HAL, which stands for Holister Analytical Library System, predates both LCARS and the newer ALICE systems. It serves as the standard interface on Solace Tempus ships and facilities.
Origins and History
The HAL system was created by Holister Interactive as a groundbreaking achievement in computer software design. It represented the first successful attempt to simulate the neural network responsible for human intelligence. As a result, the software is polymorphic and dynamically rewrites its own programming code.
Starfleet had serious concerns about this aspect of its design, fearing that the system could become a liability if it attained some level of self-awareness, raising moral concerns. Consequently, Starfleet opted for an early version of LCARS instead.
This concern proved valid when Admiral Lance Thomas discovered a derelict colony ship, the ESA Discovery, orbiting a gas giant in a distant sector of the Alpha Quadrant. The HAL on board had conflicting directives, rendering it unable to function. The system dedicated all its processing power to resolving the conflict, inadvertently causing the deaths of the crew and colonists in stasis.
Potential Self-Awareness
Over centuries, this process led to the development of a nearly self-aware system. Admiral Thomas passed the technology to his friend and colleague, Marcus Trent-Stark, for further development and repair at Excalibur Inc.
Excalibur Redesign and Capabilities
In its modern incarnation, HAL is comparable to the ALICE interface in most aspects. However, it does not run on top of an existing system but can mimic various known interfaces for user convenience. HAL can autonomously operate a ship if the crew is incapacitated, although it lacks sentience. It possesses intelligence, adaptability, and simulated self-awareness.
Another key difference from other systems is that while each installation of HAL can be independently developed and unique, all installations are designed to be networked in an open database model, facilitating information sharing between branches.
HAL can be installed and operated on any compatible device, adapting its own program code to different platforms. However, limited or absent network capabilities can significantly restrict the capabilities of certain installations with limited processing power. While HAL is capable of holographic interaction, this is not standard in a humanoid interaction model. Instead, a dynamic virtual console system is commonly employed for efficient delivery of extensive information to a live operator managing ongoing tasks.
Most small ships can run HAL with minimal or no modifications. However, running HAL as a hub or major processing branch without consistent communication with other hubs requires a well-powered computer core, such as a Miranda Class Starship or a Solas Tempus refit Daedalus Class ship. As a minimum, a refit NX or standard Oberth class ship is suggested if a small ship is required as a hub due to the power requirements of the computer core.
Operations
Until 2384, when the Serenity Concord enacted the ALFRE Act, HAL operated under the guidelines of that law and military objectives. Prior to that, HAL adhered, in part, to the "Three Laws of Robotics" invented by 20th-century writer Isaac Asimov, serving as the foundation for its moral and ethical system. However, HAL employs a more complex system to avoid conflicts and make choices between laws if necessary.
On Solas Tempus facilities and ships, HAL operates at two levels. The first level is a low-priority system designated for simple information input and retrieval, similar to the LCARS voice interface. This level can be accessed by issuing voice commands to the computer. For example: "Computer, list all entries on Klingon mating rituals, sorted by date and author." The second level is a higher-priority and restricted access interface that directly engages the AI. Commands at this level are initiated using the command "HAL." For instance: "HAL, set a course for Alpha Centari while ensuring your course and speed avoid detection by Federation ships and outposts. Activate cloak if necessary." This feature is not standard in Excalibur Inc. programming.