LCARS Development Gallery

Voice Command - Confirmed

Long ago, there was a promised voice interface functionality; now, it's confirmed to be incorporated into both versions 5 and 6. Early tests are rather promising, even in the most unforgiving noisy environments. It is however, advisable to have a decent microphone. There's still a few minor glitches that need ironing out, but aside from that, everything is now ahead of schedule.

The fun part is standing up from your office chair, and shouting "Red Alert".

Now, onto the more technical side of things. The voice recognition is powered by Game Commander 2. It's simply the best engine for this type of human interface. Microsoft's APIs don't offer the simplicity of programmability that Game Commander 2 does nor does it match its accuracy. Using Game Commander 2 also takes a huge weight off total development time allocated to LCARS 47, since time that would have been spent tinkering with API code can go into ensuring quality graphics and a canon-fitting LCARS GUI.

Game Commander 2 - Download (no longer used)

Update: September 15 2014
We no longer support Game Commander (or any other voice control software) as we now bundle our own in-house software with the latest version of LCARS 47.

Federation Database Scan Animation Complete

The Federation Database animation is finally complete. I spent more time on this as I would have liked to, since each screen will only be displayed for 0.2 seconds (unless you hit the "hold" button). This animation represents the starting point of the user customizable database system.

There will be an update to the StartApp where you can launch the personnel database directory. There you can add your own crew, et cetera.

The database title also states the custom ship name which you can edit in the StartApp.

Security/CCTV Feature Complete

You may remember my previous post about a security monitor that could serve as a CCTV monitor. It's now complete, and working without any problems. I also decided to add the 'frame' from the holocamera from Star Trek: Voyager - "In the Flesh" since I thought it added a further LCARS charm to the screen - you know, moving arrows, scrolling numbers. 

Hopefully, this will provide a really useful feature for those of you with with a webcam on your front door. I'll probably further develop this area, since the usefulness potential is worth investing in.

Database Module

I've always loved those rapid database screens throughout the years of Star Trek like the monitor on Seven of Nine's alcove in Star Trek: Voyager - "The Voyager Conspiracy". Here's an early Flash preview enjoy.

SWF component removed. Reason 404.

Relics from the Archive • LCARS Media Player Skin Found

I found some old LCARS files while searching through my old archives. I thought I'd share them with you guys. They were made in 2008 and originally intended to be released with the long-ago-canned LCARS 47 version 2.0. Unfortunately, I think these are the only remaining LCARS files.

Download: RAR Archive (broken link removed)

Astrometrics; Bigger is Better

The Astrometrics animation come sequence come interactive module is coming along rather nicely. It's really starting to test the limits of my knowledge of stellar cartography throughout Star Trek. Anyways, I thought I'd give you all a little update.

Astrometrics

As much as I'd love to recreate the Astrometrics display from Voyager, or the Stellar Cartography lab from Generations, it's not really practical. Unless of course you have a huge convexed monitor, or several holographic screens. So I thought I'd do the next best thing - an interactive astrometrics display.

Simply click on the grid to zoom and see what's floating around in space. Click again to return to the main grid.

If you've already seen the previous post, there's three planets up for grabs if you fancy naming them.

Competition Time - Planet Naming

As the release of Version 6 draws near, I've decided to open up three planets' name slots to you guys. If you fancy naming any of the three planets in the screen above, leave a comment below. Winners will be announced on the release of LCARS 47 v6.0. Feel free to put forward as many names as you wish.

Waveform Analysis

A screen inspired from the Star Trek: Elite Force II game, I've always been a fan of the little tricorder waveform puzzles. It's only an animation, but I thought I'd try to capture the essence of the game.

Although I've been pretty strict with regards to canon, I have found games like Star Trek: Voyager: Elite Force and Star Trek: Elite Force II invaluable as they provide a practical 'in universe' method of research for the LCARS 47 project. 

If you're a fan of the Elite Force series, there are more than a few references to the game, as well as a few secrets and in-jokes for you to find. If you haven't yet played the game, I recommend you do.

XLVII Diebus

Only 47 days left until the full release of version 6.0. Alongside the release, version 5 will be updated to version 5.3. There will be a public beta released before then, for those who don't want to wait until then.

Peace, love and prosper,

Eleanor.

Loads of New Animations

I thought I'd update you all with regards to some of the new animations, but to even attempt to bring order to the chaos made my head hurt. So I did the next best thing, and decided to let you make sense of it.

The Borg Have Returned (Preview)

The Borg were easy to beat in the Version 5. Well, they're back for Version 6, and they've adapted. Be prepared to fight them off, by locking down computer systems and rerouting vital systems to avoid assimilation. If you fail, it's over.

Critical Failures

You won't find many developers that deliberately add a set of failures to a program. But sometimes, flickering monitors and system failures look really cool, and LCARS 47 is set to make use of failures. Don't worry, it wont just crash on you, but as part of the hidden secrets development, they'll make an appearance here and there.

Can you enter your codes in time?