Replicator (Star Trek) - Uses

Uses

One of the most important pieces of technology in the Star Trek universe, the replicator is used primarily to provide food and water onboard starships, thus eliminating the need to stock most provisions. (Starships, starbases, and other installations stock some provisions for emergency use, in case of replicator failure or an energy crisis.) On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, it was established that as long as there is an energy source to power life support, replication is used to provide breathable air on ships and starbases (and to disassemble the carbon dioxide exhaled by the crew), thus providing a seemingly endless supply of oxygen and eliminating the need to carry air tanks.

The technology is also used for producing spare parts, which makes it possible to repair most ship damage without having to return to a starbase. Other applications include replication of Starfleet uniforms, as well as everyday objects such as toys and souvenirs. Replication is also used by the Holodeck program to allow food, clothes and other objects belonging within a simulation to be used or consumed by the participants.

Starfleet's safety protocols prevent unauthorized replication of dangerous objects, such as weapons and poisonous substances.

Replicators can also convert matter into energy. Following that principle, the device can dismantle any object into subatomic particles. The ensuing energy can then be stored for future use or immediately applied in a subsequent replication. This process is referred to as "recycling", and is applied to everything from dirty dishes to outgrown children's clothes.

Replicator technology, even if produced on a larger scale, cannot be used to create complex objects such as shuttlecraft or starships (production staff felt that being able to replicate entire starships "at the push of a button" would severely impact dramatic potential). However, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, industrial replicators are used to replicate large components of ships, shuttlecraft, and other pieces of this sort, which are later used in shipyards to construct such vessels. In this manner, as few as 15 industrial replicators are enough to replicate the components needed to build a fleet of starships or to help a civilization recover from a planet-wide natural disaster.

By virtually eliminating material scarcity, replicator technology plays an important role in the moneyless human economy within the Star Trek universe.