3.6 Personal Access Display Device (PADD)

In its primary role aboard ship, the PADD is a handheld control and display terminal. Access to the computer and other pieces of equipment is usually accomplished through the normal controls and terminals, but for most the PADD is a convenient way of doing this 'away from the desk'.

The standard PADD is 10x 15 x 2 cm and is constructed from three basic layers of imbedded circuit-composite material. All primary electronics, including the display screen (or holoemitter, depending on the model), are bonded to the casing, a boronite whisker epoxy. If dropped, even from a height of 30 meters, a PADD will remain undamaged. Replaceable components are limited, such as the nanofusion or sarium power loop, bucky crystal or isolinear memory chips, and subspace transceiver assembly (STA).

In normal daily use, the power supply remains installed and is either induction recharged or simply fuel replenished. A full charge on the battery will last 16 hours, a fuel cell about 3 days. If a PADD is about to exhaust its power source, it can set a memory flag in the main computer to transfer tasks to a working unit, or suspend them until a later time. The total memory capacity of the isolinear chips is about 4.4 kiloquads, the bucky crystals around 10. Like the tricorder, the PADD can transfer its total memory to the main computers in less than one second if the need arises. The STA is used to maintain data channels between the PADD and the Camelot computers. If taken on an away mission, the PADD can also perform uplink\downlink operations and function as a transporter lock-on node. Data transmissions and computing functions can be shared with any other device sharing the STA COM protocols. As with any communicator, transmissions are encrypted for security purposes.

The display screen allows for the manipulation of control graphics, numerical data and images by touch. Electrosensitive areas are designed for specific data movement and storage functions. They can also be used to personalize the default setup and single-crew member security restriction. An audio pickup permits verbal input. An imbedded optical CCD permits visual scanning for data purposes.

The PADD's control functions mimic those of any multilayer panel. Properly configured with the CONN position bridge controls, a crewmember could conceivably fly the Camelot while having a drink in the lounge, though any such person attempting this should probably be sent in for mental help. Custom PADD configurations can be fabricated aboard any starship, and as such these specs are for Camelot PADDs only.