Isolinear Chips

Incomplete Page!

This page is incomplete! The author might still be writing it, or there are TODO markers around, indicating some work to be done.

Isolinear Chips, otherwise known as Isolinear Optical/Processing Chips, are a technology introduced in The Next Generation. Isolinear systems are what generally run a starship in that era, replacing the duotronic systems in The Original Series. Isolinear chips are a physical storage medium as well as an operational and processing controller.

Design and History

Isolinear chips feature a circuit-like design on either one or both sides of the ship. Generally, hero chips always have the design on both sides. This design is either laser etched, silkscreened, or decaled, with the decal option being the rarest. More often, strong laser etching is preferred, since it won't bleed as much as ink would.

TODO: The design on the isolinear chips changed over time during the run of TNG/DS9/VOY. All variations on the art should be catalogued and organized.

TODO: Discuss the Enterprise-E isolinear chips, and the Enterprise-B isolinear chips from Star Trek: Generations.

Media

• 
  Isolinear Chips scanned on a flatbed scanner. Due to the light of the scanner, the neon-green (left) appears yellow, and the aqua (right) appears brighter.
• 
  Same chips, correct colors.
• 
  Isolinear Chips from the inside of a PADD. Guest starring some 20th century circuit boards.
• 
  Screen-Used ISO Chips, various.
• 
  Early iteration of the ISO Chip from Seasons 1 and 2 of TNG.
• 
  Screen-used Early ISO Chip.
• 
  Ditto, rear.
• 
  Screen-Used Enterprise-E ISO Chip.
• 
  Ditto, rear.
• 
  A not-oft-seen Isolinear Chip in VOY, due to that ship's reliance on Bio-Neural Gel Packs.
• 
  The isolinear chip's label design cameo's on an away team's kit in VOY.

Trivia

• In the VOY episode "Memorial" (S6xE14) the away team returns from a mission with athletic bags that feature a label design that is taken straight from the later TNG Isolinear Chips. (see Media)