Service Systems Example

As can be seen in the diagram piping and conduit for service systems typically run inside walls or bulkheads. Pictured are a local 400 Hz Power Panel, a Water Delivery Unit and a standard passageway Adaptapanel, commonly used in this case for internal communications, compartment environmental control and computer access.
400 Hz Local Power Panel: The 400 Hz Local Power Panel has controls for Solid State Switches and mechanical interrupts or active switches. The Solid State Switch has no moving parts and can be controlled remotely through the control system or locally. Active Switches provide a physical breaking of the current path (which is why they are sometimes called breakers). Solid State Switches have no moving parts but interrupt current through material modification. As the result of a biasing signal the material either becomes a conductor or an insulator. In the ancient past only small currents could be controlled in this way. Modern solid state switches can handle thousands of amps.
Water Delivery Unit: The water delivery unit can provide water at a controlled temperature to whatever container is placed under it. It can produce water at any temperature form ice cold to boiling hot. There are typically such units in every stateroom, at routinely staffed duty stations, such as the bridge or engineering control, and in various passageways. Galleys typically contain several with attachments to make filling pots easier. Advanced units can add flavorings and even carbonation and such units are typically installed in mess rooms and galleys.
Adaptapanels: Adaptapanel was originally a trade name for a now defunct Solonami controls company. The name has passed into common usage to describe the touch control panels often used for front end displays on starships.

The adaptapanel has its own miniprocessor, memory, and multiple network connectors, which allows them to be connected to the Security, Controls and Communications Networks while preserving network isolation. Strong security protocols maintain system isolation to prevent an attacker from using an adaptapanel to bridge across networks for unauthorized access. Each panel can act as a communication display, control local environment, and act as a security pickup for area monitoring. Specialized panels (that is a standard panel with special programming) are often used to control access to spaces or operate Iris Valves under biometric control. Each adaptapanel has its own embedded Local Control Processor.
On the NdN each Iris Valve is serviced by a pair of adaptapanels. The pair act as door controls with the ability to perform handprint scans to determine access to restricted areas. When no access restrictions are necessary the panel can display a simple "open" or "close" button. The comm unit can allow contact with the other side of the door, for staterooms or secured offices. Environmental readbacks can indicate the status of pressure, atmospheric composition or even gravity, on the far side of the valve. In an airlock both the airlock and decontamination systems can be controlled through the panel.
The adaptapanels on NdN are set to a IISS standard pattern. The array of buttons to select panel functions runs along the bottom. The right side of the panel has mutable buttons displayed for each selected function. The left panel area is dedicated to the specific function. So it might display a hand scanner waiting for a handprint at a secure door, or a visual readback for comm use or an parameter display for use in environmental control. When not in use the adaptapanels typically display a ship specific wallpaper with a prominently displayed touch field to activate the unit.