

(written from a Production point of view Real World article

The Star Trek Omnipedia is an interactive CD-ROM that contains content from the Star Trek Encyclopedia and Star Trek Chronology. It was succeeded by later versions that were simply called the Star Trek Encyclopedia.

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Blurb

A comprehensive electronic database to the Star Trek® universe, with photos, video, graphics, text and audio that mingle in thousands of indexed entries, cross-referenced from the first three Trek series and the first six Trek movies. Based on the print publications The Star Trek Encyclopedia and Star Trek Chronology, this is a multimedia tour of all the episodes, characters, actors, history, technology, and more. It's voice-activated (if your computer's equipped for that), and narrated by Mark Lenard (Spock's father Sarek). And if that's not enough, it will be updated on a regular basis – all registered users of the Omnipedia will receive the first update free, and thereafter will be notified of all new installments and supplementary material as it becomes available. That way, the Omnipedia need never be out-of-date.

Excerpts of copyrighted sources are included for review purposes only, without any intention of infringement.

Contents

The software allows the user to call up commands to the computer with the use of a microphone. An extensive training program is required before use, so that the computer will recognize the user's voice. For added authenticity, the user can address the "Computer" and it will reply with a beep before proceeding with the request.

Majel Barrett provides the voice of the computer and Mark Lenard narrates several featured topics illustrated with diagrams and imagery. These include biographies of James T. Kirk and Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek production history, The history of the Enterprise and the history of the future.

Versions

A Premier Edition of Omnipedia was also released for PCs. This set came with an individually numbered gold colored CD-ROM, the 4 CD Star Trek: Epics on Audio set, certificate of authenticity and cap. There was also a postage cost only offer enclosed for a limited edition "Star Trek Time Line" poster.

The initial release of Omnipedia covered all 3 seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series, all 2 seasons of Star Trek: The Animated Series, all 7 seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine up to Season 2 and the first six Star Trek films. Users who had registered the software received a free update CD-ROM in December 1995 that added information on DS9 Season 3, VOY Season 1 and the seventh feature film, Star Trek Generations. The update also introduced the ability for users to create their own articles and linked to the 16-bit version of the Next Generation CD-ROM released later, mainly for video clips. The version contained in the Star Trek Gift Set includes the update.

The Windows and Macintosh versions of Omnipedia were sold separately. The later Encyclopedia releases came with both versions.

The 1997 release (known simply as the Star Trek Encyclopedia) which came on 4 CD-ROMs was updated to include information up to DS9 Season 5, VOY Season 3 and the film Star Trek: First Contact. It included the 32-bit versions of the Next Generation and Deep Space Nine CD-ROMs.

The last 1999 release (on two CDs) covers up to the end of DS9 Season 7, VOY Season 5 and the film Star Trek: Insurrection. The software could also access the previous 32-bit Episode Guides or the updated Next Generation and Deep Space Nine Companion CD-ROMs released the same year.

Cover gallery