by Melissa Mcclain

Created on: March 02, 2010

Few television shows can credit themselves as being as influential, motivational, and as all-inclusive as Star Trek.  Regardless of a person's race, gender, age, or occupation they can identify with at least some aspects of the show.  There are astronauts, teachers, scientists, politicians, Soldiers and a variety of other professionals that credit Star Trek with encouraging them to follow their dreams.  Star Trek isn’t just food for thought, it motivates people. 

Whether it was Scotty’s genius engineering techniques or Riker’s awesome jazz trombone solo, people all over the world have seen a character do something on Star Trek and thought “I want to do that”.  Whatever your interests, Star Trek likely had an episode somehow related to it.  Star Trek has sports, music, technology, martial arts, fine dining, pets, children, archaeology, art, sex, romance, ghosts, large lizard-creatures, botany, and tea (Earl Grey, hot).  Three dimensional chess was just a cool idea when it was first introduced in the original series.  Now you can actually buy a three dimensional chess set and learn how to play.  And, I’m sure that there are plenty of cat owners out there who chose to name their cats Spot.    

If ever there was an area that was affected by Star Trek, it would be within the realm of technology.  Countless scientists have been inspired by Star Trek, often with surprising results.  Today’s cellular phones are reminiscent of the original series’ communicator with its flip phone design.  Scientists are still working on the concept of the transporter.  In fact, Physicist Michio Kaku stated in Discovery Channel magazine in August of 2008 that a transporter would likely be invented within 10 years.  Medical technology has taken a page from the Star Trek book as well, and is continuously developing non-invasive ways to scan the body for signs of injury or illness.  And, of course, it goes without saying that the first space shuttle was named Enterprise.  

Aside from the technological aspect of Star Trek, the show has also provoked thoughts and discussions on cultural and social issues.  Many socially relevant issues have been woven into Star Trek storylines over the years, often without the viewer realizing it.  Star Trek has the unique context of a fictional future world whereby it can address these socially pertinent issues without sounding preachy or creating a great deal of controversy.  In the end though, we all want what the Earth of the Star Trek Universe has; no poverty, no need to worry about money, no more racism.  In the Star Trek reality we are a world united to meet a bigger challenge; the Universe.     

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