E09. The Measure of a Man

• S2E15. Pen Pals

• S3E02. The Ensigns of Command
• 
S3E16. The Offspring

• S3E22. The Most Toys

• S4E03. Brothers
• S4E11. Data's Day
• S4E25. In Theory
• S5E04. Silicon Avatar
• S5E11. Hero Worship

• S5E26. Time's Arrow Pt. 1

• S6E01. Time's Arrow Pt. 2

• S6E08. A Fistful of Datas

• S6E09. The Quality of Life

• S6E16. Birthright Pt. 1
• S6E17. Birthright Pt. 2

• S6E26. Descent Pt. 1

• S7E01. Descent Pt. 2

• S7E06. Phantasms

• S7E10. Inheritance
• S7E16. Thine Own Self

• S7E17. Masks
• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Naked Now (1987)

TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

The crew of the Enterprise is infected with a virus that causes them to behave as though they were intoxicated.

Director: Paul Lynch | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 4,703

(Has a subplot/contributes significantly.)

2. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Lonely Among Us (1987)

While distracted by two antithetical races applying for Federation membership, the Enterprise picks up a sentient entity that can alternately possess either man or machinery.

Director: Cliff Bole | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 3,788

While not particularly Data-focused, this episode sees the birth of Data's special interest on Sherlock Holmes.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Big Goodbye (1988)

Captain Picard and some of his crew are caught in a deadly trap in the holodeck as the result of a ship-wide scan from an alien race.

Director: Joseph L. Scanlan | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 3,988

4. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Datalore (1988)

TV-PG | 46 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

The Enterprise visits the planet where Data was created and discovers another android like him, but when he's assembled, he's not exactly like him.

Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 4,167

(Primary main character.)

5. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Skin of Evil (1988)

Counselor Troi is held captive on a deserted planet by a slick, black, oily, sentient and immortal puddle of evil.

Votes: 4,060

6. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Neutral Zone (1988)

While assigned to investigate missing outposts in the Neutral Zone, the Enterprise revives three cryogenically frozen people found aboard a wayward derelict Earth vessel.

Director: James L. Conway | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Denise Crosby

Votes: 3,869

7. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Elementary, Dear Data (1988)

An attempt to provide Data with a challenging Sherlock Holmes holodeck program backfires when its Professor Moriarty character accidentally becomes self-aware.

Director: Rob Bowman | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 4,345

8. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Schizoid Man (1989)

A dying anti-social scientist unintentionally comes upon the perfect vessel in which to preserve his intellect and arrogant personality - Data.

Director: Les Landau | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,551

9. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Measure of a Man (1989)

When Data resigns his commission rather than be dismantled for examination by an inadequately skilled scientist, a formal hearing is convened to determine whether Data is considered property without rights or is a sentient being.

Director: Robert Scheerer | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 6,229

10. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Royale (1989)

Worf, Data, and Riker find themselves trapped in a re-creation of a poorly written novel.

Director: Cliff Bole | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,747

11. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Pen Pals (1989)

Data befriends an alien girl in distress, breaking the Prime Directive, while Wesley commands his first team.

Director: Winrich Kolbe | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,478

12. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Peak Performance (1989)

The crew of the Enterprise participates in war games.

Votes: 3,579

13. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Ensigns of Command (1989)

After 111 years of silence, an extremely litigious alien race asserts its agreed upon right to wipe out a Federation colony in its territory.

Votes: 3,705

14. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Deja Q (1990)

Much to Picard's displeasure, Q reappears on the Enterprise, claiming to have been ejected from the Q Continuum, and therefore, lost his powers.

Votes: 4,280

15. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Offspring (1990)

After returning from a cybernetics conference to the Enterprise, Data creates his own "child," much to the chagrin of his captain, and without regards to the ramifications with Starfleet.

Director: Jonathan Frakes | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 4,576

16. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Most Toys (1990)

When transporting a dangerous material to the Enterprise, Data is kidnapped and the crew is led to believe he is dead when the shuttlecraft he was piloting explodes en route.

Director: Timothy Bond | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,566

17. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Brothers (1990)

After an accident aboard the Enterprise leaves one of its children in grave danger, Data commandeers the Enterprise, driven to take the ship to an unknown origin, where an interesting figure awaits.

Votes: 3,609

18. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Legacy (1990)

The crew of the Enterprise enters into orbit around the home planet of their former crewmate, Tasha Yar, where they encounter her sister.

Votes: 3,209

19. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Data's Day (1991)

Data tries to comprehend the complex emotions between O'Brien and Keiko, who are about to be married.

Director: Robert Wiemer | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,818

20. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Clues (1991)

Effects of passing through a wormhole give the Enterprise crew a sense that they were unconscious for more than the thirty seconds they've been led to believe.

Votes: 3,834

21. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: In Theory (1991)

When a female crew member is infatuated with Lieutenant Commander Data, he decides to give a romantic relationship a try. Also, the Enterprise finds itself having to maneuver through a dangerous nebula.

Director: Patrick Stewart | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,117

22. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Redemption II (1991)

As Worf fights in the Klingon Civil War, Captain Picard and his crew must stop the Romulans from helping their pawns achieve victory.

Director: David Carson | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,464

23. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Silicon Avatar (1991)

The Crystalline Entity returns, and the Enterprise takes aboard a scientist to help track it down, but her personal agenda does not match Capt. Picard's.

Votes: 3,133

24. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Disaster (1991)

Collision with a quantum filament leaves Troi in charge of a damaged and endangered Enterprise with emergency bulkheads cutting off sections of the ship.

Director: Gabrielle Beaumont | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,599

25. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Unification I (1991)

Picard and Data follow Spock into Romulan space on a dangerous mission.

Votes: 3,541

26. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Unification II (1991)

On Romulus, Picard finds Spock, as well as an underground peace movement, a double agent, a bold ulterior motive against the Federation, and a familiar adversary.

Votes: 3,510

27. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: A Matter of Time (1991)

Reaching Penthara IV after an asteroid wreaks havoc of catastrophic proportions, the Enterprise crew deals with trying to save the planet as well as deal with someone who claims to be a historian from the future.

Director: Paul Lynch | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,146

28. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Hero Worship (1992)

Data rescues an orphaned boy named Timothy from a damaged ship. As a way to repress his own pain, Timothy begins to mimic Data's personality.

Votes: 2,990

29. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Power Play (1992)

A long-lost ship is found on a planet where cosmic storms prevented detection for 200 years. When a surface landing goes wrong, the away team is beamed back...with a few extra surprises.

Director: David Livingston | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,032

30. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Next Phase (1992)

A transporter malfunction, combined with a Romulan ship under stress and a damaged cloaking device, creates the illusion that Ensign Ro and Geordi are dead, but Geordi doesn't believe it to be so, and he acts accordingly.

Votes: 3,458

Reddit user u/bugsdoingthings says: "[This episode] has a nice subplot focusing on Data and Geordi's friendship."

31. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Time's Arrow (1992)

Captain Picard and his archaeological curiosity are called upon by scientists from Earth when they find evidence to support beliefs that aliens had visited Earth in the late 1800s.

Votes: 3,670

32. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Time's Arrow, Part II (1992)

Captain Picard and crew follow Data back to the late 1800s to get him back, only to find the suspected alien visitors killing people of that time.

Votes: 3,647

33. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Schisms (1992)

Commander Riker's inability to fall asleep begins to show in other members of the crew in other forms, putting the Enterprise on the trail of a mystery.

Votes: 3,136

Not particularly Data-focused, but in the teaser Data does recite the poem he wrote for his cat, Spot, titled "Ode to Spot".

34. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: A Fistful of Datas (1992)

While the crew is experiencing some much needed down time, Worf and his son go on an Old West excursion in the holodeck, where they meet several versions of Data serving as the bad guy after an experiment in Engineering goes wrong.

Votes: 3,211

35. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: The Quality of Life (1992)

When Geordi is assigned to survey a new mining development with Dr. Farallon, who invented an experimental mining technology, she uses a new sophisticated robot called an Exocomp to repair a power grid.

Votes: 2,935

36. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Ship in a Bottle (1993)

Lt. Barclay mistakenly awakes Moriarty in the forgotten holodeck program, who then makes his demands clear and unforgettable.

Director: Alexander Singer | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,652

37. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Birthright, Part I (1993)

While visiting Deep Space 9, a Yridian tells Worf his father lives, and a discharge from an alien device puts Data in a dream state where he meets his own father.

Votes: 2,953

38. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Timescape (1993)

Aboard a shuttlecraft and en route back to the Enterprise, Picard, LaForge, Data, and Troi find themselves trapped in a time trap of some sort, where the Enterprise is being taken over by ... See full summary  »

Director: Adam Nimoy | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,383

39. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Descent (1993)

After an encounter with the Borg, Data feels his first emotion when he gets angry with the Borg. Data then tries to find ways to recreate the situation in order to feel emotions again, ... See full summary  »

Director: Alexander Singer | Stars: John Neville , Jim Norton , Natalija Nogulich , Brian Cousins

Votes: 3,061

40. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Descent, Part II (1993)

Before Lore can run risky experiments on Geordi, Troi and Picard, the three seek a way to re-boot Data's ethical program that Lore switched off to pull Data to his side.

Votes: 3,115

41. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Gambit, Part I (1993)

While investigating the apparent death of Capt. Picard, Riker is abducted by a group of intergalactic archaeological thieves, only to find Picard has apparently joined their ranks.

Director: Peter Lauritson | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,024

Reddit user u/laserprisim says: "What's the episode where [Data] gains command of the Enterprise and has to reprimand Worf for questioning his decisions in public?" u/msegmx: That was 'Gambit'. Very good episode.

42. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Gambit, Part II (1993)

Riker and Picard must find out why this intergalactic gang is looting archaeological sites.

Votes: 3,017

[See above.]

43. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Phantasms (1993)

Data deals with his new ability to experience nightmares as the Enterprise deals with the installation of a new warp core that won't work as expected.

44. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Inheritance (1993)

TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

On Federation planet Atrea IV, Data encounters the former wife of his creator Noonian Soong who claims to be his "mother".

Votes: 2,870

45. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Thine Own Self (1994)

Data is sent to follow a probe that has drifted off course and crashed on a primitive planet, only to crash on the planet himself, with no memory of any event prior to crashing on the planet's surface.

Votes: 3,047

46. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Masks (1994)

Investigating a rogue comet that's been traveling throughout the universe for over 87 million years, Picard discovers alien beings within the comet, which infest the computer systems on the Enterprise, as well as Data.

Votes: 3,026

47. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Genesis (1994)

When a new torpedo guidance system malfunctions, Picard and Data go chasing after it into an asteroid field, while the crew is left behind to deal with their own strange behaviors.

Director: Gates McFadden | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn

Votes: 3,037

48. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: Emergence (1994)

Strange images begin appearing throughout the ship's decks and holodecks. Data and the rest of the crew begin to investigate only to discover that the ship's computer itself is exhibiting ... See full summary  »

Votes: 2,569

49. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) Episode: All Good Things... (1994)

TV-PG | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Capt. Picard finds himself shifting continually into the past, future and present and must use that to discover a threat to humanity's existence.

Votes: 9,254

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Combadge Project Wants To Bring Trek Tech To Life

While there’s still something undeniably cool about the flip-open communicators used in the original Star Trek , the fact is, they don’t really look all that futuristic compared to modern mobile phones. But the upgraded “combadges” used in Star Trek: The Next Generation and its various large and small screen spin-offs — now that’s a tech we’re still trying to catch up to.

As it turns out, it might not be as far away as we thought. A company called Vocera actually put out a few models of WiFi “Communication Badges” in the early 2000s that were intended for hospital use, which these days can be had on eBay for as little as $25 USD. Unfortunately, they’re basically worthless without a proprietary back-end system. Or at least, that was the case before the Combadge project got involved .

Designed for folks who really want to start each conversation with a brisk tap on the chest, the primary project of Combadge is the Spin Doctor server , which is a drop-in replacement for the original software that controlled the Vocera badges. Or at least, that’s the goal. Right now not everything is working, but it’s at the point where you can connect multiple badges to a server, assign them users, and make calls between them.

It also features some early speech recognition capabilities, with transcriptions being generated for the voices picked up on each badge. Long-term, one of the goals is to be able to plug the output of this server into your home automation system. So you could tap your chest and ask the computer to turn on the front porch light, or as the documentation hopefully prophesies, start the coffee maker.

There hasn’t been much activity on the project in the last year or so, but perhaps that’s just because the right group of rabid nerds dedicated developers has yet to come onboard. Maybe the Hackaday community could lend a hand? After all, we know how much you like talking to your electronics . The hardware is cheap and the source is open, what more could you ask for?

13 thoughts on “ Combadge Project Wants To Bring Trek Tech To Life ”

“While there’s still something undeniably cool about the flip-open communicators used in the original Star Trek, the fact is, they don’t really look all that futuristic compared to modern mobile phones.”

I disagree :) . The modern phone has no blinking status lights, no obvious switches or dials… just a rectangular flat screen to look at… No flip cover for protection even. To slim. No battery ‘pack’ even for replacement batteries when you run out of power or just need a new battery…. Blah, a smart-phone has no class what-so-ever…. Not ‘modern’ looking at all! IMHO. :D

At least the device above has some buttons and such :) . Closer to what a ‘modern’ device should look like. LOL

Visually, the smartphone is as exciting as a pocket mirror.

There’s another classic communicator device

http://www.quantumleap-alsplace.com/imagingchamber/handlink.htm

One of the hospital systems near where I live already has these. That’s not to say I don’t think this project deserves attention. It’s either the Cleveland Clinic or University Hospitals; I forget which. The nurses would hit a button and ask it to call somebody, or they would ask where somebody is and it would tell them. probably uses a combination of what access point it’s connected to and maybe RFID sensors as well to determine location. It also had a privacy mode where it wouldn’t connect unless the recipient agreed to. and it had a different mode. I don’t know what it was called where it would connect them instantly similar to Star Trek

Proprietary server? Like a Blackberry? Like the U.S. Military uses Teams for phone service?

The communicators could communicate with a ship in orbit and they could be made to explode. Until cheap tristators from China become widely available I don’t see this going far.

I’m for, not against this, the thing about a walking baby is not how well it walks but that it walks at all. Thanks!

There was a much more primitive device to the one referenced in the TV miniseries Summer of Rockets.

It’s Transtator..

You can still buy those old Vocera Communication Badges on Ebay:

* Vocera B3000n Communication Badges Working (Worn Buttons) $39.99

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256224057500

Yes, that’s what the post says…

The original doesn’t have buttons..

if it work with tox or reticullum (or meshtastic) why not every badge is a mesh nodes similar airtag, for voice and data transfer. IF….

I was recently thinking that Humane badge thing would’ve been a neat comm badge if they hadn’t done all of the extra stuff with a mini projector and inaccurate AI results and such things that also made it really expensive with poor battery life.

I think I’ve seen these. If I remember right they also use them for patient monitoring.

We use Vocera at work at the hospital . They are absolutely horrible. To call someone you need to say their first and last name. Don’t know the name of the part time tech on other side of campus? Too bad. Try to call an emergency it will hear you wrong with total shit voice recognition and call Janie from accounting instead. Text pagers are literally more reliable and useful. So we still have those too. Healthcare tech is the WORST. :end_rant

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Published Jul 6, 2023

EXO-6 Launches Star Trek: The Next Generation Line with Fan-Favorite Data

The 1:6 scale figure will be available in two versions, with the Standard Version featuring Data's beloved Spot!

StarTrek.com

“I would gladly risk feeling bad at times, if it also meant that I could taste my dessert.”

For the last two and a half years, collectibles company EXO-6 has been producing 1:6 scale museum grade figures from Star Trek films and TV shows, building up fans anticipation for the most desired characters in the franchise. Today, StarTrek.com is excited to share that EXO-6 is launching their Star Trek: The Next Generation line with the fan-favorite Data , now available for pre-order !

Not only that, the beloved Android will be available in two versions! The Essential Version (SRP $190) comes with a Starfleet Type II hand phaser and TR-580 tricorder VII from The Next Generation , while the more all inclusive Standard Version (SRP $230) features the phaser and tricorder, plus, a Personal Access Display Device (PADD), as well as a second Data head with removable panel, which opens to reveal his cybernetic interior, and two different poses of Data's pet cat Spot! The first pose has Spot sitting at attention, while the other has him splayed, designed to be held in Data's arms.

An interest in the characters and cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation has been revitalized by the much-praised third and final season of Star Trek: Picard . This show reintroduced one of the most popular characters in all of Star Trek — Lt. Commander Data. No other character better expresses the wonder of discovery that is the heart of Star Trek than this android with a soul.

When first introduced in "Encounter at Farpoint," Data was a one-of-a-kind cybernetic organism; an artificial being that wanted nothing more than to be just like the imperfect humans he served with aboard the Enterprise . Throughout the series he evolved into a person, an officer, and a friend to many of the crew. The EXO-6 one sixth scale figure of Data will not only embody the hopefulness of the character, but also bring an element of Brent Spiner’s performance into a museum grade collectible figure.

Lt. Commander Data is only the first of the Enterprise-D crew to get the EXO-6 treatment. The entire Bridge crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation will be joining the 1:6 collection in the next few months. Data is on sale today and can be pre-ordered at exo-6.com .

Get Updates By Email

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

FlickSphere

21 Things About Star Trek That Fans Hesitate to Acknowledge

Posted: April 27, 2024 | Last updated: April 27, 2024

Star Trek Reused the Same Sets Often

There were some sexist vibes.

Star Trek Was Forced to Move With the Times

We’ve All Fancied an Alien on Star Trek at Some Point in Our Lives

Drama in Deep Space Nine’

Star Trek Voyager Criticized for Having a Female Captain

The Story Lines Weren’t Always Great

Some of the Costumes Were Not Good

We Want Captain Picard Back

Most Fans Preferred the TV Series to the Movies

We Have all Tried to Speak Klingon

Sometimes, Star Trek Was Scary

The Theme Tune Was Awesome

Star Trek’s Original First Officer Was a Woman

Spock Impressions

Some of the Tech from the Trek Has Already Become a Reality

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy Both Got Tinnitus

Spock’s Vulcan Salute is a Special Blessing in Hebrew

Star Trek Didn’t Only Recycle its Sets; It Also Recycled Actors

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The Loss (TNG S4 E10‪)‬ The Joy of Trek

The Loss (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S4 E10) was recommended by Leslie, She/her, who said: Deanna Troi is my favorite TNG character, because she's a senior bridge officer, counselor to the Captain/ship, has a special ability, loves chocolate, is gorgeous, and she's in an on again/off again relationship with First Officer Will Riker. She's a likeable, strong female character in a male-dominated universe (at least at that time in Star Trek). I like this episode because it gives us insight into Troi's job as counselor to the ship's personnel. It's a "day in the life" episode. I also like that we see Troi working with Data, who could be considered opposites in that Troi has all the feelings and Data has none. However, it always felt a bit unsatisfactory because the solution that Troi and Data work out turns out to be wrong. So that seems to be telling us that Troi without her empathic power is useless in saving the Enterprise, even if her skills as a therapist do help her patient. The Loss first aired on December 31, 1990, written by story by Hilary J. Bader, teleplay by Hilary J. Bader & Allan J. Adler & Vanessa Greene, and directed by Chip Chalmers The Joy of Trek is hosted by Khaki & Kay, with editing & production by Chief Engineer Greg and music by Fox Amoore (Bandcamp | Bluesky) Send us your recommendations, or support us on Patreon. Find us at joyoftrek.com · Twitter · Facebook

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Daniel Ek’s Next Act: Full-Body Scans for the People

The Spotify chief has co-founded a new start-up, Neko Health, that aims to make head-to-toe health scans part of the annual health checkup routine.

Bernhard Warner undergoes a “Tissue Scan,” a procedure designed to assess microcirculation, or the blood flow in the arteries of his right forearm. Credit... Photographs and Video by David B. Torch

Supported by

By Bernhard Warner

Bernhard Warner traveled to Stockholm to interview the Neko Health co-founders, and underwent a full-body scan.

• April 27, 2024

In conversations with colleagues, fellow entrepreneurs and even musicians over the past decade, Daniel Ek would often abruptly shift the subject to something that really bugged him: health care. “I was like adamant to fix it,” Mr. Ek, the Spotify chief, told DealBook. He saw the industry as a bloated and inefficient colossus in need of disrupting.

The problem: Mr. Ek had neither a plan, nor the time or money to do much about it. He was busy taking on Apple, YouTube and Amazon Music in the streaming wars. In his spare time, Mr. Ek pored over medical journals. And he routinely measured his vital statistics with a Fitbit, an Apple Watch or Wii Fit tracker — the more data, the better to see how his body held up against the rigors of running a business. He thought that such tracking might hold some clue to living longer and healthier. “I was just toying around with ideas in health care,” he added.

That all changed in 2018. Spotify went public, making Mr. Ek a billionaire. It was time to turn his side focus into his next venture, he decided. He knew whom to contact: Hjalmar Nilsonne, a Swedish tech entrepreneur who Mr. Ek had met the year prior at the Brilliant Minds event, an annual gathering Mr. Ek started. Mr. Nilsonne was passionate about upending the status quo, too. At the time, he was focused on climate change and his start-up, Watty, which aimed to strip waste out of the energy grid.

At first, Mr. Nilsonne rebuffed Mr. Ek’s proposition. But Mr. Ek eventually won him over. (It helped that Watty was running out of money, and it was eventually sold to a German company.) Mr. Ek, a former computer coder, and Mr. Nilsonne, an engineer, zeroed in on building a better diagnostic tool. Their aim: disease prevention, and prolonging life. The company they founded, Neko Health, opened its doors in Stockholm last year, and it is set to open in London, its second market, this summer.

Longevity has become a kind of obsession with tech moguls. Sam Altman , Peter Thiel and Mr. Ek are among those who believe bright ideas, the right tech and bundles of capital can help humans live longer. Mr. Ek, 41, has invested millions personally and through his investment firm, Prima Materia, in such start-ups around Europe. Neko Health is the only one for which he’s taken the title of founder.

The company says its full-body scans can detect the onset of a host of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as skin conditions. It calls its scans, which cost about $230, or 2,500 Swedish krona, “a health check for your future self.”

Whole-body scans have been around for a while. But they have taken off in recent years thanks to artificial intelligence and social media. Kim Kardashian helped put one buzzy rival, Prenuvo, on the map last summer when she referred to its M.R.I. scanner as a “life saving machine” in an Instagram post . Another, the New York-based Ezra, announced in February that it had raised $21 million to help it expand to 20 North American cities by year-end.

Despite the boom in interest, medical professionals say proactive screening technologies have yet to prove that they can achieve better outcomes for patient health or longevity. And the verdict is still out on the business model.

“I would be super happy if this turned out to make me no money, but we actually solved real issues in the world for real people,” Mr. Ek told DealBook in his first English-language interview about Neko Health.

He compared the challenge to the streaming wars. When Spotify debuted in 2008, the music industry was being ravaged by piracy and plummeting revenues. “Everyone told me, this is a horrible business. Please don’t do that,” he recalled.

Mr. Ek acknowledged that taking on health care may be even tougher. Like Spotify, Neko Health has big growth ambitions, but it faces a long slog in getting the green light to enter new markets. And in some ways, the Neko founders’ vision is more ambitious than their competitors. Their goal is to make early diagnosis of diseases affordable, so that full-body scans become as routine as an annual checkup. That could help reverse a depressing pattern where gains in life expectancy have slowed in many wealthy countries over the past decade, despite ballooning health care spending. “Almost every trend is going in the wrong direction,” said Mr. Nilsonne, 37, who is also Neko Health’s chief executive.

Inside a Neko Health Scanner

There are about as many approaches to body health scans as there are companies offering them. Most involve repackaging some pre-existing medical technology and adding proprietary software. Prenuvo, the startup that Ms. Kardashian promoted on Instagram, was founded by the entrepreneur Andrew Lacy, and its backers include Eric Schmidt, the former Google chief executive, and the supermodel Cindy Crawford. It sells hourlong magnetic resonance imaging sessions for $2,499 , and then uses an A.I.-powered software to examine the scanned images for warning signs of cancer, aneurysms and liver diseases. Ezra hopes to squish the full-body scan down to 15 minutes, and charge $500.

Neko Health, with its smaller price tag, doesn’t perform M.R.I.s or X-rays. Instead, it uses about 70 different sensors and a mix of proprietary and off-the-shelf technologies to non-invasively measure heart function and circulation, and to photograph every inch of a patient’s body.

“The visual metaphor early on was around the airport scanner,” said Mr. Ek.

At a Neko Health clinic in Stockholm where I recently paid for a scan, I understood the comparison. After being handed slippers and a thin cloth robe, I entered a room with a floor-to-ceiling scan chamber that looked straight out of “Star Trek.” Soothing instrumental music added to a spalike setting.

I stepped inside the contraption and was instructed to raise my arms out to my side. The circular door slid shut, and a voice recording — a female with a soft English accent — told me to shut my eyes, take a deep breath and prepare for a blast of bright light. A series of wall-mounted cameras flashed. The entire scan, which took over 2,000 high-resolution images of my body, mapping and indexing my every blemish, lasted about 20 seconds.

Outside of the chamber, the second part of the examination commenced. It involved a blood draw, as well as tests for grip-strength, eye-pressure, and blood pressure. At one point, a device spying out of a grate in the ceiling measured my heart rate using a laser sensor. When a green light honed in on my outstretched arm, a live magnified image of my forearm showing the blood pulsing through my arteries appeared on a monitor on a nearby wall. (The illuminated patch of skin was being measured for blood flow and arterial stiffness, an indicator for cardiovascular health).

Most Neko patients have passed the scan with a clean bill of health. But, in a recent sample of 2,707 patients, life-threatening issues were found in about 1 percent of the cases, according to the company. (About one-quarter of those were under age 50). And for 9 percent of that cohort, previously undiagnosed issues were found that were later determined to be ailments such as heart disease, skin cancer and diabetes.

Dr. Andreea Valdman, Neko Health’s lead general practitioner, walked me through my results at the end of my exam. All of the 400 suspicious looking blotches and moles on my body that had been mapped with the help of A.I. were benign, Neko’s dermatologists confirmed.

Type 2 diabetes runs in my family. And, my father had his first stroke at 54, so the anticipation around my blood-glucose reading — HbA1c — had me on edge. The verdict: no risk of diabetes or stroke.

It felt reassuring to know I was doing something right, and what I needed to work on.

The company said the waiting list in Sweden has swelled to 20,000.

‘Bend the cost curve’

In the United States, most major health insurers don’t typically cover such scans. And some in the medical field question their effectiveness. “To date, there is no documented evidence that total body screening is cost-efficient or effective in prolonging life,” the American College of Radiology said last year. One issue is false positives, Dr. Nils-Eric Sahlin, a professor of medical ethics at Lund University in Sweden, told DealBook. He said that could lead to a wave of healthy people seeking a second opinion, potentially overwhelming the most stressed parts of the health care system, and adding costs for potentially unnecessary follow-up treatment.

Mr. Nilsonne pushed back on these criticisms, calling the status-quo health care model in which a patient often receives treatment well after the disease has progressed bad public policy. Preventative health care, he said, should bring with it a new data stream: from healthy people. That will inform smarter policy, he argued.

“We need to bend the cost curve on health care,” Mr. Nilsonne said. “The cheapest dollar to spend on health is not when you’re super sick; it’s to help you not get sick in the first place.”

Investors see potential. Venture capitalists invested a record $4.7 billion in longevity start-ups in 2022, according to Pitchbook. But in the wake of Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes’s failed blood-testing startup that promised to usher in “ a new era of preventative health ,” scrutiny is also sky high. “Blowouts” like Theranos, Mr. Ek said, risk undermining the public “trust in all of the subsequent companies that are coming.”

Last summer, thanks in part to Mr. Ek’s connections, Neko raised 60 million euros ($65 million) from investors that include Atomico, General Catalyst, and Lakestar. Mr. Ek has pitched in an additional €30 million. But the capital requirements for a brick-and-mortar expansion of health clinics are unlike the economics of unveiling an app like Spotify. The regulatory hurdles are arduous, too. “Hundreds, if not thousands, of documents need to be submitted,” Mr. Nilsonne noted.

The start-up says it will be on pace to deliver roughly 50,000 scans by the end of the year. When pressed, Mr. Ek didn’t want to talk five- or seven-year growth targets, or return on his investment. Instead, he focused on the technology. “You can actually save lives with this,” he said, adding, “and we have.”

Bernhard Warner is a senior editor for DealBook, a newsletter from The Times, covering business trends, the economy and the markets. More about Bernhard Warner

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Screen Rant

The aunt of star trek: tng's tasha yar actress once romanced ds9's quark.

Despite leaving TNG in season 1, Denise Crosby has lasting ties to the Star Trek franchise, including her aunt, who fell in love with DS9's Quark.

The aunt of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Denise Crosby once had a brief romance with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Quark (Armin Shimerman). Denise Crosby played Lt. Tasha Yar in TNG , whose family continued to pop up in the show even after she was killed by Armus. Tasha's sister, Ishara Yar (Beth Toussaint), used the crew of the USS Enterprise-D to help her launch an invasion of the Turkana IV Alliance's territory in TNG season 4, episode 6, "Legacy". Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5 introduced Sela (Denise Crosby) Tasha Yar's half-Romulan daughter from an alternate timeline, who became a recurring villain on the show.

Tasha Yar's extended family appearing on Star Trek: The Next Generation was reflective of Denise Crosby's own family links to the wider Star Trek universe. Denise Crosby was the granddaughter of popular crooner and actor Bing Crosby, named after her father, and Bing's son, Dennis Crosby. Embarrassed by a high-profile child support case between Dennis Crosby and Denise's mother, Marilyn Miller Scott, Bing Crosby reportedly never met his granddaughter . Amid this court battle, Bing Crosby's second wife, Kathryn, gave birth to her second child, Denise's aunt and future Star Trek: Deep Space Nine guest star , Mary Crosby.

Star Trek: TNG's Most Hated Episode Still Traumatizes Denise Crosby

Star trek: tng's denise crosby's aunt played quark's love interest in ds9.

Denise Crosby's aunt Mary played Professor Natima Lang in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 18, "Profit and Loss" . Mary Crosby was a prolific TV guest star in the early 1990s, appearing in shows such as Murder, She Wrote and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman before being cast as Natima in DS9 . A specialist in political ethics, Natima was a prominent member of the Cardassian dissident movement, who wanted to overthrow their government's military rulers. Natima Lang was a character who brought out Quark's romantic and heroic side, something that DS9 writer and producer Ira Steven Behr disapproved of :

" I felt we didn't need another tough, sexy, swashbuckling character on the show. We had enough of those." - Ira Steven Behr, The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion

Mary Crosby is best known for playing Kristin Shepard in the iconic soap opera Dallas between 1979 and 1981 . Kristin Shepard was the character who famously shot J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) in the soap, with the reveal becoming one of the highest-rated episodes of any TV drama. In an interesting parallel between her character in Dallas and her character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Mary Crosby also shoots Quark in "Profit and Loss", albeit accidentally. It's a fun nod to Mary Crosby's best-known TV role.

Denise Crosby's Other Star Trek Family Links

Mary Crosby isn't the only member of Denise Crosby's extended family to appear in the wider Star Trek universe. Denise Crosby's brother, Paul, is married to actress and stunt performer, Spice Williams, who has made many appearances in the Star Trek franchise . Spice Williams-Crosby played Vixis in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier , the first officer on Klaa's Klingon bird of prey. As a stunt performer, Spice Williams-Crosby doubled for Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine on episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.

Denise Crosby is also a distant relation of Family Guy creator and Star Trek: Enterprise guest star, Seth MacFarlane . Ancestry details of Seth MacFarlane reveal that he was a descendant of William Brewster, an ancestor of Bing Crosby. This means that Denise Crosby and Seth MacFarlane are distant cousins, a detail which must have pleased the noted Star Trek fan. In 2011, Seth MacFarlane revealed his desire to reboot the franchise on TV, a dream he never got to realize. However, his sci-fi comedy drama The Orville is the next best thing, a loving homage to Star Trek: The Next Generation that features many of its alumni.

All episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

*Availability in US

Not available

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.