05-05-2026, 06:09 AM
There was indeed a great deal of information available about the details of various prosthetic devices. The list seemed almost endless. Some were small devices that replaced relatively minor things and helped to compensate for weakened senses or helped regulate various organ functions, but there was a much longer list of things that were replacements for internal organ, skeletal structures and entire limbs. There were several papers that discussed the integration of several different devices and how they could be networked and combined effectively. There were endless footnotes and indicators attached to almost every one of these and looking at the footnotes more closely, nearly half of them were indicated that they were designed by the Talion Foundation, with references to a long list of their efforts to make such things available to those who were unable to receive organic replacements. The Taion Foundation had approval listings for both military and civilian variants of most devices, though upon close examination, the more extreme military designs were by other designers and research organizations. The Talion designs were the most prolific with various colonies and more remote worlds that didn't always have access to the higher tech required for the growing of replacement organs or were used as with the Ambassador, when there wasn't time to wait for such a process to be completed in the field.
Jez did notice that there was no reference to how far the devices could be integrated and there was no mention anywhere about Cindy and her chassis, which was essentially an entire person created with these devices. They all referenced neural interfaces and the detailed integration of transceivers with existing neural networks. Beyond that it became classified, but it was all quite confusing unless you had a degree in the field. Typically, most enhancements, other than replication of basic functions, were restricted to Star Fleet and Authorized personnel only, often requiring approval by higher command authorities with specific clearances. There were various cautions and reminders that strict protocols had to be followed, a clear indication that encountering the Borg had made most people a bit nervous about keeping such enhancements under control. There were serious penalties for making unauthorized modifications, though software alterations could easily result in damage to the patient either physically or mentally and required certifications.
It should be noted that the majority of prosthetics were designed to deliberately be very hard to tell the difference between synthetic and organic. Most people wanted to feel like their old self, not a machine. The goal was typically for a patient to almost forget that they had a replacement part. It should look, feel and act like the real thing. They might not sweat, but they felt real and even could duplicate blush responses and gave an artificial pulse in key locations. Without a tricorder scan, the average person should not be able to determine that a patient was fitted with a prosthetic. There were examples of an entire lower torso and legs being replaced and they looked completely human. Though that was a key thing to note, most of the research had been done for humans, though there was a long list of constant ongoing efforts to expand it, with cross references to elements that were already able to be used by several other species.
Jez did notice that there was no reference to how far the devices could be integrated and there was no mention anywhere about Cindy and her chassis, which was essentially an entire person created with these devices. They all referenced neural interfaces and the detailed integration of transceivers with existing neural networks. Beyond that it became classified, but it was all quite confusing unless you had a degree in the field. Typically, most enhancements, other than replication of basic functions, were restricted to Star Fleet and Authorized personnel only, often requiring approval by higher command authorities with specific clearances. There were various cautions and reminders that strict protocols had to be followed, a clear indication that encountering the Borg had made most people a bit nervous about keeping such enhancements under control. There were serious penalties for making unauthorized modifications, though software alterations could easily result in damage to the patient either physically or mentally and required certifications.
It should be noted that the majority of prosthetics were designed to deliberately be very hard to tell the difference between synthetic and organic. Most people wanted to feel like their old self, not a machine. The goal was typically for a patient to almost forget that they had a replacement part. It should look, feel and act like the real thing. They might not sweat, but they felt real and even could duplicate blush responses and gave an artificial pulse in key locations. Without a tricorder scan, the average person should not be able to determine that a patient was fitted with a prosthetic. There were examples of an entire lower torso and legs being replaced and they looked completely human. Though that was a key thing to note, most of the research had been done for humans, though there was a long list of constant ongoing efforts to expand it, with cross references to elements that were already able to be used by several other species.