We all love Spock’s viewer on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. The mysterious viewer would give Spock all sorts of info to help Kirk and crew. However, was Spock’s viewer also an ergonomic danger? Well some Trekkie at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab created a handy infographic using lessons from Spock and Uhura to help with your monitor position.
Serenity Trek
A reader from the XADAMDX sent in this helpful infographic that was posted at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Best Placard EVER.
Spock seems to be ok today…but lol…
Slow news day…….
Crouching can be murder on your back.
I think the positioning of Spock’s moniter was somewhat for dramatic affect. It must be really important info if you have to squat like that to get it.
“Don’t Be a Spock”? Incorrect. Logically, Spock needs to be on his feet at all times in order to be prepared to defend the Captain from possible alien attack with his Vulcan Death Grip.
(Yes, I know there isn’t a VDG. But the aliens don’t.)
So the correct caption should be, “Don’t Be A Spock (Unless You ARE Spock).”
I guess I need to lower my monitor (or raise my chair).
Thanks Spock & Uhura!
In the future, we will be able to get new neck vertabrae (sp?). Here in the present, I had to learn the hard way. 20 something years of staring at a monitor takes its toll.
Heed the signs ye computer users!!!
Hilarious
Oh, I need to stop being a Spock then. I stand over my computer everyday.
I don’t know if bending over was for dramatic effect but the hooded viewer looked higher-tech than reading exposition from print-outs (as in “The Cage”) and it had the production advantage of making whatever Spock was looking at imaginary so graphics didn’t have to be made for the camera.
#6 – Vulcan NERVE pinch!
Its a pet hate of mine lol
^^ I know. But remember, Spock bluffed about the VDG in an episode. :-)
http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/7/17/128923247688796486.jpg
Never thought Spock would be “Goofus” to Uhura’s “Gallant.”
Uhura = comfort
Spock = PAAAAIN!!!!
Who is surprised by this?
I want a softcopy of this to keep on my desk all times!!
I always thought how uncomfortable it would be to have to use that viewer very long, bent over while standing like that.
Hee hee – great job whoever produced this!
#12 – Oh yes. Exactly, ‘cept I don’t get the pleasure of being knocked out. Just the pain. grin.
Vulcans have permanent hernias from bending at the waist all the time. That’s why they only have nookie once every seven years.
Maybe the original science officer assigned to the USS Enterprise was really short and Spock was his last-minute (taller) replacement! ; )
Funny how the (‘retro-modern’) TV series ENT even paid homage to this weird, eccentric design flaw as well (with T’Pol’s hooded viewer).
It is ‘illogical’, but it’s part of Star Trek’s kitschy charm!
#22
Perhaps Keenser spent some time on the bridge before TOS started?
Since TOS isn’t set in our timeline, but rather in one which diverged from our own after the 1960s, TOS technology isn’t as advanced as present-day technology in certain respects, hence the inability to present sensor data on the science station in a user-friendly form. It’s the apparent equivalent of looking through a microscope. There are many other examples, such as computers which need to rattle out answers in a robotic voice with unnecessary noise, typewritten text on monitors, etc.
24 — “typewritten text on monitors” — love it! :-) Also, that noise you heard was probably from a teletype. An oldie but goodie.
“Teletype” — Google it, kids. ;-) I remember seeing teletypes in action as a youngster.