Best uses for a holodeck

[resonant]

Canonical Trek characters use the holodecks for sports you can't do on a starship (Klingon martial arts, skiing), going to bars, and that kind of amateur-theater-type entertainments that this introvert cannot fathom enjoying. Fanfictional Trek characters also use them to have sex with unavailable co-workers. All perfectly plausible.

But holy crap, you could have a holomassage twice a week.

Other things I would use a holodeck for if I had one:

• "Computer, create some models with my same body measurements, but not my same face, because that's creepy. Now let's try a range of clothing suitable for this interior climate, six outfits at a time. Prioritize freedom of movement. I don't look good in yellow."



• In a similar vein, trying out hairstyles. Glasses. No, wait, in the Trek future there are no glasses.



• Physical therapy.



• Dancing lessons.



• A personal trainer. (In my case, dancing lessons and a personal trainer would probably look pretty similar. "No, your left foot. Left. Left.")



• Music rehearsal. Multiple overlapping metronomes and scrolling sheet music. The best accompanist in the sector. A rhythm guide for tricky syncopations. One soprano, one tenor, and one bass. A few carefully selected instruments that you need to time yours to. A whole entire choir and/or orchestra. An ensemble with such sophisticated AI that it could improvise with you.



• Language lessons with someone whose lips you could read. Assuming the speakers of that language had lips. And someone who would converse with you.



• If you have a long, physically tedious computer task to perform, you could holocreate yourself an input device that required you to move your whole body so you wouldn't get repetitive motion injuries. Trackpad? No, I'm using this rowboat.

And think of the things you and your friends could do together other than solve mysteries! Contradancing. Karaoke. D&D. Hell, you could be circus acrobats.

I can't promise that I would never use the holodeck to summon up a fictional character to hug me.

(This line of thought inspired by AxeMeAboutAxinomancy, who is charming me by writing Paris/Kim in 20-for real-21.)

Comments

[adafrog]

Yes! Especially the massage.

[writedragon]

I'd take art lessons from the Masters; can you imagine learning bronzecasting with safety-settings on so you couldn't get hurt?! Holomassage, yes!! Kirk had to wear reading glasses because he's canonically allergic to Retinax 5, but Kirk also predates holodecks. I'd also get all the physiotherapy and trauma therapy I've ever needed to get myself all fixed up.

[muccamukk]

I think Data took dancing lessons at one point. The DS9 characters seemed to have a lot more fun with them generally though.

I liked the "hang out in nature" sub genre. I'd really miss trees and birds and water if I was on a beige space ship.

[celli]

Book clubs with the authors, especially for long-ago ones. Death of the Author, amirite? *rimshot*

[out_there]

Huh. Those are all very good things. I mean, personally, I might be very tempted to use the holodeck for a nice swim followed by a massage. Or maybe, oooh, snorkeling on some pretty coral reef, just floating around watching bright coloured fish.

[azurelunatic]

Bring a box of files in and the correct remotes, have help going through them, sorting them by topic, and getting them uploaded.

Save your settings and you just have to call up the right program when it's your turn in the scanner lab, no tedious resetting of all the instruments after the other crew got through.


Physical help with holding fabric and sewing a garment for the prototypes.


Sonic shower? Why not immerse yourself in a water tub with a view!

[lunabee34]

I have always thought we only see a tip of the iceberg with the holodeck. I'll be with you booking a massage.

[clevermanka]

Oh, dance lessons god I miss partner dancing yes yes yes.

[vickita]

For the record, this

No, your left foot. Left. Left.

is where I laughed so loud I scared the cat. *grin*

[minoanmiss]

This is the best discussion EVER.

I have seen stories that touch on such uses for the holodeck, but unfortunately my only such was about, um, aggressive aversion therapy after a trauma.

[spikedluv]

These (and the ones in comments) are brilliant! I'm also signing up for a massage.

[likeaduck]

Where are the holoprograms that are just about experiencing the weirdest fucking thing possible? Just set to random, or train an AI a little and let it autogenerate until things get unsettling?

Visit important historical sites, but as if you are 10cm tall. Or 300m.

I want to enter spreadsheets with my rowboat. :(

[laurenthemself]

I'd be getting all the hugs for sure and also probably playing with cats.