Part of the reason I went for a Trek base was due to the fact that the Star Trek universe had a rich history and technology that was so commonly known there’d be no need to explain it. Klingons, Vulcans, transporters, phasers… all leaked into popular culture.

So when I came up with the Link, I’m not sure what I was thinking…

The Link is a multi-functioning tool and mini-personal computer. In the Star Trek world it looks similar to a PADD (Personal Access & Display Device, basically an electronic file) at first glance but it’s more like a 25th century iPhone. By that I mean it has a crap load of add ons and applications and as such can be used as a tricorder, interfaces with the central database (internet) and you can store files, use it as a notebook, write reports, store personal schedule and set alarms, use it as a backup communicator and every possible function you can think of.

It’s also used to read news with the latest bulletins being uploaded every 20 minutes and has a fully customisable front page like iGoogle. Plus the whole interface and look ((yes, including wallpaper) can be chosen by the user.

With the direction technology is taking something like this made sense.

Within the context of SKR it’s a Kolar device that’s been issued and applied to all Starfleet officers working within the city and the Kolar region to be kept on you at all times.

Add ons include tools that can be interfaced with it (kinda like bluetooth) such as any engineers tool, a seperate filing system or personal computer, another Link or even cybernetic implants/modems which are similar to the dataport’s seen in Deep Space Nine.

It’s the swiss army knife of Star Trek technology.

The above picture was knocked together in MS paint in less than two minutes, so it’s not the best example but basically on the left you have a file list with an application menu below that, display on the right side with the far right being any tools that be needed – spellchecker etc.

The base package is filled with blues and is semi-transparent, but the background, layout, text etc is all fully customisable to the user so everyones looks different.

And thats that.