What happened to the “arch” they used in the first season?
Its intended use was as a way to program the Holodeck and access the ship’s computer, as well as a virtual reality “safeword”. In later episodes, they just used the “exit” and programmed the computer by voice. It is still around, recently seen in “Ship In A Bottle” [TNG]. The arch was how Moriarty first learned that he was a simulation, and gained control of the ship in “Elementary, Dear Data” [TNG], and it was seen in Star Trek: Generations as well.
