Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Offspring (2 of 2)

Work Title: Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Offspring (2 of 2)
Medium: TV Episode
Episode Title: The Offspring
Year: 1990
Writer(s): Gene Roddenberry
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Rene Echevarria
"Original" Writer: Own work?: No

Summary:

from imdb.com After returning from a cybernetics conference to the Enterprise, Data creates his own "child," much to the chagrin of his captain, and without regards to the ramifications with Starfleet.

  • Self-Written?:
  • Source Name: IMDB
  • Source URL:

Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future

Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

space travel is common.


Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Lal
  • Description of the technology: Lal is an android created by the character Data, also an android. She greatly resembles a human woman, or teenager. Her skin is a normal color, caucasion. She learns from all of her interactions with people; her capabilities for learning are greater than Data's, whom she calls Father. She was created in a lab, which is where she rests, or is turned off. She has a positronic brain. She acts friendly and docile - all she wants to do is learn and be accepted.
  • Nature of task or activity: conversation, working on the ship.
  • Performance of the Technology: works well, until actaully experiences emotion - then she has a system failure and cannot survive.
  • Description of creator(s): Data - the only other android in existence. He is a member of the Starship Enterprise, very intelligent, and a free being.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): To create a family.
  • Description of users of technology: Members and officers of the ship.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: social_presence
  • Description of presence experience: It is as if interacting with a precocious and intelligent child.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: at first, not aware. After speaking with her or interacting, they realize.
  • Valence of experience: enjoy it - she is friendly and polite.
  • Specific responses: enjoyment, involvement, intense parasocial relationships
Long-term consequences:

She experiences emotion, but it seems to be too much for her - her systems fail and she dies. Data, not bearing to lose her, incorporates her memories into his, so she will live on in his mind.

Other:

Coder name: Amanda Scheiner
Coder email: amandags@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University