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Star Trek: Picard: how Data died, and his appearance in Picard explained

The death of Data explained, and what his appearances in Picard mean

If you've been watching Star Trek : Picard, you may have a few questions about Data, the android who appears in Picard's dreams – and who may very well be the 'father' of new characters Dahj and Soji. Data was an important character in The Next Generation, which this new series is a direct continuation of, and he led an interesting life. So here's everything you need to know about Lieutenant Commander Data, including how he ultimately died in the movie Star Trek: Nemesis.

• How to watch Star Trek: Picard
• When is Star Trek: Picard episode 2 released?
• Our Star Trek: Picard episode 1 recap

Who is Data?

Data was an android designed by Dr. Noonian Soong, a brilliant cyberneticist. Other androids exist in the greater Star Trek universe, but Data's positronic brain gave him a greater depth and nuance of personality – to the point where the Federation considered him sentient, with the same rights as any biological being. 

Data was unable to feel emotion, however, and struggled to understand the many idiosyncrasies of the human race. But he was still capable of loyalty, wisdom, friendship and sensitivity, which earned him many friends when he served aboard the Federation starship Enterprise.

How did Data join Starfleet?

A mysterious alien life-form known as the Crystalline Entity destroyed a colony on the planet Omicron Theta, and Data's deactivated body was discovered among the debris by the USS Tripoli. He was revived by the Federation, and was accepted into Starfleet Academy when it became apparent that he had achieved a level of sentience never before seen in a synthetic being. 

Data graduated, despite the social challenges of being the only android in the academy, and served as an ensign aboard the USS Trieste, before being assigned to the Enterprise-D in 2364 – which is where we meet him in The Next Generation.

How did Data die in Star Trek: Nemesis?

Nemesis was the last of the Next Generation movies. Released in 2002, it starred Tom Hardy as Shinzon, a clone of Picard who stages a violent coup and becomes leader of the Romulan Empire. At the end of the movie, Data sacrifices his own life to save Picard's, destroying Shinzon's ship in the process. Before he died, Data downloaded his memories into a prototype Soong-type android, B-4. But this model's positronic brain was not as advanced as Data's, meaning he had none of his brother's individuality or personality: just raw memories.

How can Data be in Star Trek: Picard?

Brent Spiner reprises his role as Data in Star Trek: Picard, only in dreams so far. Picard is still haunted by the loss of his friend, and the heroic sacrifice he made to save his life. So whenever you see Data in the new series, it's Picard experiencing a vision; an echo of the past. But who knows what the rest of the series has in store? Perhaps we'll see a return of the old Data at some point in this story – although that might cheapen his sacrifice in Star Trek: Nemesis somewhat.

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Is Data still alive in Star Trek: Picard? 

Alas, the Data we knew from The Next Generation is gone forever. But a major plot point in season one of Picard is his memories – the ones he downloaded to B-4 – being used to create two 'daughters', Dahj and Soji. These android twins were designed by Dr. Bruce Maddox, a cyberneticist, using a process called fractal neuronic cloning. So while Lieutenant Commander Data of the USS Enterprise, lover of cats and Sherlock Holmes, is no more, his spirit lives on in them.

Star Trek: Picard is released every Thursday on CBS All Access in the US, and every Friday on Amazon Prime internationally. 

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Star Trek: Who Created Data And What Happened To Him?

In the long history of "Star Trek," few characters are as beloved by fans as the android Data (Brent Spiner). A cybernetic being powered by a positronic brain, Data served as second officer on Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) U.S.S. Enterprise, the setting of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." But while fans got to spend time with Data over the many episodes of TV and movies in which he appeared, far less is known about his reclusive creator, Doctor Noonian Soong (also Brent Spiner).

Indeed, the story of Data's creation by Soong is documented in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and additional information has been included in other movies and series, most recently "Star Trek: Picard." We've learned that the cyberneticist came from a long line of geniuses who worked to create new life forms using science, not all of whom were pure of heart. Indeed, Soong himself was driven by an obsession that lasted until his final moments. Though he was declared a madman and considered a disgrace by Federation scientists, he continued his work in secret. Eventually, he was destroyed by his own creations.

The mad cyberneticist Noonian Soong made Data and his evil twin Lore

Doctor Noonian Soong came from a long lineage of mad cybernetics experts, and they were engaged in some questionable experiments long before Data was assembled. Soong's ancestor, Adam Soong (Brent Spiner once again) went so far as to create a series of clones. All of them died with the exception of one, Kore, and he spun the fiction that he was her father in the traditional sense of the word. That history was depicted in Season 2 of "Star Trek: Picard." Adam may even have been connected to the creation of the villain Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), but that's a story for another time. Later, in the "Star Trek" timeline's 22nd century, Adam's descendant, Arik Soong, picked up the torch of genetic and cybernetic experimentation. The character was featured in multiple episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise."

This lineage eventually culminated with Data's progenitor, Noonian Soong, who worked in secret alongside his wife, Juliana O'Donnell (Fionnula Flanagan) to perfect his research and create the fan-favorite android. But Data was actually the fifth such android Soong built. The first three were far less capable and much closer to mindless robots. His breakthrough came with the fourth attempt, Data's evil brother Lore . Ultimately, it was Soong's fifth android, Data, whom the scientist considered to be the apex of his work. Unlike Lore, who had emotions but lacked a sense of ethics and therefore was a loose cannon, Data was not given the emotional programming, allowing him to function within certain ethical parameters.

Data's brother Lore killed their creator

Ultimately, it was Noonian Soong's own work that killed him. His fourth android, Lore, was much like Data but without the sense of ethics that kept him from being corrupted. Over time, Lore developed a deep resentment for his father figure, believing that Soong was playing favorites and preferred Data. Lore's paranoia was further confirmed when he learned that Soong was secretly developing an emotion chip for Data. The actual reason for this was that Soong mistakenly believed that Lore was disassembled and functionally dead, so he had no reason to work on Lore's own upgrades.

When Soong sent out a signal summoning Data to Terlina III, where he had secretly been furthering his cybernetic experiments, it also drew Lore's attention, and the two brothers converged on the planet in the Season 4 "The Next Generation" episode "Brothers." After Soong reveals in the episode that he'd created an emotion chip for Data, Lore's jealousy grows. He deactivates Data, then impersonates him in order to receive the emotion chip for himself. But since the chip wasn't meant for him, Lore becomes unstable and attacks the already sickly Soong.

In Soong's final moments, he compares Lore to the biblical Esau, Jacob's evil sibling who impersonated his brother to receive a false inheritance from their blind father, Isaac. But as Data, rescued by William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), comes to the aid of his dying creator, he finally refers to Soong as "father."

Bruce Maddox & Connection To Data In Star Trek: TNG & Picard Explained

• Dr. Bruce Maddox wanted to dismantle Data, viewing him as property, on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Maddox realized Data's sentience and became friends with him.
• Maddox continued Data's legacy by building more androids in Star Trek: Picard like Data's 'daughters', Dahj and Soji.

Introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) was a cyberneticist who became fascinated with Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and his positronic brain. Maddox had studied the work of Data's creator, Dr. Noonian Soong (Brent Spiner), and wanted to build more androids like Data. As the second officer of the USS Enterprise-D, Data had already proven himself to Starfleet Academy and to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). When Data first entered the Academy, Bruce Maddox was the only one to object, claiming that Data was not sentient.

Whereas Dr. Soong viewed Data and his other androids as his children, Maddox viewed Data as a machine or a tool that Starfleet could use to its benefit. Data's fellow crew members on the Enterprise saw him as their friend and coworker first before they thought of him as an android. In his initial visit to the Enterprise, Maddox saw Data as an object rather than a person and sought to forcibly have Data dismantled so that the android could be further studied. As Maddox learned more about Data and began a correspondence with him, he later changed his mind about Data's sentience.

Data's 10 Best TNG & Star Trek Picard Episodes

Bruce maddox tried & failed to enslave in data in star trek: tng, maddox is far from likable in his first star trek appearance..

When Dr. Bruce Maddox arrives on the Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation's classic "The Measure of a Man," Maddox is clear that he intends to dismantle Data for further study. As this would effectively end Data's life, the android understandably refuses, but Maddox claims that Data is the property of Starfleet and cannot make his own decisions. Maddox is rude and dismissive toward Data, referring to him as an "it" and disregarding any objections Data makes about Maddox's experiment. Captain Picard vehemently refutes the claim that Data is property, leading to one of Star Trek's best courtroom dramas , as well as one of Picard's best speeches.

Maddox's desire to create hundreds or even thousands of androids could lead to a race of disposable workers who have no rights.

When Picard seeks advice on how best to defend Data's right to choose, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) points out the dangerous implications of a ruling that would see Data as property. Regardless of Data's status as a machine, Maddox's desire to create hundreds or even thousands of androids could lead to a race of disposable workers who have no rights. In other words, a race of slaves. This is the sticking point that prompts the Judge Advocate General, Captain Philippa Louvois (Amanda McBroom), to rule that Data has the right to choose. Even Maddox seems swayed by Picard's argument, as his final words about Data are: " He's remarkable."

Data & Bruce Maddox Became Friends In Star Trek: TNG

Data and maddox exchanged letters throughout tng..

Data holds no hard feelings toward Maddox and seems to enjoy having someone to write to about his continued observations about humanity.

Although Bruce Maddox does not appear again on Star Trek: The Next Generation, he is mentioned several times. Sometime after the events of "The Measure of a Man," Maddox strikes up a correspondence with Data, looking to learn more about Data's programming and the way his positronic brain operates. Data holds no hard feelings toward Maddox and seems to enjoy having someone to write to about his continued observations about humanity. Maddox, for his part, puts his plans to dismantle Data on hold, choosing instead to get to know the android by actually talking to him.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 11, "Data's Day," Data composes a letter to Dr. Maddox, detailing "a complete record of [his] activities during a normal day." The day in question is a busy one, as Data prepares for the marriage of his friends Keiko (Rosalind Chao) and Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney), and investigates the death of a Vulcan Ambassador. Throughout "Data's Day," Data works on the letter, telling Maddox about his difficulties with social interactions and friendships, and expressing his desire to discover his own humanity.

Data finally achieved a version of humanity in Star Trek: Picard season 3, after he received a newly upgraded synthetic body built by Dr. Altan Soong.

Bruce Maddox Built Data’s Daughters & More Androids In Star Trek: Picard

Maddox continued researching data's positronic brain technology..

Star Trek: Picard season 1 revealed Dr. Bruce Maddox (John Ales) became a cyberneticist at the Daystrom Institute's Division of Advanced Synthetic Research, where Maddox continued to build on the technology used to create Data. He recruited Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill), and the two developed a fractal neuronic cloning technique that could be used to create two identical androids from a single positronic neuron. After a group of synths seemingly went rogue in 2385 and attacked Mars , the creation or use of synthetic life was banned by the United Federation of Planets. Maddox then discreetly moved his work to the planet Coppelius.

After Data's death in Star Trek: Nemesis , Dr. Bruce Maddox continued his friend's android legacy by building evolved synthetic androids from Data's positronic neuron.

On Coppelius, Maddox worked with Dr. Altan Soong (Brent Spiner), the son of Noonian Soong, to create a community of organic androids. Maddox soon became convinced that the attack on Mars had been part of a conspiracy, so he used one of Data's positronic neurons to create Soji and Dahj Asha (Isa Briones) - essentially Data's 'daughters' - to uncover the truth. Soji and Dahj believed themselves to be human, and they collected information while remaining unaware of their true mission. Maddox then left Coppelius and eventually found himself the captive of the cruel crime boss, Bjayzl (Necar Zadegan). Admiral Picard and his friends rescued Maddox only for Agnes Jurati to kill him after having been manipulated by the undercover Romulan Tal Shiar operative, Commodore Oh (Tamlyn Tomita).

Commodore Oh is later revealed to have orchestrated the attack on Mars, due to her allegiance to the Zhat Vash, a secret Romulan cabal whose main goal is to destroy all synthetic life.

Two Actors Played Bruce Maddox In Star Trek: TNG & Picard

Bruce maddox was played by brian brophy & john ales..

Brian Brophy portrayed Dr. Bruce Maddox for his one appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and John Ales played the older Maddox in one episode of Star Trek: Picard . Brian Brophy appeared in many television shows and movies throughout the 1990s, including the 1992 film The Player , alongside fellow Trek actor Whoopi Goldberg . He had a small role in 1994's The Shawshank Redemption and 1998's Armageddon . Since 2008, Brophy has served as the Director of Theater Arts at the California Institute of Technology.

Before taking on the role of Bruce Maddox, John Ales appeared in episodes of many popular television series, including Burn Notice, Law & Order: SVU, Bosch, and Sneaky Pete . He co-starred in the FX drama Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, appeared in the Netflix miniseries True Story , and played David Vaughn in nine episodes of HBO's Euphoria . John Ales remains active in Hollywood, having most recently appeared in the films The Blind and American Fiction , as well as an episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon . Bruce Maddox may have only officially appeared in two episodes of Star Trek , but the cyberneticist certainly left his mark on Data and the Star Trek franchise.

Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Picard are available to stream on Paramount+.

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Writers Gene Roddenberry

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Data did age: tng's android retcon explained.

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Ronald D. Moore's First Star Trek Episode Foreshadowed His DS9 & Battlestar Galactica Future

It's taken star wars 47 years to figure out the most obvious thing about the jedi, max's new doc with 100% on rotten tomatoes is a bizarre real-life version of succession.

Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner) was initially presented as being ageless, but a late series retcon made it possible for the beloved android to eventually grow old. The product of the brilliant cyberneticist Dr. Noonian Soong (Brent Spiner), Data's journey to become more human was one of TNG 's most reliably potent storylines. Spiner's subtle, largely emotionless performance somehow managed to range from hilarious to heartbreaking.

Part of Data's existence that he had trouble accepting was his effective immortality. He once remarked to TNG 's resident counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) that he eventually hoped to marry one day, but was concerned that he would not be able to grow old with his eventual partner. Despite Data's agelessness becoming a plot point on more than one occasion, TNG subtly changed that aspect of the character in a late series episode, seemingly for pragmatic reasons.

Related: Picard Season 3 Will Likely Ignore Worf & Troi's Romance

Data's Aging & TNG Retcon Explained

Data wasn't the only android Dr. Soong created. Data was preceded by Lore (Brent Spiner), his evil twin brother who menaced the crew of the Enterprise-D on more than one occasion. Even earlier than Lore, Soong created B-4 (Brent Spiner), a prototype android discovered in Star Trek: Nemesis that looked identical to Data and Lore but was much less sophisticated.

In the TNG season 7 episode "Inheritance," Data met Juliana Tainer (Fionnula Flanagan), who claimed to be the wife of the late Dr. Soong who had helped him develop his androids. Tainer was eventually revealed to be an android herself, a recreation of the real Juliana Tainer who died when Soong's colony planet was attacked by the Crystaline Entity. While examining the Tainer android, Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) noted she had an aging program - just like Data. This was the first and only mention of Data having an aging program.

Why Data Aging Has Been Forgotten By Star Trek Fans

The retcon of Data's aging has a fairly obvious explanation. While TNG was ending with season 7, the cast and producers realized they were likely looking at a decade or so of movies featuring the TNG cast, with Star Trek Generations already in pre-production. Brent Spiner was 45 by TNG season 7, and already looked a bit older than he did during TNG 's early seasons . The aging retcon was an easy way to keep Data around indefinitely without having to worry about Spiner's appearance.

This retcon has more or less been forgotten by fans, largely due to the TNG movies themselves effectively ignoring it. Part of the justification for Data's death in Star Trek: Nemesis was the idea that Spiner didn't feel he could continue playing an ageless character any longer. Modern visual effects trickery was utilized to make the 70-year-old Spiner look about like he did in the TNG films when he returned for Star Trek: Picard in dream sequences and a virtual simulation. Data's untimely demise is likely the worst and most long-lasting aspect of the disappointing Star Trek: Nemesis , especially considering Star Trek: The Next Generation gave him a perfectly good excuse to grow old with his Enterprise-D family.

More: The Entire TNG Crew Should Survive Picard Season 3

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Star Trek: Picard's premiere reveals new Android life and digs deep into Trek canon

Credit: CBS

Philip K. Dick may have famously wondered if androids dream of electric sheep, but Star Trek: Picard is wondering why ex-starship Captains dream about dead androids. In the opening scene to the newest ongoing Star Trek series, Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) dreams of the deceased synthetic life form with a heart of gold, Lt. Commander Data ( Brent Spiner ). Later, Picard tells his Romulan housekeepers that "the dreams are lovely... it's the waking up I'm beginning to resent."

Jean-Luc is waking up to a changed Star Trek world, one that has taken various stories about A.I. from Star Trek: The Next Generation and given that future a hard left turn.

But, fear not Trekkie purists! None of this means that the fragile Star Trek canon has been changed, and in fact, all this new android stuff has a precedent. Here's how the plot of Picard has reimagined Trek 's androids, and in doing so, rediscovered the wonder of one of science fiction's oldest conundrums: What happens when you make the perfect synthetic human?

**Spoiler Alert: There are spoilers below for Star Trek: Picard Season 1, Episode 1: "Remembrance."**

After dreaming of playing poker with Data aboard the USS Enterprise-D , we find Jean-Luc Picard at his family's wine vineyard, in La Barre, France. In case you forgot, despite his English accent, the character Jean-Luc Picard is French, which is why he has a French name and loves red wine. Jean-Luc is having a rough time, and things get even rowdier as we cut from 24th century France to 24th century Boston. Here we meet a bright young student named Dahj (Isa Briones), who is giving her boyfriend the good news that she just got accepted into the Daystrom Institute.

If you remember your Star Trek history , you might recall this is a really prestigious tech hotspot in the future. And, if you really remember your Star Trek history, you also might remember the Daystrom Institute gets its name from a guy named Richard Daystrom, who, in the original series episode "The Ultimate Computer," invented an A.I. that was supposed to run a starship — then, that A.I. started killing everyone until Kirk yelled at it. So, if hearing the word "Daystrom" makes you worried about rogue computers and killer robots, you're right! Because soon, Dahj and her boyfriend are attacked by helmeted thugs who are worried about her "activating."

Pretty soon, she activates , and like Trinity in The Matrix , easily takes out all of her attackers. From that point, the writing's pretty much on the wall: Dahj is some kind of android, and for some reason, she has visions of Picard. While this is going on, Jean-Luc gives a cranky interview to an interstellar news service that has promised not to ask him why he left Starfleet and then asks him why he left Starfleet. We're led to believe this news is for the people of the Federation, but really clever exposition for the audience.

See,14 years prior, Picard was all set to rescue the Romulans from a giant supernova (thanks for that, J.J. Abrams ) but his plan got canceled after a bunch of Synths (a word now interchangeable with androids) went bananas on Mars and destroyed the rescue armada specifically built for this purpose. To this day, no one knows why the Synths went rogue, but all synthetic lifeforms were subsequently banned, and the Romulans were not rescued. Seemingly in protest, Picard left Starfleet, and at this point, is still clearly pretty ticked-off about all of it.

After walking out of the interview like a '90s British pop star, Jean-Luc has a glass of wine with his dog and quotes Shakespeare from All's Well That Ends Well .

Spoiler alert: Things do not end well.

Dahj finds Picard, and fairly quickly he decides that he's going to take care of her. After everybody has some tea and wine, Picard goes to bed and again dreams of Data. This time, though, his former android shipmate is asking him to help finish paint an oil painting. When Picard wakes up (he wakes up three times in this episode to be clear), he realizes he has a version of this painting in his house, and another version of the painting hidden away in what can only be called a high tech storage unit at Starfleet Headquarters. Dahj has mysteriously vanished, but Jean-Luc is way more interested in figuring out why he's dreaming of this painting.

In the one in his house, you can't see the face of the person in the painting, but when he hits up his storage unit, Picard finds another nearly identical painting, but this one has a face and it's Dahj. The painting is called "daughter."

Picard and Dr. Jurati (Alison Pill) talk human-looking androids. (Credit: CBS)

Suddenly, Picard runs into Dahj, who followed him from France all the way to San Francisco, presumably by beaming around, but we're not really worried about that. Picard is convinced she's an android, and basically tells her this. Dahj doesn't accept it at first, but they don't have time to worry about it because pretty soon the thugs are back, and they're out to kill Dahj.

In the episode's biggest twist, these thugs — who are revealed to be Romulans — are successful. Dahj is blown up by a giant bomb. Jean-Luc wakes up for a third time, back at his house in France, but this time, none of that was a dream. It all really happened. Picard then hightails it to the Daystrom Institue in Okinawa where he meets a robotics expert named Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill).

Jurati's got nothing to do all day because studying actual androids has been banned, so Picard wants her to tell him how a flesh and blood android — who looks human inside and out — could be possible. She reveals to Picard that one of her colleagues, Bruce Maddox, was maybe fooling around with making secret fractal android clones. Bruce Maddox previously only appeared in one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation — "The Measure of a Man" — in which Maddox briefly tried to rob Data of his autonomy, so, yes, this is a very deep Trekkie cut.

Eventually, after Picard shows Jurati Dahj's necklace, it's revealed that this special kind of android could be created in pairs; meaning, there is a second version of Dahj out there somewhere. From there, we cut to Romulan space, where a young woman who looks exactly like Dahj — and is called "Dr. Asha" — is working at some place called the "Romulan Reclamation Site." But, when the camera pulls back, this reclamation site is clearly a Borg ship . And cut to credits.

Data's "mom"; Dr. Juliana Tainer (Fionnula Flanagan)

The return of the Borg ship is a pretty neat cliffhanger, but it's also not the big news.

From the trailers, we knew the Borg would be back, so that wasn't much of a shock. What is a shock is that Picard is floating a new kind of Star Trek android that is nearly exactly like older androids with one big difference: Presumably, Dahj (and her "sister" Soji) don't know they are androids, and would never be identified as such because any medical scan would make them look perfectly human.

Star Trek has come close to giving us this kind of android before, but not quite. Juliana Tainer (Fionnula Flanagan), a duplicate of Data's own human "mother" in the TNG episode "Inheritance," was similar: An android who believed she was human up until the moment the circuits in her head were revealed. In the original series episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?," the deranged Dr. Roger Korby makes an android duplicate of Captain Kirk before it is eventually revealed that he, too, is an android duplicate of himself, complete with wires hanging out of his damaged hand. Androids that are supposed to pass for humans are also employed by con-man Harry Mudd in both Short Treks and the original series episode "I, Mudd."

And, yes, Data has had a daughter before, the android Lal (Hallie Todd), who was constructed by Data in "The Offspring," but tragically "died" because Data couldn't figure out how to make her positronic brain stable. Lal also knew exactly what she was, and had no delusions that she was android.

So, all of these previous Star Trek androids are close to the idea of Dahj and Soji, but with one crucial difference: They all had very visible circuitry once you got down to it. Other than her superhuman strength and classic Data processing speeds, Dahj bleeds like a human and, perhaps more importantly, thinks she is human. This makes her more like a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica or the replicants from Blade Runner than anything we've ever seen on Trek .

And yet, even those comparisons aren't quite right.

Two of these three people are androids. (Credit: CBS)

The episode begins with Picard wondering if Data has a "tell" during a game of poker. Most secret androids in all forms of science fiction tend to have a tell: circuits that spill out, robotic voices, or the deep need to say "affirmative" instead of "yes."

The Cylons on Battlestar had glowing red spines sometimes, and even the Replicants in Blade Runner were susceptible to the famous Voight-Kampff test that proved they were synthetic. Westworld hosts look human but underneath their skin, they all have very "robotic" exoskeletons and very obvious robot brains. So, although Picard is standing on the shoulders of all this Star Trek canon and a ton of other science fiction precedents that came before, these "flesh and blood" androids are the show's way of forging a path ahead.

With these robots, there's no "tell." At all. It's a small, subtle difference, but it is, in its own small way, a tiny bit of new blood in a long line of robot stories. These androids are virtually indistinguishable from humans. We can't tell them apart from us, and they're dreaming about humans.

The subtle change Star Trek: Picard has made to the robot formula is straightforward but smart. If robots were real, but there was nothing about them that was different other than their abilities and how they were made, would they still count as robots? It's not a new question per se, but Picard presents it in an innovative and elegant way. This may not be an entirely new, strange world of androids, but Star Trek: Picard is exploring it boldly.

• Star Trek: Picard

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Brent Spiner

IMDbPro Starmeter See rank

• Contact info
• 3 wins & 8 nominations

• Dr. Brakish Okun

• Bob Wheeler

• Commander Data
• Adam Soong ...
• 14 episodes

• The Joker (voice)
• 19 episodes

• Ned Vanderhoff

• Dr. Emry (uncredited)

• Edward Nigma
• Riddler (voice)

• 17 episodes

• The Architect

• Puck (voice, uncredited)

• The Sandman

Personal details

• Brent Mintz
• 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
• February 2 , 1949
• Houston, Texas, USA
• Loree McBride ? - present (1 child)
• Parents Sylvia Schwartz
• Other works In 1997-98, he starred as John Adams in a revival of the Broadway musical, "1776".
• 7 Interviews
• 15 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

• Trivia He is one of two actors, the other being Patrick Stewart Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) regular to share scenes with all three original Star Trek (1966) series cast members who appeared on that series: DeForest Kelley , Leonard Nimoy and James Doohan .
• Quotes [on his action figure of Lt. Commander Data] At first, I was reluctant. But then I figured, if it's good enough for Alec Guinness , then it's good enough for me.
• Trademark Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
• Star Trek: Insurrection ( 1998 ) $5,000,000
• How old is Brent Spiner?
• When was Brent Spiner born?
• Where was Brent Spiner born?

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Android Police

The galaxy z flip3 is samsung's latest foldable to become a star trek: picard prop.

Make it fold

A longstanding urban legend had it that the invention of the cell phone was inspired by communicators seen on Star Trek, the original series that premiered in 1966. That proved untrue , which is too bad — real 21st century mobile devices showing up as props in a Trek spinoff in 2022 would've felt like coming full circle. And indeed, that's just what we're getting now, as Star Trek: Picard uses another Samsung foldable smartphone as a futuristic prop — for the second week in a row.

The series follows the post-retirement adventures of Star Trek: Next Generation captain turned admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart). It's currently in its second season, and we already saw it feature a Samsung Galaxy Fold standing in for one of the Trek universe's Personal Access Display Devices, a.k.a. PADDs.

It turns out the prop department was only just getting started, and as 9to5Google spotted , episode 3 features a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 as a tricorder (a future device that scans the environment and records and analyzes data). We see the Flip3 used as a medical scanner in the hands of Dr. Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill) and later on an away mission by Rafaella "Raffi" Musiker (Michelle Hurd). We can clearly spot the crease in the middle, the front-facing camera is apparent under the display, and the Z Flip's smaller bezels are all pretty obvious.

Without giving away too much about this season's plot lines, let's just say that it doesn't seem unreasonable that we might spot other Samsung tech — or even more smartphones — popping up in the weeks to come. Sharp-eyed fans of the show who are familiar with Samsung's lineup should be on the lookout.

Star Trek  TM : The Original Series

Bluetooth ® communicator prop replica, the wand company is proud to present our star trek: the original series bluetooth communicator. this exceptionally accurate and highly detailed working replica was revealed on thinkgeek’s booth at san diego comic-con in july 2015., our new communicator is an advanced bluetooth enabled speakerphone that is compatible with all bluetooth enabled communications equipment worldwide, such as mobile phones and music players..

Highly accurate: Created from 3D scans of the last known hero prop

Fully functional: Easy to pair with any Bluetooth compatible mobile phone

Authentic function: Use the classic flip action to answer calls

High quality: Die-cast zinc, CNC machined aluminium, iridescent coated jewels

Contactless charging: Built-in lithium polymer battery

Immersive play features:  17 new authentic voice clips and 3 Original Series Communicator sound FX

Gorgeous transit case : Moulded foam lined transit case and leatherette pouch

beautifully presented

The Communicator prop replica is protected from damage and kept in pristine condition (when not on display) in a high quality, moulded-foam-lined presentation case. Manufactured in hard-wearing engineering-grade ABS, the case is also designed to stack as if supplied from the original Enterprise. When on the move, a leatherette pouch protects it from scuffing.

quality materials

High-quality materials are brought together to create an exceptionally well-finished Communicator replica that looks and feels like it means business: CNC-machined aluminium; nickel-plated die-cast zinc; punched, pressed and welded steel; thermoplastic polyurethane rubber; ABS plastic with a digitally created texture.

the ultimate collectible

Whether you have just discovered Star Trek  or have been hooked since you were a kid, this Communicator is something that you just have to own. Researched, designed and built with fanatical attention to detail, the simplicity of its embossed, die-cast, magnetic, wireless charging stand presents and charges this iconic piece with style.

the fantasy made real

Designed from the first 3D structured light scans of the last known hero screen-used Communicator prop, this amazing replica boasts a host of exciting features such as a silent rotating moiré pattern, AB-coated iridescent jewels and, authentic voice clips arranged in sentence fragments for immersive play, while also being a fully-functional Bluetooth enabled handset.

The Wand Company’s attention to detail combined with state-of-the-art technology brings the fantasy to life

This Original Series  Bluetooth Communicator is not a toy: it is an advanced, Bluetooth wireless technology enabled communications device, designed to pair with a mobile phone and thus permit near instantaneous person-to-person communication at a considerable distance. When paired with a device capable of streaming music, the Communicator may also be used as a wireless music speaker.

This Communicator has been developed to give its owner the maximum level of enjoyment; designed using extremely accurate 3D scans of one of the last remaining communicator hero props from the 1960s Original Series television show, dedicated attention to detail, the use of authentic materials, textures and finishes and the tireless support and extraordinarily deep knowledge of HeroComm.com so generously given to us, has resulted in a fully functioning, display grade product that is highly faithful to the original prop.

The Communicator is robust enough to be used in play and cosplay. With its authentic sound effects and original voice clips, the Communicator provides plenty of opportunity for in-universe interaction and fun, and of course its Bluetooth functionality enables it to be used exactly as it was always intended – as a person-to-person communications device. The Communicator is not a walkie-talkie. In order to use it to talk to another person, you will also need a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone (or internet phone) that can make and receive telephone calls.

Pairing and using the Communicator with a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone to receive and make calls is straightforward

Pairing with a mobile phone is a simple procedure.

Once the Communicator is paired with a phone, just flip open the antenna grille to answer an incoming call.

Press and hold the right-hand button to initiate voice dialling (or to access other functions available via voice-activated assistants such as Siri on iPhones, Google Now on Android or Cortana on Windows phones).

Double-click the right-hand button to pause and play music.

20 authentic Star Trek voice clips and Communicator sound FX can be accessed at any time via the right-hand 5-way jog button.

What people are saying about the Communicator

The Verge The little device was actually designed using one of the original props from Star Trek, and is composed of a combination of pressed metal, aluminum, and textured plastic. Without having actually lived through the 1960s, I thought it felt authentic — weighty and purposeful for people in Starfleet. The grill flips opens with the actual sound effects from the show, and the speaker and transceiver make it look truly like a 23rd century artifact.

The Thrillist That sound you may have heard earlier today? The excited sobs of Trekkies everywhere when they saw that this bad boy is soon going to be a reality. The Wand Company just threw down a certified replica of the iconic Star Trek Original Series Communicator. A fully-functioning certified replica. Yeah!

Gizmodo This Bluetooth-equipped Star Trek Communicator is going to enable my bad habits even further—and my friends will hate me for it. Created by The Wand Company, a toy outfit that has a penchant for designing nerd treasure with actual real-world function.

Pocket Now Here’s where things get intense. The Wand Company wasn’t content merely to kick out a slightly refined version of the communicator toys we’ve seen for years; rather, building on the reproduction expertise it demonstrated with its earlier phaser remote control, it’s made the Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator a fully-fledged, museum-quality replica.

The Trek Collective …it is also probably the best reproduction of that prop ever offered.

Our customers

“It’s so great that you build all that stuff from the original show!!! Thanks for that!! I will buy some!”

“I wish I could high five each and everyone one of you at The Wand Company you all def deserve!”

“This is absolutely amazing. I just got through studying it. Heck, even the diagram is fantastic. I can’t imagine how great it will be to actually hold one of these in my hands.”

“I am very much looking forward to this, if it works like I hope it works, I may never talk directly on my phone again!”

“I’ve never even watched Star Trek and I honestly want this. Looks awesome.”

“This is awesome, Wand Company! Have wanted one of these for a long time and this was a great surprise when I came across it today! Every one of your products so far has been great! Keep it up!”

“I’ve been involved in the Star Trek prop-building community for a long time, and this is the holy grail. Commercially available “replicas” made up to this point have been pretty lackluster…and come in at many times the price of this and had no practical functionality at all.”

“This will look fantastic sitting next to my Phaser can’t wait.”

“Wow. You are spoiling us now….but THANK YOU!!! An already top quality product just got better!”

A Communicator that really works is a dream come true for fans who have waited 50 years for the function of this iconic prop to be realised.

Ever since James Tiberius Kirk flipped that gold-coloured antenna grille, called the Enterprise’s Chief Engineer orbiting 1000 kilometres above him, and asked to be beamed up, every Star Trek fan, in fact pretty much every science fiction fan, has wistfully dreamed of having a working Communicator of their own.

The Communicator didn’t just excite fans with a sense of what the future might hold for them: it actually inspired engineers to boldly go and create that future. Martin Cooper, the engineer working at Motorola credited with creating the world’s first mobile phone in 1973, said it was Kirk’s iconic prop that inspired him to create it.

The mobile phone has changed the way that the human race interacts. Mobile phones now dominate one-to-one and one-to-many communications; but still nothing can compare with the utter magic of putting yourself into the mindset of an intrepid 23rd century Starfleet landing party and flipping that golden antenna grille to answer an incoming call with the classic Communicator chirp, or speaking through the Communicator to your ship’s computer to ask it to dial and connect you with one of your friends.

For all those fans that dreamed, now at last the wait is over – owning is believing!

The Communicator has sold out

Unfortunately you can’t currently purchase a new Communicator as the last production batch has sold through. We hope we will be able to make more in the future. If we do we will announce that on our social channels.

Is the Communicator a walkie talkie?

Can i receive phone calls on the communicator, can i make phone calls on the communicator, what batteries does the communicator use.

• Is the Communicator a ``screen-accurate`` replica?

Can I use any USB cable to power up the charging stand?

Frequently-asked questions.

Look down this list of frequently-asked questions to find answers that will help you if you are thinking of buying a Communicator and want to learn more about how it works.

No, the Communicator is a Bluetooth enabled handset. This means that the Communicator can wirelessly send and receive audio to and from a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone (or Bluetooth enabled music player) within a range of about five metres. Therefore, in order to use the Communicator to talk to other people, you will need a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone with which the Communicator will have to be paired and connected.

Yes, provided you have a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone and the Communicator is paired with it, within range and connected to it.

When a call comes in, the Communicator will play the hailing beep and flipping open the antenna grille will answer the call.

The Communicator does not have a numeric keypad or graphical display, so calls may only be initiated via the Communicator if it is paired with and connected to a mobile phone that supports voice dialing from a hands-free Bluetooth headset, or by using the ‘last number redial’ function (see below).

To make a call:

Single click the right button to initiate voice dialing.

Once voice dialing is initiated the Communicator will play speech prompts and confirmation tones from your mobile through the Communicator’s speaker and your mobile phone will use the Communicator’s microphone.

For some phones, an internet connection is required for voice dialing.

IMPORTANT: Please check your mobile phone’s user manual to find out if your mobile phone supports voice dialing from a Bluetooth headset, and best way to activate and use it. There are some mobile phones that can only use voice dialing if a key is pressed on the mobile phone to initiate voice dialing. You will not be able to use a phone like this for voice dialing from the Communicator. Also, identical mobile phones may handle remote voice dialing differently depending on what version of operating system software they currently have installed.

Last number redial

Press and hold the right button for last number redial. This can be useful where your mobile phone doesn’t support remote voice dialing, but you would still like to make a call from your Communicator.

What batteries does the Communicator use?

The Communicator has a built-in rechargeable lithium polymer power cell that is recharged via the USB cable supplied with the Communicator. (Any good quality USB to micro-USB cable may also be used). The Communicator handset is charged by placing it on the charging base and held in place by magnetic catches.

Is the Communicator a “screen-accurate” replica?

For most users the answer is a definite “Yes!”. We have spent thousands of hours and taken great care to make this Communicator replica as accurate as possible to the last known screen-used hero prop that Shatner and Nimoy used in the original series of Star Trek. In order to make it so accurate we took high-resolution 3D structured light scans of the “Alpha” original hero prop. To complement the “Alpha” scans we took numerous photographs and measurements, 3D laser scanned the “Epsilon” static screen-used prop, and took castings from (and weighed the components of) the “Zeta” static prop. We also made use of HeroComm.com’s extensive access to samples of authentic original materials, which were kindly loaned to us to make sure that our Communicator not only followed the data of the original accurately, but also captured the nuances of the original prop’s intention.

However, in order to make the Communicator manufacturable and more affordable, and to iron out some of the original’s inconsistencies, we have had to make some slight changes, and as such, this replica may be considered to be an idealised version of the original hero prop.

The original hero prop was made from a range of different materials including thermoformed Kydex sheet material, brass, and aluminium. In order to keep the cost as reasonable as possible we have used the nearest equivalent material that is suitable for modern manufacturing methods. Where metal was used in the construction of the hero prop, we have used metal in the Communicator replica.

The Main Housing

The hero prop’s main housing was made by thermoforming a sheet of Kydex material over a specially shaped tool. The Kydex had a particular pattern designed to replicate a pigskin texture. Due to the process, the texture stretched slightly at the sides, where the sheet was drawn down over the steeper draft angles of the housing. Our Communicator could not be made using thermoforming due to the need for internal fixings, so as a result our replica’s housing is made from injection-moulded ABS. However, the Kydex pattern was carefully reproduced using an advanced 3D laser etching process to create the pattern on the surface of the mould tool. One of the benefits of using this process is that we were able to measure the distortion of the original sheet material and recreate it on the texture of the injection-moulded part.

The Antenna Grille

The hero prop’s antenna grille was made by forming a sheet of perforated brass to give it its distinctive rounded-corner box shape. This was then soldered onto a brass wire that was glued into the turned brass hinge axle. For our Communicator for the purposes of robustness we have used steel for the grille and the supporting wire and coated it in a gold metallic finish. The hinge axle is die cast zinc.

The Mid-Plate

The hero prop’s mid-plate was a simple shape cut out of a sheet of aluminium. While our Communicator’s mid-plate looks identical on the outside, inside the Communicator it has a complex design that is a structural element, providing a fixing for many internal parts and a strong hinge stop for the antenna grille. As a result our Communicator’s mid-plate is manufactured in die-cast zinc, causing the overall weight of our replica to be around 27 grams heavier than the screen-used “Alpha” hero prop.

The Moiré Bezel

In the hero prop, where aluminium was used for the bezel, we have copied this exactly using CNC-machined aerospace-grade aluminium. On the “Alpha” hero prop, the bezel was mounted not quite centrally onto the top of the housing – we have corrected this imperfection for our product.

The hero prop’s jewels were Swarovski jewels mounted on the upturned ends of vacuum metallised slot car wheel hubs. The left and right jewels were sputter coated in gold to give them an iridescent AB (Aurora Borealis) look. The hero prop jewels did not light up and were prone to falling off. Our Communicator’s jewels do light up and need to be fixed permanently in place. The replica jewels are injection moulded – with facets underneath to catch the light. The left and right jewels are also sputter coated in a gold layer to give them that authentic iridescent AB (Aurora Borealis) appearance. Light pipes connect the jewels to LEDs inside the main housing, and chromium-plated injection-moulded mounts house and fix the jewels permanently in position. In the “Alpha” prop, the jewels were not evenly spaced across the housing – this was not an intentional aspect of the design so we have corrected the spacing for our product.

The Buttons

The hero prop had vacuum-metallised slot car wheel hubs as buttons. The original hubs were injection moulded in yellow plastic that was coated in a very thin layer of shiny metal. As a result it wore off during handling, revealing the plastic underneath. Our Communicator uses specially moulded buttons that are more heavily plated (with true chrome electroplating) and will be much less prone to surface wear.

Moiré winder

The “Alpha” hero prop’s moiré pattern rotated, turned by a pocket watch mechanism inside the prop. This was wound up through a brass tube that poked out of the main housing at the front under the mid-plate. After careful consideration, we decided that this aspect of the hero prop was not intended to be shown on screen and as a result was removed from our design. To make room inside the Communicator for the Bluetooth wireless components battery and speaker, the moiré screen is rotated by a miniature stepper motor.

Yes. The Communicator is supplied with with a USB charging cable, but any good quality micro-USB cable may be used to power the charging stand and thus charge up the Communicator.

Look down this list of frequently-asked questions to find answers that will help you if you are thinking of buying a Communicator and want to learn more about how it works.

Is the Communicator a "screen accurate" replica?

The “Alpha” hero prop’s moiré pattern rotated, turned by a pocket watch mechanism inside the prop. This was wound up through a brass tube that poked out of the main housing at the front under the mid-plate. After careful consideration,we decided that this aspect of the hero prop was not intended to be shown on screen and as a result was removed from our design. To make room inside the Communicator for the Bluetooth wireless components battery and speaker, the moiré screen is rotated by a miniature stepper motor.

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The Measure Of A Man (episode)

• View history
• 1.2 Act One
• 1.3 Act Two
• 1.4 Act Three
• 1.5 Act Four
• 1.6 Act Five
• 1.7 Log entries
• 2 Memorable quotes
• 3.1 Production history
• 3.2 Story and script
• 3.3 Production
• 3.4 Continuity
• 3.5 Reception
• 3.6 Extended edition
• 3.7 Apocrypha
• 3.8 Video and DVD releases
• 4.1 Starring
• 4.2 Also starring
• 4.3 Special appearance by
• 4.4 Guest stars
• 4.5 Special guest star
• 4.6 Co-star
• 4.7 Uncredited co-stars
• 4.8 Stand-ins
• 4.9.1 Library computer references
• 4.9.2 Unreferenced material
• 4.10 External links

Summary [ ]

" Is that what is known as a poker face? "

The USS Enterprise -D is visiting the newly-built Starbase 173 for a crew rotation. Meanwhile, four of the senior staff and Chief Miles O'Brien sit down in Commander Riker 's quarters for a game of poker . It is Lieutenant Commander Data 's first official game, but he has studied up on the subject and explains it in detail as the cards are dealt. Doctor Pulaski announces a bet, which the rest of the staff calls. Data bets ten, as he holds the highest hand, whereas Pulaski and Lieutenant La Forge fold. The cards are dealt, and Riker's new card is the five of hearts, as we see three hearts, compared to Data's pair of queens , ace high.

Data bets five cautiously, whereas O'Brien calls, but Riker raises five more. Data calls, but O'Brien folds. The cards are dealt a final time, and Riker receives a four of hearts, which causes a moan from the others – Riker may have a flush. Data bets ten, but Riker raises another ten. This causes Data to peek at his face-down card, which is a queen, indicating he has three of a kind. Data comments about Riker's facial expression being a " poker face ", but Riker asks if Data is "playing or not?". Data hesitates and then folds. Riker reveals his face-down card as the two of spades, which raises a resounding groan from the table. Confused, Data doesn't understand how Riker could have won – as he had nothing toward a winning hand – but La Forge points out to Data Riker's valid play and that he did win, in bluffing Data.

Captain Picard , while sitting and having tea on the station, encounters Captain Phillipa Louvois , whom he has not seen in ten years .

Act One [ ]

" Ain't love wonderful? "

Phillipa Louvois is a longtime friend who had previously prosecuted Picard with zeal during the court martial following the loss of the USS Stargazer . While they reminisce and tease each other playfully, the pair is approached by Admiral Nakamura , accompanied by Commander Bruce Maddox , a Starfleet cyberneticist . On the admiral's request, Picard, with Maddox following, guides Nakamura on a tour of the Enterprise . They finish up on the bridge , where Maddox looks at Data with interest; he in turn notices this and looks back. On Maddox's reminder, Nakamura tells Picard that the commander is there "to work on your android " and takes his leave. Maddox and Data greet each other with familiarity; Data explains to Picard that Maddox was the sole member of a Starfleet special admissions panel to oppose Data's admission to Starfleet Academy , on the basis that Data was not a sentient lifeform , who briefly looks annoyed with the memory. Maddox tells Picard that the "work" entails dismantling Data.

" I am going to disassemble Data. "

In an interview in the Enterprise 's observation lounge with Picard, Riker, and Data, Maddox explains that he wants Data to help him understand better how Dr. Noonien Soong was able to overcome certain engineering challenges in designing Data's positronic brain . He mostly speaks to Picard and Riker, not really addressing Data. Data is intrigued, until he discovers that it is Maddox's intention to "dump" Data's memories from his positronic brain into the Starbase 173 main computer , then deactivate and disassemble Data in hopes of deriving enough technical knowledge to enable him to construct more Soong-type androids . He also asks if Maddox, having built a model positronic brain, has solved the most important first step: the electron resistance across the neural filaments. Maddox admits he hasn't, but plans to examine Data's working filament links in his anterior cortex; Data points out that if he can't find the answers that way, Maddox's model will not work. In spite of this, Maddox claims the risks to Data are "negligible."

Data concludes that Maddox lacks sufficient technical knowledge to carry out the procedure safely, and declines to participate, with Picard's support. Maddox, prepared for this eventuality, produces orders from Starfleet Command separating Data from the Enterprise and transferring him to Starbase 173, under Maddox's command. Maddox orders Data to report to him the following morning.

Act Two [ ]

" I see. It is precisely because I am not Human. " " That will be all, Mr. Data. "

In his ready room , recognizing Starfleet's inherent interests in the creation of more Soong-type androids, Picard attempts to persuade Data into submitting to Maddox's procedure. Despite Picard's approach being the opposite of Maddox's – with the application of much more carrot than stick – Data counters that asking him to submit to an uncertain, dangerous, potentially destructive Starfleet experiment is tantamount to compulsorily requiring all Starfleet officers to have their biological eyes replaced with superior cybernetic implants such as the type utilized by Geordi La Forge. Data goes on to remind Picard that it is precisely because he is not Human – and even considered among some to lack true sentience – that Starfleet is emboldened enough to make their request in the first place. Realizing this to be the jarring truth of the matter, Picard dismisses Data and has the computer pull all relevant information of Starfleet regulations on officer transfers to a PADD for further research, intending to find a way to block Data's transfer.

" It's unjustified. It's unfair. "

Swayed by the gravamen of Data's argument and having made little sense of Starfleet's official regulations, Picard seeks the counsel of the Judge Advocate General 's office on Starbase 173, headed by Captain Louvois. Louvois initially contends that while Data can refuse to participate in the experiment, the transfer itself cannot be stopped. Picard articulates his concern that once Maddox has Data in his clutches, as it were, anything could happen; Louvois therefore suggests, alternatively, that Data could resign his Starfleet commission .

Aboard the Enterprise , Maddox enters Data's quarters unannounced and without permission, continuing to bluntly drive home the point that he clearly does not accord Data the same respect he would otherwise a being whose sentience were not a matter of opinion. He finds Data packing his cabin after having resigned from Starfleet. Maddox, unaware that Data has resigned, passionately attempts to convince Data to reconsider the experiment by reassuring Data that his memories and knowledge will remain intact. Data, still genuinely concerned that Dr. Maddox has not yet demonstrated his ability to make good on that promise, argues that the substance and flavor of his experiences would be lost, reduced to mere facts. He offers the Teaser's earlier poker game as an example: he had absorbed all the available literature on the subject of Poker to prepare for the game, but when he actually played it, found it bore little resemblance to the rules as published. Continuing the inference, Data communicates his lack of confidence that Maddox has acquired the expertise needed to retain Data's "essence" of his stored experience. Maddox is irritated and reminds Data that his cooperation may be desired but is not required; he is now under his command. Data finally reveals to Maddox that while he regretted having to do so, he has resigned his Starfleet commission such that he cannot be compelled to participate in Maddox's experiment. Maddox is infuriated at this complication and does little to hide it, angrily insisting that one way or another Data will be reporting to him the next day.

Act Three [ ]

Still smarting from Data's sudden resignation, Maddox has found a legal loophole he can use to get his experiment back on track. Meeting with Captains Louvois and Picard aboard Starbase 173, Maddox angrily counters to the affirmative when Louvois ponders aloud whether Data is actually the property of Starfleet – rather than an individual, sentient being with rights and freedoms within the Federation – and that Data, a machine, is no more legally able to refuse his procedure and resign from Starfleet than the Enterprise 's computer is able to refuse a refit. Ironically, this is in contrary to Maddox's wishes years ago: had he had his way, Data would not be in Starfleet – and would not, in Maddox's own opinion, be "Starfleet property." Louvois tells Picard that there might be established law to support Maddox's position, who asks her to find the proof – and Picard also hopes she will use the same zeal she used in his court martial involving the Stargazer .

Gifts and goodbyes

After announcing his resignation, Data's shipmates throw an impromptu going-away party in Ten Forward . Among the gifts, Worf presents him with a copy of The Dream of the Fire , a classic Klingon novel by K'Ratak . Across the room, Data sees Geordi La Forge glumly sitting alone, and he approaches his friend. La Forge tells Data that he's upset about the android being forced out of Starfleet, and the two express that they will miss each other.

After deliberating, Captain Louvois initially finds for Commander Maddox's position " based on the Acts of Cumberland passed in the early 21st century . " She states that Data can neither resign nor can he refuse to undergo Maddox's procedure. Picard requests a formal legal hearing to challenge the ruling; however, because the brand-new Sector 23 Judge Advocate General's Office has not yet received their staff transfers to Starbase 173, JAG staff consists only of Captain Louvois herself and "one terrified little ensign." Despite this, Louvois agrees to convene a hearing on condition that Enterprise personnel serve as legal counsel during the proceedings: As his commanding officer, Captain Picard is burdened with the defense of Data and his rights and freedoms as a sentient being. A reluctant Commander Riker is pressed into representing Commander Maddox's position; Riker initially refuses to participate in the hearing on the grounds that he vehemently disagrees with the premise of the case: Not only does Riker consider Data legally possessed of the same rights and freedoms of all sentient beings under Federation law , but also because Riker considers Data a comrade and friend, and on a personal level does not wish to be compelled into potentially placing a friend in harm's way. However, since Data's position is at peril of Louvois' preliminary ruling, which would be finalized in Maddox's favor if Riker does not participate, Riker disappointingly concludes that he is offered no palatable choice in the matter. Louvois goes on to sternly warn Riker that she will tolerate no attempt to sandbag his performance – if she at any point determines that Riker is not prosecuting the case as vigorously as she feels he is capable, she will rule summarily in favor of Maddox.

Act Four [ ]

" …hardware, built by a man. "

Picard calls Data to his ready room and informs him that he has been denied his resignation and he has been ruled the property of Starfleet Command. Data remarks that gives him no choice but to submit, but his captain tells him about the hearing, which will clearly define the android's legal status once and for all and how he was asked to represent him. He asks if Data would be happier with another officer, but Data places his complete confidence in Picard's abilities. In the meantime, Riker does research for the hearing, and uses his authorization to look up Data's technical schematics. He is initially pleased to find what he was looking for... but then remembers why he was doing so in the first place.

On Starbase 173, Louvois begins the hearing, acting as judge. Riker calls Data to the stand and the computer recounts Data's service record – including Data's Starfleet decorations, which Picard insists be recited in its entirety as an example of Data's service. Riker begins his prosecution by seeking to demonstrate that Data is, in fact, a man-made, constructed being. Data is asked his maximum storage capacity (" eight hundred quadrillion bits ") and how quickly he can access information (" sixty trillion operations per second "). Riker then compels Data to bend a rod of parsteel , despite Picard's objection based on the fact that many creatures in the Federation are possessed of mega-strength. Riker asks to be allowed to remove Data's left hand for examination; Picard objects then withdraws it, realizing he has no way to rebut it. Softly apologizing to his friend, Riker disconnects the entire forearm for Captain Louvois' examination. Citing that Data is essentially hardware built by a man and programmed with software written by a man, Riker then moves behind Data and abruptly deactivates him, proclaiming " Pinocchio is broken; its strings have been cut. " Even Louvois, who warned him to do his best, is a bit taken aback and as a remorseful Riker takes his seat, Picard requests a recess , which is granted.

Act Five [ ]

Picard and Guinan discuss Data's rights

Back on the Enterprise , Captain Picard recounts Riker's devastating prosecution to Guinan in Ten Forward, admitting that he himself was ready to believe that Data was only a machine after Riker's arguments. Guinan aptly observes that were Maddox to prevail in the proceedings and go on to become successful in replicating Data – despite the value this would represent to Starfleet – Maddox's success would almost certainly result in the creation of an entirely new race of "disposable creatures": beings whose welfare and needs would not require consideration.

Picard quickly concludes from Guinan's wise words that victory for Maddox would have far more sinister repercussions throughout the Federation; that behind the comfortable, easy euphemism of "property", this fledgling race could potentially become a race of slaves . This grim realization strengthens Picard's resolve and inspires him to take a new approach in the defense phase of the hearing.

Later, in the courtroom, Picard begins Data's defense by quickly dismissing Riker's arguments that Data is a constructed being:

Picard then calls Data to the witness stand and enters as evidence Data's personal belongings, a sample of the items he had packed in preparation of his resignation: a plaque of his Starfleet medals, a book that was given to him by his captain, and a holocube portrait of the late Enterprise crewmember Tasha Yar . Picard asks Data, what purpose do any of these articles serve him? Of the Starfleet medals, he answers that they serve no purpose other than that he simply wanted them, wondering out loud to Picard if that demonstrates vanity. Of the book, Data says that it is a reminder of his friendship and service with the captain.

Data's medals

Picard questions Data about the holocube of Tasha Yar, taking the time to set it out and activate it, stating for the record that he has "no other portraits of [his] fellow crewmates." Data replies that he would prefer not to answer any questions related to Yar, as he had given his word to her to not speak of the matter. Picard gently reminds Data that considering the circumstances, he doesn't believe that Tasha would mind. Data reveals – with what can only be interpreted as discomfort – that Yar was "special" to him because they had been intimate with one another .

Calling Commander Maddox forward as a hostile witness, Picard proceeds to expose for the court, and then to impeach, Maddox's assertions as to Data's sentience. In doing so, Picard maneuvers Maddox into conceding that Data fulfills most of the cyberneticist's own criteria for sentience – intelligence and self-awareness – and dramatically coerces the scientist into an admission that the remaining criterion, consciousness, is too nebulous a concept to precisely determine whether the android is in possession of it or not. Having cemented his argument for Data's sentience, Picard summarizes his final contention that to create more Soong-type androids would be the beginnings of a race, and a sentient race that is considered "property" is to sanction slavery – a profound violation of the basic principles and ideals upon which the United Federation of Planets is based:

Ultimately, Captain Louvois rules in favor of Data:

" I formally refuse to undergo your procedure. "

Data formally refuses to undergo Maddox's procedure after Louvois' ruling is entered, and Maddox, in turn, states he will see that Data's transfer orders are rescinded. Surprisingly, however, Data encourages Maddox to continue his work; he claims to remain intrigued by some of what Maddox is proposing and suggests he might agree to the procedure at some point in the future, once he is certain Maddox can perform it safely. Captain Louvois notes to Maddox that he no longer refers to Data as an "it" but as a "he", inferring that he now ascribes to Data "personhood."

After the victory, Riker, deeply affected by the gravity of nearly costing a friend and colleague his life, prefers the solitude of the Enterprise 's darkened observation lounge looking out at the stars more than attending Data's victory celebration on the holodeck . Data himself arrives to ask why Riker hasn't joined them, who sullenly explains his guilt over his role in the trial. Data reminds Riker in his immutable manner that had he not agreed to prosecute the position in favor of Maddox, they would not have been afforded the opportunity to defend the position that Data is sentient and legally entitled to the full panoply of rights and freedoms accorded sentient beings in the Federation, as Louvois would have ruled summarily in favor of Maddox's position. Data expresses his sincere gratitude at the ignominy Riker had endured, but that had, in its effect, saved him. Riker smiles, declaring his friend a wise man; Data cautions that he does not believe he is yet, but with Riker's help, he is learning. Feeling better, Riker leaves with Data to join the celebration.

Log entries [ ]

• Captain's log, USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), 2365a

Memorable quotes [ ]

" It's been ten years, but seeing you again like this makes it seem like fifty. If we weren't around all these people, do you know what I would like to do? " " Bust a chair across my teeth. " " After that. " " Oh, ain't love wonderful. "

" It brings a sense of order and stability to my universe to know that you're still a pompous ass... and a damn sexy man. "

" My God..."

" You're a little vague on the specifics. "

" 'When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes / I all alone beweep my outcast state.' Tell me: are these just words to you? Or do you fathom the meaning?" " Is it not customary to request permission before entering an individual's quarters? "

" I am the culmination of one man's dream. This is not ego or vanity, but when Doctor Soong created me, he added to the substance of the universe. If, by your experiments, I am destroyed, something unique – something wonderful – will be lost. I cannot permit that. I must protect his dream. "

" You are imparting Human qualities to it because it looks Human – but I assure you: it is not. If it were a box on wheels I would not be facing this opposition. "

" ...and the unenviable task of prosecuting this case would fall on you, Commander, as the next most senior officer of the defendant's ship. " " I can't! I...I won't! Data's my comrade. We have served together. I not only respect him, I consider him my friend! "

" Consider that in the history of many worlds there have always been disposable creatures. They do the dirty work. They do the work that no one else wants to do, because it's too difficult or too hazardous. And an army of Datas, all disposable? You don't have to think about their welfare; you don't think about how they feel. Whole generations of disposable people. " " You're talking about slavery. " " I think that's a little harsh. " " I don't think that's a little harsh, I think that's the truth. But that's a truth that we have obscured behind a... comfortable, easy euphemism. 'Property'. But that's not the issue at all, is it? "

" I would prefer not to answer, sir. I gave my word. " " Under the circumstances, I don't think Tasha would mind. " " She was special to me. We were... intimate. "

" Now tell me, Commander, what is Data? " " I don't understand. " " What is he? " " A machine! " " Is he? Are you sure? " " Yes! " " You see he's met two of your three criteria for sentience, so what if he meets the third, consciousness, in even the smallest degree? What is he then? I don't know, do you? (to Riker) Do you? (to Phillipa) Do you? "

" Pinocchio is broken; its strings have been cut. "

" Your Honor, a courtroom is a crucible; in it we burn away irrelevancies until we are left with a pure product: the truth, for all time. "

" ... Starfleet was founded to seek out new life – well, there it sits! ...waiting. "

" You wanted a chance to make law. Well, here it is...make it a good one. "

" That act injured you and saved me. I will not forget it. " " You're a wise man, my friend. " " Not yet, sir. But with your help, I am learning. "

Background information [ ]

Production history [ ].

• Second revised final draft script: 14 December 1988 [1]
• Premiere airdate: 13 February 1989
• First UK airdate: 29 May 1991

Story and script [ ]

Director Robert Scheerer examines an arm prop

• "The Measure Of A Man" was writer Melinda Snodgrass ' first television credit. She drew from her own experience as an attorney in writing the episode. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion , 2nd ed., p. 77)
• Snodgrass' spec script was "discovered" as a result of the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike and the consequent need to use existing scripts. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission , p. 90)
• Snodgrass commented, " Everyone seems to view [the episode] as a Data script, but it's really a Picard script. Data is the catalyst, but the stress is all on Picard. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 176)
• In a comment on her blog, Snodgrass recalls how Gene Roddenberry nearly shot down the story: " As to the issue of law in Gene's vision. He nearly killed 'The Measure of a Man' because according to Gene there were no lawyers in the 24th century because if people had criminal intentions, they 'had their minds made right'. I found that chilling. I also pointed out that you have contracts that have to be negotiated and conflicts of law between different legal systems, and divorces, etc. etc. There was no way there would be no lawyers in the future. " [2]

Production [ ]

• The courtroom set was a redress of the battle bridge set. The set featured a map of the galaxy previously seen in " Conspiracy " and a chart showing the current location of twenty-four starships.
• The model of Starbase 173 was a reuse of a model best known as space lab Regula I from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . For more information, see Studio models .

Continuity [ ]

• The Daystrom Institute , first mentioned here, was a homage to the character of Richard Daystrom from TOS : " The Ultimate Computer ". ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion , 2nd ed., p. 77)
• Data 's rights as a sentient being would again be challenged a season later, in " The Offspring ". There, the issue was whether Data could assert parental rights over his "daughter," Lal . In both episodes, Picard acts as Data's advocate.
• After his trial, Data showed Commander Bruce Maddox that he nonetheless remained open to future collaboration with him. He would indeed keep open correspondence with Maddox, at one point recording a log of a day in his life in " Data's Day ".
• Data would refer back to his trial in his decision to champion the exocomps in Season 6 's " The Quality of Life ". He explains to Picard that while he had Picard to defend him, the Exocomps had no one to defend their rights.

The rarely seen "interim uniform" worn by admirals in the 2nd season

• This episode contradicts a statement made by Pulaski in " Where Silence Has Lease " that Data is listed as alive in his Starfleet Personnel file.
• This episode features the first appearance of the officers' regular poker game, with Data , Riker , La Forge , Dr. Pulaski , and O'Brien . It is also the first time Data has ever played the game.
• Admiral Nakamura tells Picard that Starbase 173 has been established in response to disturbances along the Federation / Romulan Neutral Zone , which were first referenced the episode " The Neutral Zone ". These disturbances will later be revealed to be early attacks by the Borg .
• The episode features the rare "interim" pattern Starfleet admiral uniform which was only seen twice in the second season of TNG. The uniform departed from the first season "pip triangle" admiral insignia and introduced the "boxed pip" version which was the standard admiral insignia for the rest of Next Generation and all subsequent series. The second season pip insignia was worn vertical while later seasons showed the insignia flat against the collar.
• The restoration of the scene mentioning Picard's service aboard the USS Reliant means that he and Pavel Chekov have each served on a starship named Reliant and two starships named Enterprise .
• Unknown to Dr. Maddox at the time, other examples of Soong-type androids were available. Such examples would have been Lore , B4 , two other prototypes , Data's head (later discovered in the episode " Time's Arrow "), and Juliana Tainer . Also, Dr. Noonien Soong himself was still alive during the events of this episode. Maddox will eventually meet and work with Dr. Soong's natural son, Altan Soong , to continue his research project. ( PIC : " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 ")
• Data speaks of his and Tasha Yar 's intimate encounter from " The Naked Now " during the hearing, making an exception to his vow never to mention the encounter to others.

Reception [ ]

Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner on set

• This episode was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award in the category of "Best Episodic Drama". ( The Making of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine )
• Entertainment Weekly ranked this episode #6 on their list of "The Top 10 Episodes" to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation . [3]
• Producer Maurice Hurley commented, " Stunning. That's the kind of show you want to do... It just worked great, everything about it. And it dealt with an issue in a very interesting way. I thought Whoopi 's place was good in that. She's a wonderful actress. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 176)
• Director Robert Scheerer called the episode one of the best of The Next Generation . He explained, " It has to do with the content, what it had to say, how it deals with it, the depth that it goes and the way it's resolved. I love that show. It is indeed my favorite show. I guess you would have to say that what I enjoyed is the dilemma that they're put in to, especially Jonathan [Frakes] and Patrick [Stewart] having to deal with Brent [Spiner] not as a dear friend but as someone whose worth has to be resolved. And Jonathan had to take the other side. It was all just beautifully crafted. It was not typical episodic television and had a great deal to say about man, Humanity, what our problems in the world are today and hopefully what we can do about it in the future. " ( Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages , p. 176) Scheerer also stated, " That was a wonderful show. But no thanks to me especially. It was based on a book the young lady – [screenwriter] Melinda Snodgrass – has done. She was brought out because of it and wrote the episode. She was a lawyer, I think. That was where the book 'Measure of a Man' came from. It was her first writing experience, as I understand it. She quit [her law position] and came out here to write for Next Generation , and served as story editor. Very impressive. " ( The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 20 , p. 30)
• Rick Berman cited this episode, along with " Yesterday's Enterprise ", as one of his favorites. ( TNG Season 3 DVD )
• Michael Piller named this episode (along with " The Inner Light " and " The Offspring ") as one of his favorite TNG episodes, " because they had remarkable emotional impacts. And they genuinely explored the Human condition, which this franchise does better than any other when it does it well. " ( AOL chat , 1997 )
• Troi actress Marina Sirtis cited this as her favorite TNG episode, commenting, " It was perfect Star Trek . A riveting story, great performances and a moral issue to think about. " ( SFX , issue 136, p. 028)
• Whoopi Goldberg talked about this episode, as a socially relevant TNG installment, in the documentary 50 Years of Star Trek .
• The book Star Trek 101 (p. 72), by Terry J. Erdmann and Paula M. Block , lists this episode as one of the "Ten Essential Episodes" from Star Trek: The Next Generation .
• A mission report for this episode, by Robert Greenberger , was published in The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 8 , pp. 5-10.

Extended edition [ ]

A significant amount of original footage was cut from the episode during editing but was restored for the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray release. [4] [5] The "extended edition" features a fifty-seven-minute version of the episode, containing approximately thirteen minutes of restored scenes and visual effects, including:

• Act 1, Scene 5 – Picard, Nakamura, and Maddox beam aboard the Enterprise ; Picard and Nakamura reminisce about their days aboard the USS Reliant .
• Act 2, Scene 14 – Picard confronts Nakamura about Data's transfer by way of his ready room desktop monitor.
• Act 3, Scene 11 – Data presents La Forge with his Sherlock Holmes pipe in engineering; they discuss life outside of Starfleet.
• Act 3, Scene 13 – An extended version of Data's farewell party in Ten Forward. Pulaski gives Data advice on where to live after leaving Starfleet; Riker and Troi privately discuss their feelings about Data; Maddox crashes the party and insults Data; Picard summons Riker to the transporter room.
• Act 3, Scene 17 – Riker interrupts the fencing match between Picard and his fencing partner. Riker warns Picard that he will do everything in his power to win the coming legal battle – and Picard warns Riker that he will do the same.
• Act 3, Scene 18 – Picard and Data review their legal strategy. Picard attempts to guide Data's testimony to a more favorable position, calling it "a bit of legal fiction"; Data cites "kill all the lawyers" from Shakespeare 's Henry VI, Part II .
• Act 5, Scene 23 – An extended version of Data and Riker's post-hearing conversation in the observation lounge; Data tells "Will" that he has learned from Riker's sacrifice in prosecuting his friend.

Apocrypha [ ]

• The novel Articles of the Federation , set after Star Trek Nemesis , establishes that B-4 had been transferred to Starfleet custody and Maddox (who was by now a captain), was in custody of B-4 and when the issue of rights for B-4 come up, Maddox takes the position that Picard had in this episode and defends the rights of B-4 to have rights just like Data had.

Video and DVD releases [ ]

• Original UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, CIC Video ): Volume 18 , catalog number VHR 2471, 12 August 1991
• As part of the UK VHS collection Star Trek: The Next Generation - Data Box : 6 November 1995
• As part of the US VHS collection Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Data Collection : 19 August 1997
• UK re-release (three-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 2.3 , catalog number VHR 4739, 3 May 1999
• As part of the TNG Season 2 DVD collection
• As part of The Best of Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD collection
• As part of the TNG Season 2 Blu-ray collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

• Patrick Stewart as Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as Cmdr. William Riker

Also starring [ ]

• LeVar Burton as Lt. Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf
• Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
• Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
• Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher

Special appearance by [ ]

• Diana Muldaur as Doctor Pulaski

Guest stars [ ]

• Amanda McBroom as Captain Phillipa Louvois
• Clyde Kusatsu as Vice Admiral Nakamura
• Brian Brophy as Commander Bruce Maddox

Special guest star [ ]

• Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan

Co-star [ ]

• Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

• Majel Barrett as USS Enterprise -D computer voice
• Michael Braveheart as Martinez
• Denise Crosby as Natasha Yar (archive footage from " Skin Of Evil ")
• Victor Paul as fencing opponent (extended edition)
• Male Starbase 173 computer voice
• Six Starbase 173 officers

Stand-ins [ ]

• James G. Becker – stand-in for Jonathan Frakes
• Darrell Burris – stand-in for LeVar Burton
• Dexter Clay – stand-in for Michael Dorn
• Jeffrey Deacon – stand-in for Patrick Stewart
• Nora Leonhardt – stand-in for Marina Sirtis
• Tim McCormack – stand-in for Brent Spiner
• Guy Vardaman – stand-in for Wil Wheaton

References [ ]

19th century ; 21st century ; 2355 ; ability ; access code ; ace ; achievement ; Acts of Cumberland ; adversarial process ; adversarial system ; advice ; agreement ; " all right "; analysis ; android ; answer ; anterior cortex ; " ante up "; argument ; army ; assignment ; Associate Chair of Robotics ; " as you know "; As You Like It ; " at stake "; attitude ; authority ; automaton ; bit ; bluff ; box ; bridge crew ; bridge officer ; building blocks ; case ; casino chip ; celebration ; chair ; children ; choice ; choir ; committee ; computer ; computational speed ; comrade ; confidence ; conscience ; consciousness ; construction ; core memory ; court martial ; court ; courtroom ; creator ; creature ; crew rotation ; cross ; crucible ; curiosity ; cybernetics ; cybernetic implant ; day ; Daystrom Technological Institute ; Decoration for Valor and Gallantry ; defendant ; defense ; demonstration ; dinner ; discussion ; DNA ; download ; dream ; Dream of the Fire, The ; edition ; ego ; electron resistance ; emergency manual control ; engineering ; Enterprise history ; entrance evaluation ; euphemism ; event ; evidence ; " excuse me "; existence ; experience ; experiment ; experiment module ; expertise ; eye ; fact ; Federation ; five-card stud ; freedom ; French language ; friend ; friendship ; game of chance ; generation ; genius ; gift ; " gobbledygook "; guide ; hand ; hardware ; hearing (sense); heuristic algorithm ; history ; holocube ; holodeck ; hostile witness ; hour ; Human ; Human characteristic ; " ice man "; idea ; ignorance ; individual ; " in force "; information ; " in general "; " in particular "; inspection ; intelligence ; irrational ; " I see "; instinct ; jack ; JAG ensign ; job ; Judge Advocate General ( JAG ); K'Ratak ; kilobar ; knowledge ; law ; legal counsel ; legal hearing ; legal status ; legend ; Legion of Honor ; letter of the law ; liberty ; lifeform ; log record ; Lore ; love ; luck ; machine ; mainframe computer ; " man with the axe "; meaning ; medal ; Medal of Honor ; megastrength ; memory ; memory capacity ; metaphysics ; mind ; minute ; mission ; model ; " my god "; name ; neural filament ; neural net ; " no doubt "; novel ; objection ; " of course "; office ; officer ; " once and for all "; " one way or the other "; operations per second ; opportunity ; opposition ; order ; organization ; outcast ; paper ; parent ; parsteel ; passion ; permission ; person ; philosopher ; pigeon ; Pinocchio ; place ; player ; playing card ; poker ; poker face ; portrait ; positronic brain ; " preaching to the choir "; presentation ; problem ; product ; programming ; property ; proposal ; prototype ; quadrillion ; quality ; quarters ; question ; race ; reality ; reason ; refit ; Reliant , USS ; research ; resignation ; right ; risk ; robotics ; rod ; Romulan ; Romulan Neutral Zone ; rule ; rule of law ; ruling ; saint ; Sector 23 ; self-awareness / self-aware ; senior officer ; sentience ; sentimentality ; seven-card stud ; sexy ; Shakespeare's sonnets ; " sick to death of "; " sit down "; slavery ; software ; Soong, Noonien ; soul ; stability ; staff ; stand ; standard procedure ; Starbase 173 ; Star Cross ; Starfleet ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Command ; Starfleet regulations ; Starfleet uniform ; Stargazer , USS ; storage capacity ; string ; stubborn ; student ; substance ; superstition ; technical schematic ; teeth ; tensile strength ; Ten Forward ; textbook ; " the letter of the law "; " the spirit of the law ": thousand ; toaster ; transfer ; transfer order ; treatise ; Transporter Room 3 ; trillion ; trust ; truth ; " under the circumstances ": universe ; value ; vanity ; vocabulary ; Webster's 24th Century Dictionary ; wheel ; wisdom ; witness ; wonder ; word ; world ; wrapping paper ; year

Library computer references [ ]

• Technical Schematics of Data : chemical fuel reaction unit ; cryo fluid pressure system ; emergency manual control ; fluidic subsystem regulator ; hydraulic regulation unit ; kei/yuri submodule ; locomotion subsystem ; locomotor neural net ; nutrient distribution net ; nutrient processing system ; oscillation overthruster ; positronic cortex unit ; primary system module ; sensory neural net ; spatial orientation unit ; substrate interface ; Turing test ; vascular fluid pumps
• Emergency Manual Control : plastic ; primary cerebral circuit ; reserve bus ; secondary neural processing network ; yurium
• Federation Star Chart ("The Explored Galaxy") : Aldebaran ; Alfa 177 ; Alpha Carinae ; Alpha Centauri ; Alpha Majoris ; Altair VI ; Andor ; Ariannus ; Arret ; Babel ; Benecia ; Berengaria VII ; Beta Aurigae ; Beta Geminorum ; Beta Lyrae ; Beta Niobe ; Beta Portolan ; Camus II ; Canopus III ; Capella ; Daran V ; Delta Vega ; Deneb ; Eminiar ; Fabrina ; First Federation ; Gamma Canaris N ; Gamma Trianguli ; Holberg 917G ; Ingraham B ; Janus VI ; Kling ; Kzin ; Lactra VII ; Makus III ; Marcos XII ; Manark IV ; Memory Alpha ; Mudd ; Omega IV ; Omega Cygni ; Organia ; Pallas 14 ; Phylos ; Pollux IV ; Psi 2000 ; Pyris VII ; Regulus ; Remus ; Rigel ; Romulus ; Sarpeid ; Sirius ; Talos ; Tau Ceti ; Theta III ; Tholian Assembly ; Vulcan
• Starship Deploy Status : Alderaan ; Apollo , USS ; Artemis , USS ; Atlantis , USS ; Benson, Gregory ; Bernard, Alan ; Brownfield, Dick ; Bushwacker , USS ; Constantinople , USS ; Genovese, Cosmo ; Cronn, Richard ; El-Tejear , USS ; Endeavour , USS ; Epstein, Manuel ; Excalibur , USS ; Excelsior , USS ; Farouk El-Baz , USS ; Fife, Marian ; Hokule'a , USS ; James, Richard ; Jedlicka, Martin ; LaDue, Gere ; Laser , USS ; Lauritson, Peter ; Lexington , USS ; McCarthy, Dennis ; McKenzie, Richard ; Metoyer, Robert ; Nausicaä , USS ; Neil Armstrong , USS ; Purser, Thomas ; Saratoga , USS ; Sector 010 ; Sector 034 ; Sector 130 ; Sector 134 ; Sector 136 ; Sector 142 ; Sector 528 ; Sector 532 ; Sector 632 ; Sector 637 ; Simmons, Adele ; Smutko, Al ; Starbase 74 ; Terraform Command ; Thomas, Cari L. ; Thoms, Wil ; Vescio, Elaina ; Wellington , USS ; Yamato , USS ; Yorktown , USS ; Yuri Gagarin , USS
• Starfleet Transfer Requirements (remastered) : Administrative Commander ; Chief of Starfleet Operations ; Chief of Starfleet Personnel ; Class K planet ; Daystrom Institute ; Deep Space Corps Selection Board ; Federation Diplomatic Corps ; Starbase ; Starbase Selection Board ; Starfleet Academy ; Starfleet Deep Space Exploratory Corps ; Starfleet Diplomatic Corps ; Starfleet Operational Support Division ; Starfleet Scientific Corps ; Starfleet Tactical

Unreferenced material [ ]

Acts of Gould ; plasteel

External links [ ]

• " The Measure of a Man " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• " The Measure of a Man " at Wikipedia
• " The Measure of a Man " at MissionLogPodcast.com , a Roddenberry Star Trek podcast
• "The Measure of a Man" script  at Star Trek Minutiae
• " The Measure Of A Man " at the Internet Movie Database
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Calypso (episode)

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STTNG-101682-0014-ST-TNGC

Star Trek: The Next Generation Command Uniform Tough Phone Case - iPhone

STTNG-101681-0016-ST-TNGC

Star Trek Live Long And Prosper Phone Case - iPhone

Live long and protect your phone with our Star Trek Live Long And Prosper Phone Case! This officially licensed Star Trek accessory is designed for iPhone users who want to showcase their love for the iconic sci-fi franchise.

ST-101681-0002-ST-LLP

Star Trek: The Original Series Science Uniform Tough Phone Case - iPhone

Introducing the  Star Trek: The Original Series  Science Uniform Tough Phone Case, the ultimate accessory for devoted  Star Trek  enthusiasts. Crafted with precision and attention to detail, this officially licensed case allows you to proudly display your allegiance to the United Federation of Planets.

ST-101681-0016-ST-BLUE

Star Trek: The Original Series Science Uniform Tough Phone Case - Samsung

ST-101682-0014-ST-BLUE

Star Trek: Discovery Pride Tough Phone Case - Samsung

Live Long and Prosper! Peace and Long Life, the Vulcan's embrace diversity. Join the Vulcan's and show you're proud to be inclusive with the Star Trek: Discovery Pride Tough Phone Case.

STDIS-101682-0014-PRIDE2

Star Trek: Discovery UFP Flag Tough Phone Case - iPhone

This  Star Trek: Discovery  32nd Century United Federation of Planets Cell Phone Caseis the perfect way to get excited for the latest installment of Discovery. Featuring six stars against navy material, this phone case lets you represent the United Federation in style on the go.

STDIS-101681-0016-ST-D-UFP-PC

Star Trek Live Long And Prosper Phone Case - Samsung

Live long and protect your phone with our Star Trek Live Long And Prosper Phone Case! This officially licensed Star Trek accessory is designed for Samsung users who want to showcase their love for the iconic sci-fi franchise.

ST-101682-0001-ST-LLP

Star Trek: Lower Decks RITOS Tough Phone Case - Samsung

Introducing the  Star Trek: Lower Decks  RITOS Phone Case – a sleek and futuristic accessory inspired by the cutting-edge technology of the  Star Trek  universe. Officially licensed and meticulously designed, this case showcases the iconic RITOS aesthetic, encapsulating the spirit of exploration and innovation.

STLD-101682-0014-ST-RITOS

Star Trek: Lower Decks RITOS Tough Phone Case - iPhone

STLD-101681-0016-ST-RITOS

Star Trek: The Original Series Delta Tough Phone Case - iPhone

Whether you are calling Scotty to beam you up or texting your friends just to check in, this  Star Trek: The Original Series  Delta Tough Phone Case will keep your phone safe from drops and scratches while representing the Star Trek universe everywhere you go.

STTOS-101681-0016-ST-TOS-DELTA

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy San Francisco Phoenix Tough Phone Case - Samsung

Home to the Starfleet Academy and Headquarters, San Francisco cultivates the most talented cadets in the galaxy. Represent the academy and HQ while keeping your phone safe with this  Star Trek: Starfleet Academy  San Francisco Phoenix Tough Phone Case!

STE-101682-0014-ST-SFA-ACAD1

Star Trek: Lower Decks U.S.S Cerritos Tonal Tough Phone Case - Samsung

STLD-101682-0014-ST-LDTONAL

Star Trek: Lower Decks U.S.S Cerritos Pattern Tough Phone Case - Samsung

STLD-101682-0014-ST-LDPAT

Star Trek: The Original Series Delta Tough Phone Case - Samsung

STTOS-101682-0014-ST-TOS-DELTA

Star Trek: Discovery UFP Flag Tough Phone Case - Samsung

STDIS-101682-0014-ST-D-UFP-PC

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy San Francisco Phoenix Tough Phone Case - iPhone

STE-101681-0016-ST-SFA-ACAD1

Star Trek: Lower Decks U.S.S Cerritos Tonal Pattern Tough Phone Case - iPhone

STLD-101681-0016-ST-LDTONAL

Star Trek: Lower Decks U.S.S Cerritos Pattern Tough Phone Case - iPhone

STLD-101681-0016-ST-LDPAT

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