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Data (Brent Spiner)
A Humanoid android so sophisticated that he was regarded as a sentient life
form with full civil rights ("Encounter at Farpoint" TNG).
Creation
Data was built around 2336 by the reclusive scientist Noonien Soong at the
Omincron Theta Colony. Data was actually the second android created by Soong,
the first was known as Lore ("Datalore" TNG). Just prior to the destruction
of the colony by the Crystalline Entity, memories from all the colonists
were stored in Data's positronic brain for safe keeping ("Silicon Avater"
TNG). Data was then stored in a dormant condition underground, where he remained
until 2338 by the crew of the Starship Tripoli. Data subsequently joined
Starfleet and eventually became operations manager aboard the Enterprise-D
("Datalore" TNG).
Form and Function
Data was based on a sophisticated positronic brain developed by Soong, from
concepts postulated in the 20th century by Dr. Isaac Asimov ("Datalore" TNG).
Data's body closely mimiced humanoid form, and contained approximately 24.6
kilograms of tripolymer composites, 11.8 kilograms of molybdenum cobalt alloys,
and 1.3 kilograms of bioplast sheeting ("The Most Toys" TNG) His upper spinal
support was polyalloy, while his skull was composed of cortenide and duranium
("The Chase" TNG). Soong went to extraordinary lengths to create a naturalistic
human appearance in Data. He gave Data a functional respiration system, although
its purpose was primarily for thermal regulation. (Data was in fact
capable of functioning for extended periods in a vacuum.) He gave Data a
pulse in his circulatory system that distributed biochemical lubricants and
regulated microhydraulic power throughout Data's body. Data's hair was even
capable of growth at a controllable rate ("Birthright" TNG). Data did not
require food, he occasionally ingested a semi organic nutrient suspension
in a silicon based liquid medium ("Deja-Q" TNG). Although Data's systems
were primarily mechanical, cybernetic, and positronic, sufficient biological
components were present to allow him to become infected by the PSI
2000 virus in 2364. While under the influence of the inhibition stripping
effects of that virus, Data apparently became intimate with Enterprise-D
security chief Tasha Yar ("The Naked Now" TNG). Data's basic programming
included a strong inhibition against harming living beings, but nevertheless
had the ability to use deadly force to protect others ("The Most Toys"
TNG).
Data in Starfleet
Prior to his assignment on the Enterprise-D, Data served aboard the U.S.S.
Triest. During this tour of duty, the Trieste once fell through a wormhole
("Clues" TNG). Aboard the Enterprise-D, Data served as operations manager,
and was in charge of coordinating the many departments aboard the ship
("Encounter at Farpoint" TNG). In 2366, Commander Data was seriously injured
trying to save Q from attack by a gaseous creatures called the Calamarian.
In gratitude, Q gave Data the gift of allowing Data to experience human laughter
for a brief time ("Deja-Q" TNG). Data served as father of the bride for the
wedding of Miles O'Brien and Keiko Ishikawa in 2367, and found it necessary
to learn a dance to fulfill his ceremonial function ("Data's Day" TNG). Data's
first opportunity to command a starship came during the Federation blockade
during the Klingon civil war of 2368. Data was assigned temporary command
of the U.S.S. Sutherland in Picard's armada. As an android, Data encountered
a small amount of prejudice among his human crew, but nevertheless was able
to lead effectively ("Redemption" TNG). In late 2368, Data traveled back
in time to old San Fransisco when bizarre evidence was found suggesting that
he had died some 500 years ago. The evidence was Data's severed head, unearthed
from below the city of San Fransisco, where it had been buried for five centuries
("Time's Arrow, Part I" TNG). Back in the year 1893, Data uncovered a plot
by aliens from the planet Devidia II who were using the Cholera plague at
the time to conceal their murders of humans. While attempting to stop the
Devidians, Data's head was severed, and his body was sent forward in time,
back to 2368. Aboard the Enterprise-D, Geordi LaForge was successful in
reattaching Data's head and body ("Time's Arrow, Part II" TNG).
Efforts to understand humanity
Data's attempts to understand human nature once included an effort to learn
about the concept of humor, which he studied with the assistance of Guinan
and a holodeck created comedian ("Where Silence Has Lease" TNG) . Data even
tried a beard once, to the considerable amusement of his shipmates ("The
Schizoid Man" TNG). Aboard the Enterprise-D, Data shared his living quarters
with a cat named Spot. Data tried to provide for the cats well being, but
found it difficult to predict the cat's preferences in food ("Data's Day"
TNG) One of Data's more challenging efforts to experience humanity was his
attempt to pursue a romantic relationship with Enterprise-D security officer
Jenna D'Sora in late 2367. Although D'Sora was attracted to Data, he was
unable to return the affection, at least in a manner that she wanted ("In
Theory" TNG). Data began to experience dreams in 2369 as a result of an
accidental plasma shock received during an experiment. It was later learned
that the shock had triggered a program designed for this purpose by Soong,
who had hoped the program would be activated when Data reached a certain
level of development. Data's initial dreams were of Soong as a blacksmith,
incongruously forging the wings of a bird, which Data believed represented
himself ("Birthright" TNG). One of Data's most noteworthy efforts in his
quest for humanity was his construction of an android daughter in 2366. Data
employed a new positronic matrix transfer technology to allow his own neural
pathways to be duplicated in another positronic brain, which he used for
the basis of his child. His daughter, whom he named Lal (Hindi for "beloved"),
developed at a remarkable rate and showed evidence of growth potential beyond
that of her father, even experiencing emotions. Lal died after having lived
little more than two weeks, when she experienced a serious failure in her
positronic brain ("The Offspring" TNG).
Data and Lore
Upon returning to the Omicron Theta colony site in 2364, Data participated
in the discovery and activation of his android brother, Lore. Physically
identical to Data, Lore had radically different personality programming,
and attempted to commandeer the Enterprise-D before he was beamed into space
("Datalore" TNG). Although Soong was believed to have died at Omicron Theta,
he was discovered to have escaped the colony when , in 2367, he remotely
gained control of Data, commanding his creation to visit him in his new secret
laboratory. There, Soong attempted to install a new chip into Data's positronic
brain that would have given Data the ability to experience human emotions.
Unfortunately, Lore also responded to Soong's call, and stole the chip from
Soong's lab. Dr. Soong died shortly thereafter ("Brothers" TNG). Data began
experiencing emotions in 2369 when Lore secretly bombarded Data with signals
that triggered negative emotions in his positronic brain. Lore used these
negative emotions to manipulate Data into joining him and the Borg against
the Federation. When Data realized that Lore was manipulating him and harming
the Borg, he was forced to deactivate Lore (Descent, Parts I & II"
TNG).
Android rights
The question of Data's sentience, and more specifically whether Data was
entitled to full civil rights under the Constitution of the Federation of
Planets, was addressed in a number of important legal decisions. The first
in 2341 was rendered by a Starfleet Academy entrance committee that permitted
Data to enter the Academy and serve as a member of Starfleet. Several years
later, the question was more difinitivley addressed when Judge Advocate General
Phillip Louvous ruled that Data was indeed a sentient being and therefore
entitled to civil rights, including the right to resign from Starfleet if
he so chose. As of Stardate 42527, Data had been decorated by Starfleet Command
for gallantry and had received the Medal of Honor with clusters, and the
Legion of Honor, and the Star Cross ("The Measure of a Man" TNG)
Data first appeared in the episode "Encounter at Farpoint"
TNG.
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