Editing Technology in Star Trek (section)

====Modified warp scale (''The Next Generation'', ''Deep Space Nine'', ''Voyager'', and ''Picard'')====

For ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' and the subsequent series, ''Star Trek'' artist [[Michael Okuda]] drew up a new warp scale and devised a formula based on the original one but with an important difference: In the [[half-open interval]] from 9{{nbsp}}to 10, the exponent{{nbsp}}''w'' increases toward infinity. Thus, in the Okuda scale, warp velocities approach warp 10 [[asymptotically]]. According to the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual]]'' there is no exact formula for this interval because the quoted velocities are based on a hand-drawn curve; what can be said is that at velocities greater than warp 9, the form of the warp function changes because of an increase in the exponent of the warp factor{{nbsp}}''w''. Due to the resultant increase in the [[derivative]], even minor changes in the warp factor eventually correspond to a greater than exponential change in velocity. Warp factor 10 was set as an unattainable maximum of a theoretical infinite speed, at which an object would occupy all points in the universe simultaneously (according to the new scale, reaching or exceeding warp 10 required an infinite amount of energy). This is described in ''[[List of Star Trek technical manuals|Star Trek Technical Manuals]]'' as "Eugene's limit", in homage to creator/producer [[Gene Roddenberry]].

As stated in the collection ''Star Trek Fact Files'', no ship, including highly developed ships like the Borg cube, may exceed warp factor 9.99 with their normal warp drive. To achieve higher speeds, the use of [[transwarp]] technology is required.