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Tricorders
The tricorder is the standard portable multi-purpose scientific and
technical instrument developed for Starfleet.
It
incorporates sensor scanning, recording and information-processing
within the device for all Starfleet operatives. The initial concept
evolved out of a series of scanning devices issued by Starfleet in
circa 2230; intended to reduce the size and weight of equipment issued
to landing parties, these scanners incorporated both significant
amounts of internal data storage and a high degree of processing
capacity. By 2240 the various scanning functions of the series had
begun to be combined into a single unit; in 2248 a unit was fielded
which integrated scanning, processing and communications facilities.
Dubbed the "tri-function recorder", the official name was quickly
replaced by the more simple "tricorder".
Tricorder Variants
Many dozens of tricorder variants have been fielded over the 125 years
or so. Some, such as the psychotricorder, are optimized for specific
tasks - but specialization is not in keeping with tricorder design
philosophy, and most new models have simply increased the number of
functions and speed of the device while reducing the size and mass.
Over the decades the tricorder has proved to be one of the most
massively useful instruments in service with Starfleet. It's ability
to detect and classify a huge range of different types of phenomena
has become legendary, to the extent that Starfleet personnel
frequently remark that there seems to be little these handy devices
cannot do!
(Standard Medical Tricorder)
Tricorders Currently in Use by Federation Forces
Several models are currently in service; the TR-580 issued in 2358 is
now being phased out of service in favor of the more modern TR-590 X,
recently developed by Starfleet R&D. The TR-600 is currently in the
early field testing stages; delivery was expected to begin from 2380,
but Starfleet is reported to have speeded up the project and requested
modifications to increase capability against various types of stealth
technology, a measure clearly aimed at the Dominion war. After the
Dominion War, the project was quietly disbanded due to the recent
peace and work on a TR-610 are under way. However, Cadet Jeremy
Fleming, while studying Combat Mechanics at the academy (in
preparation for Marine training) stumbled upon the discarded specs of
the TR-600. Realizing its potential for Marine use, and more
importantly, it's use for a term paper, Fleming quietly developed the
TR-600 into a device geared for use in combat situations, and named it
the "Combat Tricorder". Upon receiving the term paper and the specs
Fleming had developed, Open up this Tricorder and see if you can use it?
Starfleet R&D quickly snatched it up and began
limited production for Security and Marine forces throughout
Starfleet.