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From: eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Those little casettes to order food by
Message-ID: <31@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 2-Aug-84 17:05:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.31
Posted: Thu Aug  2 17:05:29 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 5-Aug-84 00:13:14 EDT
References: <1539@pegasus.UUCP>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace, Seattle
Lines: 19

[2 August 1984]

     Possible rationale for insertion of cassettes: they are like the
little boxes I have seen used with photocopiers, they only authorize the
use of the machine.  The food server operates like the elevators, by
voice command.  It just monitors anything said in its vicinity for the
last 60 seconds or so, and identifies anything on its 'menu'.  Then
when the 'credit slab' is inserted, the food system delivers the order.

     Have you noticed how much a removable data cartridge resembles the
slabs used in ST?  The ones used by Hewlett-Packard on their 264X series
terminals are even the same size as the ones in ST.  Many technologies
used in ST are either here now, or just beyond what is state of the
art.  The exceptions are space transportation (darn it) and matter
transmission.

Dani Eder / Launch Vehicle Group / Space Systems Division / Boeing Aerospace
Company / "Tomorrow, you can be anywhere"