Bio-Neural Gelpack

The Bio-Neural gelpack, first used on the Intrepid Class Starship, is a major advancement in Starfleet computing technology. The processing system is modeled on human neural tissue which processes calculations on a "best-guess" basis, which is far faster than conventional optical computing.

The Bio-neural gel packs used in Voyager's computer system represent a scientific leap that is comparable to the introduction of duotronic circuitry in the 23rd century. As Bio-neural circuitry is composed of synthetic cerebral neurons suspended in a gel matrix, the computers are able to operate in a similar way to that of a humanoid brain. This means they operate much faster than isolinear chips making a best guess rather than working through all the possible calculations.

When the Intrepid class U.S.S. Voyager NCC-74656 was launched in 2371, it was equipped with state-of-the-art computers. The starship combines traditional isolinear circuitry with advanced bio-neural systems that organize information more efficiently and perform incredibly complex procedures at very high speed.

Organic Computers

The bio-neural systems consist of a series of gel packs that contain synthetic neural fibers suspended in biomimetic gel, a gelatinous organic medium. Each pack consists of a transparent, flexible casing that contains the fluid, and a metallic interface bar at the top that can be plugged into the ship's systems, meaning that it can be swapped as easily as an isolinear chip. The neural fibers in the gel pack are created artificially and resemble humanoid neurons, while the bi-neural systems mimic the working of the humanoid brain and are significantly taster and more efficient than optical circuitry. The fibers in an individual gel pack are capable of making billions of connections, thus generating an incredibly sophisticated and responsive computing architecture. This kind of organic circuitry allows computers to 'think' in very similar ways to living organisms; by using 'fuzzy logic, they can effectively guess the answer to complex questions. The gel packs can operate independently of other systems or, if necessary, they can use the isolinear cores to perform number-crunching operations and for data reference. The gel packs are used in systems throughout the U.S.S. Voyager, but their principal function is to make instantaneous navigational computations. For example, they can calculate course corrections in real time for optimal fuel consumption.