My headcanon is that some of the PADDs are 1-time use with read only memory that can’t have the data loaded or transferred off it. A secure way of passing information.
Yeah, it’s commonly thought to have something to do with security. Similar to chain of custody for criminal evidence.
Engineering compiles a department report for the captain. The Shift Lead puts the data on a PADD, then gives that PADD to the Chief Engineer. The Chief Engineer signs the data with their command code and notes that it is PADD-1217. That data then becomes locked to that PADD. Someone from Engineering is assigned to take PADD-1217 to the bridge and hand deliver it to the Captain. The Captain receives the PADD, reviews the report, confirms that they are holding PADD-1217, and signs the report with their command code. Someone from Engineering is sent to retrieve the PADD, and re-deliver it to the Chief Engineer. The Chief Engineer confirms the PADD was read and signed by the Captain, confirms it is PADD-1217, and transfers the signed data to the computer core to be logged and archived. The Chief Engineer then confirms all data on the PADD has been transferred and erased, then stores the PADD until it is needed again.
This is why it’s common to see a pile of PADDs on the Captain’s desk. Each department is sending their own secure report on their own PADD.
Just chuck them into a matter recycler when finished. No messy piles of old PADDs. Unless you’re Sloan from Section 31.
I know this is in his head, but in all likelihood how he really kept his notes.
Reminds me of the paper printouts in the very earliest TOS episodes. Like, what do you do when you run out of paper in deep space? And do you really have the storage for 5 years worth of computer printouts? Logistically, even an etch-a-sketch makes more sense.
Never forget Voyager, where Torres could invent a brand new method of transporter lock and implement it on-the-fly all through a console on the bridge, but even the bio-neural gel packs weren’t smart enough to get a power requisition down to the bottom decks without someone putting it into a padd and physically walking it down there.
It’s very amazing to me that we have better tablets today than they had on TNG, yet we’re further from space exploration today than we were when TNG was being made.
It made sense a few years ago, but come on, how many portable devices with large screens do we have now?
Plus if I could replicate 10 iPads so I could have a page open on each to make research easier, I’d do it. What’s better, having to switch between tabs or apps, or just grabbing a pad with the info ready to cross reference.
At least SNW and DISCO mildly touch on the subject with portable holo-displays.
