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I expect this one to be short, but I’ve said that before. There are only two sections left, but I’m not going over the actual science section. I’d have to do a lot of fact-checking I don’t think either of us cares about and if you need to be told what a planet is you really shouldn’t be writing science fiction. Also, your teachers have a lot to answer for and I don’t just mean your science teacher. So this is the last section I’ll be reviewing, as we take a look at the ship’s computer. I’m oddly surprised that there is a section just to talk about the computer, but I guess they consider it rather important, even though it continues to be outdated with each new incarnation in the franchise.

While other actors have performed a ship’s computer voice over the years, Trek fans will most likely consider Majel Barrett’s (later Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) voice as that of the computer. Except when a different voice was used for certain situations (like the mirror universe or a “guest” computer) it was Barrett in the original series, the animated series (although on occasion Nichelle Nichols pinch-hit for TAS), and all three of the 24th century series. Her last appearance before her passing was in the first Abrams reboot movie.

The computer’s voice in the original and animated series was usually cold and mechanical, the only exceptions being the time they attempted to give it a more natural voice and when it malfunctioned. That first attempt at a less mechanical voice led to the computer flirting with Kirk, because he’s Captain Kirk and apparently his deal with the devil didn’t discriminate between organic and mechanical human. By the 24th-century they fixed the problem because you really didn’t want to hear the computer flirting with Picard. Besides, Beverly would be jealous. 🙂 So what was so special about the computer that the writer’s guide felt the need to give it a section of its own?

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