Kreg Asay, Sat October 1st 2011 1:23am
Computer Qualification Levels
Computer Qualification Levels
by Kreg Asay
Starfleet qualified Spock as an "A7 computer expert," but what exactly does that mean? It has not been referenced if the greatest computer expert of the TOS era, Dr. Richard Daystrom had a similar rating; in which case it leaves us with two possibilities.
* The ratings were specific to Starfleet or
* The ratings are Federation-wide, and Daystrom's was just never mentioned.
Personally I lean toward the first option since the ratings would have little impact on civilians. Nearly everyone would have some computer ability since they are so prevalent in Star Trek, but most would leave the 'technical' work (repairing/programming/etc...) to the experts just like they do today.
By today's standards there are range of computer "Qualifications" as a quick look on Wikipedia reveals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Information_technology_qualifications
With nearly every organization producing their own qualification standards it obviously doesn't translate to our theoretical 'Starfleet' model.
So what are the "Starfleet Computer Qualifications"? First please consider that these are all basic speculation on my part. Aside from building, upgrading, troubleshooting and repairing computers for my friends and family; and some HTML skills, I am not in any way a "computer expert" - your mileage may vary.
There are two parts to the Starfleet Computer Qualification. The first is the "letter" grade, followed by a numerical designation. The letters denote proficiency with specific types of computer from the most advanced to the least. The numerical designation shows level of proficiency with the type of computer. To advance upward you must have knowledge of the proficiencies below it. Naturally, as computer technology improves, people must be 're-certified' to keep their letter grade. Generally, as most new computer systems are related to the previous it doesn't take a huge effort to re-certify; unless of course there is a massive breakthrough in technology.
Starfleet Computer Grades (for the current 6th Fleet era):
A - Isolinear-Expanded
B - Bio-Neural
C - Isolinear
D - Duotronic (6th generation)
E - Monotronic (5th generation)
F - Microprocessor (4th generation)
Proficiency Designator
1 - Federation Computer Operations
2 - Basic troubleshooting / repair
3 - Basic programming
4 - Basic design / theory
5 - Alien / Foreign Operation
6 - Advanced troubleshooting / repair
7 - Advanced programming
8 - Advanced design / theory
So taking Spock's A7 grade, during TOS he would have been an expert in advanced computer programming (in Duotronics), and kept up on new computer design / theory since he was familiar with Daystrom's attempts at Multitronic computers. Since he was able to work with LCDR Data on the Romulan Computers in "Unification 1-2", he obviously kept up on his certification by TNG, thus by current 6F standards, if he hadn't kept up past TNG he would have only a C7 grade; but as he easily piloted the "Jellyfish" in the last movie, it would appear that he remained familiar with post-TNG computers, thus his current certification would remain at least A7 or no lower than B7.
Most Starfleet Officers, regardless of department; would graduate from the Academy with at least a B1 grade, Engineers and some Scientists would have at least an A2 grade. Computer Specialists should easily reach A4 upon graduation. It would take a lot of work to reach the grade 7 proficiency or above, as such very few line duty officers (I.E. those serving on ships) achieve it, or even need to.
by Kreg Asay
Starfleet qualified Spock as an "A7 computer expert," but what exactly does that mean? It has not been referenced if the greatest computer expert of the TOS era, Dr. Richard Daystrom had a similar rating; in which case it leaves us with two possibilities.
* The ratings were specific to Starfleet or
* The ratings are Federation-wide, and Daystrom's was just never mentioned.
Personally I lean toward the first option since the ratings would have little impact on civilians. Nearly everyone would have some computer ability since they are so prevalent in Star Trek, but most would leave the 'technical' work (repairing/programming/etc...) to the experts just like they do today.
By today's standards there are range of computer "Qualifications" as a quick look on Wikipedia reveals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Information_technology_qualifications
With nearly every organization producing their own qualification standards it obviously doesn't translate to our theoretical 'Starfleet' model.
So what are the "Starfleet Computer Qualifications"? First please consider that these are all basic speculation on my part. Aside from building, upgrading, troubleshooting and repairing computers for my friends and family; and some HTML skills, I am not in any way a "computer expert" - your mileage may vary.
There are two parts to the Starfleet Computer Qualification. The first is the "letter" grade, followed by a numerical designation. The letters denote proficiency with specific types of computer from the most advanced to the least. The numerical designation shows level of proficiency with the type of computer. To advance upward you must have knowledge of the proficiencies below it. Naturally, as computer technology improves, people must be 're-certified' to keep their letter grade. Generally, as most new computer systems are related to the previous it doesn't take a huge effort to re-certify; unless of course there is a massive breakthrough in technology.
Starfleet Computer Grades (for the current 6th Fleet era):
A - Isolinear-Expanded
B - Bio-Neural
C - Isolinear
D - Duotronic (6th generation)
E - Monotronic (5th generation)
F - Microprocessor (4th generation)
Proficiency Designator
1 - Federation Computer Operations
2 - Basic troubleshooting / repair
3 - Basic programming
4 - Basic design / theory
5 - Alien / Foreign Operation
6 - Advanced troubleshooting / repair
7 - Advanced programming
8 - Advanced design / theory
So taking Spock's A7 grade, during TOS he would have been an expert in advanced computer programming (in Duotronics), and kept up on new computer design / theory since he was familiar with Daystrom's attempts at Multitronic computers. Since he was able to work with LCDR Data on the Romulan Computers in "Unification 1-2", he obviously kept up on his certification by TNG, thus by current 6F standards, if he hadn't kept up past TNG he would have only a C7 grade; but as he easily piloted the "Jellyfish" in the last movie, it would appear that he remained familiar with post-TNG computers, thus his current certification would remain at least A7 or no lower than B7.
Most Starfleet Officers, regardless of department; would graduate from the Academy with at least a B1 grade, Engineers and some Scientists would have at least an A2 grade. Computer Specialists should easily reach A4 upon graduation. It would take a lot of work to reach the grade 7 proficiency or above, as such very few line duty officers (I.E. those serving on ships) achieve it, or even need to.
