Talk:Microtape

Name?
Uhh... were they ever actually called tapes? I'm sure a better name can be found for these things. --From Andoria with Love 23:33, 20 Sep 2005 (EDT)


 * Are these the same as Microtapes? Jaf 15:14, 27 March 2006 (UTC)Jaf


 * they were consistantly called "tapes" throughout the series, and thier mechanics were never discussed --The Rev 18:38, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

When is A Tape Not A Tape
When Star Trek was created, audio and video tape recording technology was just leaving its infancy, and while other storage media were alluded to (e.g., memory banks), it appears that no other term had the same appeal for the writers. Of course, "tape" might have has much connection to the actual medium as film or disks. If the use of the word "tape" is a mere sloppy colloquialism, then I point as evidence. The sheer delight on Sulu's face when he sees 1/2 inch computer tape at the air base can come only from someone whose technology is far beyond such things. --GNDN 03:27, 10 September 2006 (UTC)
 * That makes sense, especially because the production of the original series predates any technology that physically resembled them (floppy disks). From my observations and guesses, I believe that microtapes are like floppy disks that store a digital signal that holds so much data that it could resemble an analog signal (like sound on a cassette). Either I am right (to a certain extent) or you are right and microtape is a misnomer used as a colloquialism for the benefit of the audience at the time. Either way, those Microtapes/Cards/Tapes are not really based off of the tapes of the 60s. -- AzemOcram 00:55, May 31, 2011 (UTC)