Post by Captain Erys Murai on Feb 2, 2018 20:14:45 GMT -5
I haven't seen any other posts here about it, but after Valkriss asked me during RP I decided to find what I could about the Esper Rating. The only two mentions I can find are both in TOS, and both humans. One of those mentions includes this image:
On that image, there's two scales that I think are relevant to the topic of the Esper rating: the OSS Aperception Quotient, Duke-Heidelburg Quotient, and the General Knowledge Quotient. The OSS Aperception Quotient appears use a similar method to eyesight (20/20 being normal vision), except larger numbers are better (unlike the vision scale, where a larger second number means worse vision). The second one is a simple number going at least as high as 261, but I'd imagine it caps out higher, perhaps around 300. There's also a General Knowledge Quotient, but I'm not sure how relevant it is. The overal rating is also given as a simple "Esper rating", a 3-digit number that tops out at least above 091, I would guess around 100.
Known examples:
Dr. Elizabeth Dehner ("better than average")
- Esper Rating: 089
- Aperception Quotient: 20/100
- Duke-Heidelburg Quotient: 256
- General Knowledge Quotient: 654895-109
Gary Mitchel ("well above average")
- Esper Rating: 091
- Aperception Quotient: 20/104
- Duke-Heidelburg Quotient: 261
- General Knowledge Quotient: 878532-112
Since both were considered strong or extraordinary, we can assume they're on the upper end of the scale. Based on the two numbers, I can make a guess as to how the numbers move for each scale. Taking each of those and moving up based on completely arbitrary limits, that potentially gives the limits of the scale.
Esper Rating: 1 - 100
Aperception Quotient: 20/1 - 20/200
Duke-Heidelburg Quotient: 1 - 300
General Knowledge Quotient: 1000-001 - 999999-120
Esper Rating appears to be an overall rating, so simply stating the esper rating alone could be a good indicator of a person's abilities. If the limit only goes from 1-100, Gary Mitchel's "god-like" powers would be near the upper limit with his rating of 091, meaning that only a being like Q (or another person with similar esper rating) could stop him directly.
Aperception, assuming it means the same in Trek as it does in real life, refers to a persons ability to perceive and understand his surroundings. In other words, an esper with a high aperception quotient would be able to detect things that a normal person could not. The numbers above for the limits are completely arbitrary, of course. I used 200 because that's the threshold for legal blindness, and aperception seems to be opposite of the visual scale.
The Duke-Heidelburg Quotient is not very clear, and I have no real explanation for the 3-digit numbers involved.
The General Knowledge Quotient appears, at least in part, to be based on what is commonly known as IQ (Intelligence Quotient). According to that scale, anything below 50 is considered to have some mental handicap, with 20 or less being considered essentially incapable of functioning. On the other end, the scale goes to 200 but generally tops out no higher than 160 (Einstein), with the average being within 30 points of 100. (90% of all tested within 30, 68% tested within 15). The GKQ appears to either adjust that scale or use a slightly different one, as both examples are close to 100 and considered above or well above average. As such, I've set the upper limit at around 150, to make the limits relatively close as they are with the other skills.
Keep in mind, I'm just guessing here, so if other people have ideas (or if there's a fleet standard I've missed), let me know.
On that image, there's two scales that I think are relevant to the topic of the Esper rating: the OSS Aperception Quotient, Duke-Heidelburg Quotient, and the General Knowledge Quotient. The OSS Aperception Quotient appears use a similar method to eyesight (20/20 being normal vision), except larger numbers are better (unlike the vision scale, where a larger second number means worse vision). The second one is a simple number going at least as high as 261, but I'd imagine it caps out higher, perhaps around 300. There's also a General Knowledge Quotient, but I'm not sure how relevant it is. The overal rating is also given as a simple "Esper rating", a 3-digit number that tops out at least above 091, I would guess around 100.
Known examples:
Dr. Elizabeth Dehner ("better than average")
- Esper Rating: 089
- Aperception Quotient: 20/100
- Duke-Heidelburg Quotient: 256
- General Knowledge Quotient: 654895-109
Gary Mitchel ("well above average")
- Esper Rating: 091
- Aperception Quotient: 20/104
- Duke-Heidelburg Quotient: 261
- General Knowledge Quotient: 878532-112
Since both were considered strong or extraordinary, we can assume they're on the upper end of the scale. Based on the two numbers, I can make a guess as to how the numbers move for each scale. Taking each of those and moving up based on completely arbitrary limits, that potentially gives the limits of the scale.
Esper Rating: 1 - 100
Aperception Quotient: 20/1 - 20/200
Duke-Heidelburg Quotient: 1 - 300
General Knowledge Quotient: 1000-001 - 999999-120
Esper Rating appears to be an overall rating, so simply stating the esper rating alone could be a good indicator of a person's abilities. If the limit only goes from 1-100, Gary Mitchel's "god-like" powers would be near the upper limit with his rating of 091, meaning that only a being like Q (or another person with similar esper rating) could stop him directly.
Aperception, assuming it means the same in Trek as it does in real life, refers to a persons ability to perceive and understand his surroundings. In other words, an esper with a high aperception quotient would be able to detect things that a normal person could not. The numbers above for the limits are completely arbitrary, of course. I used 200 because that's the threshold for legal blindness, and aperception seems to be opposite of the visual scale.
The Duke-Heidelburg Quotient is not very clear, and I have no real explanation for the 3-digit numbers involved.
The General Knowledge Quotient appears, at least in part, to be based on what is commonly known as IQ (Intelligence Quotient). According to that scale, anything below 50 is considered to have some mental handicap, with 20 or less being considered essentially incapable of functioning. On the other end, the scale goes to 200 but generally tops out no higher than 160 (Einstein), with the average being within 30 points of 100. (90% of all tested within 30, 68% tested within 15). The GKQ appears to either adjust that scale or use a slightly different one, as both examples are close to 100 and considered above or well above average. As such, I've set the upper limit at around 150, to make the limits relatively close as they are with the other skills.
Keep in mind, I'm just guessing here, so if other people have ideas (or if there's a fleet standard I've missed), let me know.