Tricom badge

The tricom badge was a combination of combadge, holoPADD, tricorder, computer, and portable transporter designed to be worn on a Starfleet uniform. It was in use by the late 32nd century.

Functions on the tricom were activated by hand gestures:

• A fist and then an upward open palm activated the holoPADD. A tap of the badge deactivated the holoPADD.
• A squeeze and pulling out gesture of the hand activated the tricorder. Reverse movements deactivated the tricorder.
• A single tap on the badge would activate the transporter. A holographic coordinate system would appear, upon which the user would type in their destination. Then, the user would tap the badge and they would be transported.
• A double tap on the badge would activate the home button, which would transport the user back to where they were going.

Along with the many functions listed here, the tricom indicated the rank of the individual, with ranks ranging from crewman to fleet admiral.

Having arrived in 3189, Philippa Georgiou expressed an interest in Kovich's badge, and promptly broke it under her heel when he allowed her to "play with it." (DIS: "Die Trying")

Starfleet Command replaced the 23rd century badges of the USS Discovery crew with the tricoms. They were trained in how to use the tricoms by Lieutenant Audrey Willa and others. The first gesture taught to them was for activating the holoPADD. While some adjusted to the new badges, others, like Lieutenant junior grade Linus, found the adjustment more difficult. He struggled with the single tap and double tap functions of the badge, finding himself not where he wanted to be. (DIS: "Die Trying", "Scavengers")

The tricom badge contained its own computer that responded to spoken commands, and could work independently from a starship's main computer when communication was not possible. Captain Burnham addressed the computer and asked it to perform scans and other tasks while exploring the Progenitors' portal. (DIS: "Life, Itself")

Starfleet Academy cadets had a different version of the tricom badge that omitted the oval backing, with the emblem rendered in three silver shapes, with rank pips denoted by four short bars that protruded from the right side. (DIS: "All Is Possible")

Appendices[]

Background information[]

The name of this technology is from Property Master Mario Moreira in the aftershow TRR: "Scavengers". He explained in the show how the badge was made in the prop shop and how it works in the Star Trek universe. He worked on the hand gestures, which the actors, like their fictional counterparts, had to learn.

The various ranks on the tricoms were shown in the aftershow.

External link[]

• Tricom badge at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works