Talk:Data

Spiner and Dorn at odds
Regarding:


 * In real life, actors Michael Dorn and Brent Spiner (Worf and Data respectively) were really at odds and never got along.

This info seems to have come from a StarTrek.com chat, started and followed up. Seems to be a joke not to be taken seriously, unless someone can provide some evidence that suggests otherwise. --Alan 01:22, 1 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Yes, it does seem like a joke. Why would Spiner tell everyone that he doesn't like another member of the cast just like that? --Marten1000 13:26, 1 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Re-added today, and then this added:


 * In real life, actor Brent Spiner who portrays Data is best friends with Patrick Stewart. This is evident as Spiner was the best man to Stewart's marriage to TNG and VOY producer Wendy Neuss. However, the opposite could be said about his relationship to fellow TNG actor Michael Dorn.


 * At a minimum, this requires a citation. At best, it belongs on Spiner's page. -- sulfur 16:23, 2 February 2009 (UTC)

"...Remove the plank"
I always understood from the movie that he called the computer to remove the plank on purpose. The entire joke was setup that way. "Nobody has ever made it" (someone jumping up and grabbing the hat). Worf therefor made it then Riker told the computer to remove the plank so he would be in the water regardless. Otherwise Riker would have just had one of the holograms retract the plank. Yes, Riker did get scolded by Picard but that was in jest as well...either way I'm sure there are people who disagree and therefor it should be written in a way that does apply bias towards any one interpretation of the event as there is equal evidence for both sides of the accident. &mdash; Morder 05:31, 1 February 2009 (UTC)

expanded universe stories
Should be an apocrypha section (re)itroduced? Ibelieve there are several important stories in the expanded universe, that really add to the character, although not officially canon. Most notable, the Novel "The Buried Age", which (among others) deals on when he first encountered Picard and became the Enterprise´s second officer. Or his resurrection and promotion to Captain in the "Star Trek: Countdown" comic book mini-series. 87.174.219.118 12:28, 26 April 2009 (UTC)

Division
what division is Data? he is science officer, but he wears operations color


 * Data was operations officer and second officer. He was never said to be a science officer. See above– Cleanse 22:14, 15 July 2009 (UTC)

then who is the science officer?


 * Some crewmembers wearing blue could sometimes be seen in the hallway throughout seasons 2, 4, 7, 1, 3, 5 and 6. Probably one of them. -- Captain MKB 15:12, 16 July 2009 (UTC)

There seems to be some ambiguity about this, as there is a question like this above. In canon, there is only circumstantial evidence to support this, but I always took it to mean that the operations officer in the 24th century is the science officer, as in the posts were combined. - Archduk3:talk 22:41, 21 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Well no, actually there were still references to sciences officers, which means there is not circumstantial evidence to support this. Jadzia Dax and Samantha Wildman were science officers, without being operations officers (those posts at their same assignments were held by Miles O'Brien and Harry Kim, respectively). Even the 1701-D had a science officer named Swenson. -- Captain MKB 02:37, 23 July 2009 (UTC)

I meant more the role on the bridge that Spock has in TOS, it seems that Data, as the operations officer seems to be doing a lot of the work one would except from the science officer. Of course there are still science officers, there just doesn't seem to be a science officer that all the others report to anymore. - Archduk3:talk 04:34, 23 July 2009 (UTC)


 * It also seems possible that we are overlaying our expectations of Spock's role as first officer on the role of the science officer. It just seems that Picard didn't keep a science officer as part of his senior bridge staff, because he himself and his ops manager were both well versed, while Kirk's science officer was much more important, possibly due to a dual role as first officer. Dax also took on command duties in addition to her duties at science. Also, look at Ops Harry Kim's lesser role in the senior staff than Data's, as Data was a second officer also, but Kim was the most junior bridge staffer. There seems to be some command prerogative at play also, as Picard didn't consider one of his CMOs (Pulaski) to be a bridge officer at all, but Kirk's was indispensible to him. And Picard kept a counselor in his inner circle, while Janeway didn't even have one and Sisko's counselors were unimportant until much later on when one was a close friend, and Kirk who seemed annoyed whenever another psychologist was present besides his CMO. Seems like the captain will tell you how important you are to his senior staff, and exclude at will. Then there's Janeway, a former science officer who had Wildman playing a very minor role, but she elevated Seven of Nine to the senior staff as a primarily science position. -- Captain MKB 17:14, 25 July 2009 (UTC)

There does seem to be a bit of a captain's proagtive about the makeup of the senior staff, which is the only thing that explains Neelix IMO, though there does still seem to be a blurring of the divisions starting in TNG, if you discount the TOS costume errors. To cover the other discrepancies in the senior staffs first: IMO, Troi was there on the bridge since there were families on board, or some such reason, and remained with the crew on the E since she had taken a more active interest in her rank. There is also the idea that Voyager's counselor was killed or not yet on board when they were pulled to the Gamma Quadrant. Seven was in charge of Astrometrics, which on Voyager was understandably more important that it might have been in the Alpha Quadrant, though not quite a Science officer, though the same could be said for any division for Seven. But this has gotten far afield, while I don't remember Riker being that much of a science guy, his job as XO and Data's job at Operations may have squeezed out a position for "The" science officer, with department heads reporting to Riker and ship resources going through operations. This would also explain why a science officer would be more important on a station, with less having to go through operations, since it isn't like there is a major need for speed if the object of study isn't going anywhere, and station science projects seemed, at least to me, to be more long term things, as in the studies of the Orbs, and less scan and go science. This would allow the Science department a larger voice to the CO, since there would be less of a drain on resources based on time, and more hands on time for the Co with the individual departments. The lack of "The" science officer on Voyager though seems to me to reinforce the idea that the science departments on starships are having to go through operations, or the XO, in the 24th century, thus there is less need for a science officer on the bridge, or in the senior staff for that matter, as the position is more or less covered by operations. Thus Data would be the equivalent of "The" Science Officer in the 23rd century, with many science officers reporting to, or through, him. But as I said before, this is all speculation and theory, which happens to fit the facts, albeit a bit snugly in some areas then others. - Archduk3:talk 19:08, 25 July 2009 (UTC)

Data's speed
Transferred the following:


 * In the year that the episode was produced that was considered a very high speed, but current computers can perform more operations per second, and nowadays it is calculated that a computer comparable to the human brain should perform 38 thousand trillion operations per second Computers have a lot to learn from the human brain, engineers say. 60-second Science Blog in Scientific American

Per MA:NIT, we don't make comparisons to the real world, but if there was a production source commenting on this subject, it could go back.--31dot 13:38, 27 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Rewording it to simply note the current brain speed according to that article might be an idea. Perhaps something like:


 * It has been calculated that a computer comparable to the human brain should perform 38 thousand trillion operations per second. 


 * Thoughts? -- sulfur 13:43, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

I like it. I'll add that unless there is an objection.--31dot 14:02, 27 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Seems fine. Especially better than adding the figures to one ridiculously long run-on sentence. -- Captain MKB 14:20, 27 July 2009 (UTC)
 * It's still an attempt at a realworld comparison which is frowned upon here. I suggest we don't bother with it as it's unnecessary as it's a positronic brain and not a real one :) &mdash; Morder (talk) 15:36, 27 July 2009 (UTC)


 * Well, there's frowned upon, which is generally related to nit picking because of that, and then veritable real world information. I think that this falls into the second.  We're not noting that when the episode was done the speed was super high.  We're not noting what computers can do now.  We're simply noting that the current real life belief is X, and here's an interesting article about it.  But that's just me. -- sulfur 15:43, 27 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Heh, I understand. It still seems as if it's a one off nitpick. "Here's what we can do in the real world - look how shitty star trek's computers are!" :) But I would normally remove the current comment if I found it as that's all it is, a comment - or "original research" that has no purpose here. &mdash; Morder (talk) 15:58, 27 July 2009 (UTC)
 * IMO, the suggeted change is not a nit pick and more along the lines of the note on the Gamma Orionis page, as in this is informative, and less about how wrong it was. - Archduk3:talk 17:04, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

I think this is very borderline between nitpick and production information. If there was some official comment on it, it would be perfect- but I don't think that there is. If it gets removed again I won't lose sleep over it.--31dot 18:58, 27 July 2009 (UTC)

Data is ALIVE
In The Star Trek: Countdown series, Data is alive, re-encarnated through B-4's body. According to Memory Alpha, this novel is considered canon until contadicted. Innocent until proven guilty. However, at the Data page, he is listed as dead. If we are reffering to his body, then yes. But, we are not. We must confirm Data as alive, or else Memory Alpha contradicts itself.


 * I suggest you review the canon policy, as your interpretation is not correct. Any life for Data after Nemesis is not canon.--31dot 02:03, September 6, 2009 (UTC)
 * Roberto Orci said it was non-canon. --Golden Monkey 18:51, September 6, 2009 (UTC)

Please excuse my incorrect interpretation. However, I will choose to interpret that, since Memory Alpha has B-4 listed as alive, and Data transferred his memories, (personality?), ect. , and no information on B-4 is listed beyond Nemesis, and you did not specify whether Memory Alpha was referring to Data's body or his mind, I can assume that we are referring to his body, and I will accept the events of Star Trek: Countdown. Now I am off to visit Memory Beta. (: Sorry.

These guys can be rude sometimes.


 * You realize you can accept whatever you want, personally, with no regard to Memory Alpha or Paramount, right? We aren't a mind control cabal... --OuroborosCobra talk 00:23, September 7, 2009 (UTC)

I just happen to be a perfectionist. I completely OCD perfectionist. That's why my friends call me a Vulcan. I digress, I am pleased though that on the B-4 page, it mentioned his future was uncertain. It really is, I like to speculate. What do you think transpired after Nemesis? It would have been interesting to see Brent Spiner come back for a few guest appearances as B-4. Although he thinks he's too old... It's weird how everybody ignores that episode where they mention that Data has an aging program.


 * The preceding paragraph seems a bit irrelevant, but hey, I launch into similar irrelevant discussions all the time! ;) SPQR (talk) 03:00, July 5, 2012 (UTC)

Data can swim contradiction
I'm not sure if this has been discussed/noticed before, but when watching the TNG Season 7 Episode: I noticed something peculiar. At around the 30:13 mark (on the DVD) for this episode, Geordi begins to reminisce with Data about an old time on "Nervalla Lake" (I couldn't make out the spelling by ear).

Geordi: "You decide to go swimming. Heh heh, and when you jumped out of the boat, you sank straight to the bottom." Data: "I did not have enough buoyancy to get back to the surface." Geordi: "You had to walk over a kilometer along the bottom to get back to shore." Data: "One kilometer, 46 meters." Geordi: "It took almost two weeks to get the water out of your servos."

However, that would seem to contradict directly what takes place in when Data assists Anij in the lake when she can't swim (with the serving as a floatation device joke). Also no mention of any deleterious effects on Data for walking along the Ba'ku planet's lake bottom are mentioned, either.

Would this fact be noteworthy in Data's page, Descent Part II episode page, and Insurrection pages? I'm relative to new to wiki editing so I didn't want to stomp on anything prematurely. --Usagi7 20:08, November 17, 2009 (UTC)


 * It might on Data's page, though it seems reasonable that between the first incident and STI that Data would have modified himself to float and not be so "leakable". - Archduk3:talk 20:14, November 17, 2009 (UTC)
 * I'm pretty sure that it was already stated but the note was removed due to nitpickiness. If the note is added it must be done in such a way that doesn't involve speculation nor sound like a nitpick. &mdash; Morder (talk) 20:22, November 17, 2009 (UTC)
 * I see, then I'll just leave things as is unless someone else wants to take on the charge. I think it could add something to Data's page as one of his 'abilities.' I also think embellishing the Descent, Part II episode page and a side note in Insurrection's page would be an amusing piece of side trivia. I wouldn't be doing this to criticize the writers, but just to add a "haha, that's funny and somewhat noteworthy that they forgot". Usagi7 22:14, November 19, 2009 (UTC)
 * It might be possible to note that he received an upgrade at some point in the years between the incidents, an upgrade that gave him buoyancy. Data did initially sink in the Insurrection until he activated flotation devices. --OuroborosCobra talk 22:25, November 19, 2009 (UTC)

Except that he clearly says that he was designed to serve as a flotation device. It had always been a capability he had. 86.40.208.160 18:04, December 27, 2009 (UTC)
 * We should only note that there was one instance where it was said he couldn't float, and one instance where he did/was designed to. That is not a nitpick as it deals only in facts. It's not our job to explain the discrepancy.--31dot 22:31, December 27, 2009 (UTC)

Bromance
It has been confirmed by Brent Spiner that Data was involved in a bromance with Geordi La Forge.

- I'm just going to leave this here for now, since I would like to see the cite on this, assuming it exists. - 05:34, January 19, 2010 (UTC)

Hands
It says Data appears to be left-handed, should it be mentioned that this is because his actor is left handed? PseudoOne 16:12, June 6, 2010 (UTC)

Data's Weight
I added up the weights for the materials mentioned in Data's construction. It comes out to 37.7 kilograms or 83.11 pounds (avoirdupois). While I am sure that there must be more to it than that, I can't see how he could be that light. --64.12.117.20 20:43, July 11, 2010 (UTC)


 * As the next sentence in the article says, it is established in that he weighs approximately 100 kg overall. I don't think the list of materials in  was meant to be exhaustive, probably just the major materials.– Cleanse ( talk 01:01, July 12, 2010 (UTC)

When did Data graduate?
In he states that hes from the class of '78


 * I would suggest reading the article, specifically this section, as it shows that the "78" date was changed later.--31dot 23:53, October 19, 2010 (UTC)

Then why do you have it down that he stated it in when he clearly did not. If you people are such perfectionist, I would think that you would want it in there when he said it. If you don't believe me go back and watch the scene when he and Riker are in The Holodeck. It's after he tries to finish pop goes the weasel.


 * I know perfectly well what was said and when, and never claimed not to believe you. Most likely the citation is there because it mentions his graduation, even if the date was not correct.  This conflict is noted at the end of the article, perhaps a link to that portion of the article could be placed by the discussion of his graduation for clarification.--31dot 09:59, October 21, 2010 (UTC)

The off-switch
I suggest in the Friend/Beverly Crusher section, that we add her as the only person he confided the location of his off-switch. From the episode TNG: Datalore. Swedish Doctor 01:15, November 7, 2010 (UTC)


 * I don't know if we could say she is the "only" person- "first" person maybe. --31dot 01:21, November 7, 2010 (UTC)

no air?
There have been a couple of episodes where Data walked under water, but I can't remember any episodes where Data took advantage of not needing air in another environment, such as a vacuum or poison gas. Can anyone else think of any instances that I may have forgotten?  Blank Verse  03:23, January 11, 2011 (UTC)
 * In Data removed the atmosphere from the Bridge to take over the ship. --31dot 11:33, January 11, 2011 (UTC)
 * There is also where they needed to turn off life support and Data was in command until he life support could be restored. Not sure if that is exactly what you refer to, but it's one where he didnt need air. – Distantlycharmed 00:46, January 18, 2011 (UTC)
 * Transfigurations, almost. He did not pass out when The Zalcolians accessed The Enterprise's life support systems. In Correct 00:42, March 24, 2012 (UTC)

Data's Body
I was wondering, What is Data's body made out of?


 * I'd suggest reading the article, the information is in the first section.--31dot 00:12, January 30, 2011 (UTC)

status=Deceased OR status=Destroyed
I wonder what arguments there could be for one or the other. I think that since Data was more than just sentient and the fact that he was employed by Starfleet his status would most likely be set to Deceased by Starfleet. Any thoughts on this? -- OvBacon (Talk) 15:53, June 15, 2011 (UTC)


 * Supposing we consider Data not as an android, a machine, but as a person, then he is deceased. Of course, don't forget he may have been reincarnated. SPQR (talk) 02:53, July 5, 2012 (UTC)

Data's power source
Has there ever bbeen any discussion on what power source Data uses? --64.12.117.20 23:36, July 18, 2011 (UTC)


 * Is this relevant? SPQR (talk) 02:54, July 5, 2012 (UTC)

Intimacy with the Borg Queen?
Is there a source that states Data was sexually intimate with the borg queen? I don't remember that from the movie. Can somebody change that? 152.131.9.132 20:26, July 22, 2011 (UTC)


 * She asked him how long it had been since he had last been intimate, and then proceeds to start kissing him, saying "far too long". Seems pretty clear for a PG movie.--31dot 20:31, July 22, 2011 (UTC)

Not really...she was tempting him with the idea of the pleasure she could bring...she could have implying future pleasure rather than seducing him right then and there. 152.131.9.132 20:39, July 22, 2011 (UTC)


 * Except she was seducing him then and there- that was the whole point, seduce him to get the fractal encryption code. Common sense tells us, given the available information and what was seen, that they were intimate. --31dot 20:45, July 22, 2011 (UTC)

We should not base canon on something that is "implied." It was never stated and different people have different interpretations of what happened, therefore it should not be in the article. Does anyone else have an opinion? 152.131.9.132 21:07, July 29, 2011 (UTC)


 * Yes, you should first read MA:TALK about retaining your indent. Second, they totally had nasty sex while a bunch of drones watched, per common sense. Suggesting they weren't intimate has more to do with hangups the viewer has then what was seen on screen. - 00:08, July 30, 2011 (UTC)


 * <>


 * RDM: Yes, and you will finally see a new computer-generated Data/Borg Queen sex scene as we had always intended it to be seen, but the technology of the day limited the number of limbs and other fully functional apparatuses that they would've had at their disposal.


 * Writer's intent. ;-) –Cleanse ( talk 01:10, July 30, 2011 (UTC)

Deceased vs destroyed

 * Data was clearly not a biological lifeform therefore it should be stated that it was destroyed, not "deceased". 89.178.211.6 15:45, July 30, 2011 (UTC)


 * If Data was considered to be alive, then the end of his life would mean he was deceased. The fact that he wasn't biological is irrelevant. --31dot 01:36, July 31, 2011 (UTC)

First Officer
Data was never expected to replace Riker as first officer. During the wedding scene of Star Trek: Nemesis, Capt. Picard speaks of having to train a new first officer, "a tyrannical martinet" who will never let him go on any away missions. The new "Number One" was Martin Madden (played by Steven Culp). Even though his scene is cut from the theatrical release, it's featured in the "bonus features" of the DVD. --108.200.32.210 09:10, March 5, 2012 (UTC) Anthony Bertorelli
 * Bonus features are non-canon, and Madden shows up long after Data is destroyed anyway. What reason do you have to think that another officer wasn't chosen after the first choice died? - 09:17, March 5, 2012 (UTC)


 * Depends on whether or not Star Trek: Countdown was canon. SPQR (talk) 02:55, July 5, 2012 (UTC)


 * It's not. 31dot (talk) 09:21, July 5, 2012 (UTC)

He's Dead, Jim
... Jean.. whatever lol. everybody just leave Data's status as "deceased" until there is official confirmation from production staff that he's going to be revived again. It is actually very silly for them to keep him dead. He is an android, and although he desired so much to be human (obviously includes desiring mortality) he is an android and so they can simply build another one, make him identical, and then copy his memory files into the new android. Positronic brains are difficult to make, but at least his memory files are much more likely to be preserved since they are computer files. Data did this process with ease after deactivating Lal. If they ever bring him back, which is unlikely considering the current status of Star Trek ... leave the emotion chip behind. In Correct 19:44, March 23, 2012 (UTC)


 * Um...no one has attempted to change his status today, so I'm not sure what prompted this posting. No explanation is necessary as any resurrection is not canon.--31dot 21:15, March 23, 2012 (UTC)

You are right. I only read the previous debates... and I almost posted in one of those topics, and probably should have done so instead of creating this one. I am surprised that there was any question about it at all regarding his status. "destroyed or deceased". etc. In Correct 00:35, March 24, 2012 (UTC)
 * Some of that may come from the Countdown comic, where Data was resurrected(within B-4). --31dot 01:16, March 24, 2012 (UTC)

Data (Soong?)
I know he is an android, but if we continue to pretend Dr. Soong was his "father", doesn't that make him Data Soong? SPQR (talk) 02:49, July 5, 2012 (UTC)


 * No, because he was not called that. People today do not necessarily share the last names of either of their parents, especially the father in some  cases of single mothers. 31dot (talk) 09:09, July 5, 2012 (UTC)

Makeup tests
In the background section is the information that "Spiner went through 36 makeup tests". According to Michael Westmore (The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine Vol. 2, p. 48) he went through 24 makeup tests. Tom (talk) 00:36, November 23, 2012 (UTC)

Full name
In, Data's given name listed on his travel case, the technical schematics called up by Riker and his diploma from Starfleet Academy is NFN NMI Data (No Frist Name No Middle Initial). As this has appeared on screen, perhaps it should be listed in this article as his legal name, as well? Kyle C. Haight (talk) 02:51, August 2, 2013 (UTC)
 * Erm... no. He has no first name and no middle initial, but has a "last name" of... "Data." -- sulfur (talk) 03:07, August 2, 2013 (UTC)