LCARS is very pretty, but it's also really poor as a GUI. It was designed for form over function because of course it was.
this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2025
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It was also designed at a time when most of the population had never used a GUI on a computer. The show debuted in 1987, so the pre-filming work would have been happening a year or two before that.
Think about what the few graphical desktops on computers looked like in the mid 1980s… then recall that most people did not have a computer at home, and only used one at work if at all.
I’m not defending LCARs or anything - I am just trying to imagine what it would have been like to be a graphic designer in 1985, and someone comes up to you and says “We want you to make us what computer interfaces will look like in the 24th century.”
In terms of interfaces we see on Star Trek, I think the, mostly touch, interfaces we see in the TMP movies (the movies with the original series cast, for the non-Trek fans reading this) appear to be MUCH more practical.
I will make it a good UI....one of these days...lmao
it's function was form, though. It wasn't meant to be a functional interface. which is why they're in touchscreen hell.
I mean, can you imagine having to mash the "Phaser target engines" functions to disable the enemy ship, only for it to not work or something and lose calibration because, sweaty palms or something left grease marks, and, uh.... it "accidentally" fire "torpedos: blow them to oblivion"
(awkward. That was left behind by Yarr. honest, boss.)
Lol I think you and Tom would get along
"I am tired of tapping panels. For once, I want controls that let me actually feel the ship I'm piloting." ~Tom Paris, S5E3, Extreme Risk
That's the plot of an episode of Lower Decks
Not surprised…. I’m not that original….
Fair enough. I was suggesting that Michael Okuda didn't have utility in mind when he made it because that's not what he was hired for.
Edit: In fact, I just read that he was under directive by Roddenberry to make something minimalist to suggest technological advancement. In that sense, it was prescient.
I mean, as far as background art, the okudagrams were insanely forward-thinking. Don't get me wrong. but their primary purpose was for the crew to look at and go "AHAH!" You'll notice, that they all touch 3 points on the thing everytime there's a command. The, uh. same points (at least for the individual actor,) Like poke-poke-slide for everything.
Since the page doesn't actually say it (at least not at first glance)
LCARS is the GUI design used in Star Trek, starting around the time of The Next Generation.
I'll hold out for a TOS style GUI. Give me dials, blinking lights, and a periscope damnit
I've been looking for some version of this for a long time. Rainmeter has one or two, but the performance has never been great for me. This one looks solid and I love that it's an actual DE.