It has been shown in several TNG episodes and mentioned in the STTNG Technical Manual that the holodeck does not only project light or forcefields, but is also capable of actually creating matter. It is obvious that the holodeck includes replicators to generate permanent matter. Only in this way it can be explained why Wesley remains wet after leaving the holodeck in TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint" and why the piece of paper with the Enterprise schematic drawn by Moriarty continues to exist outside the holodeck in TNG: "Elementary, Dear Data". Still, there is also the so-called "holomatter", that is equivalent to real matter, as long as it remains on the holodeck. The properties of holomatter (namely Moriarty) and the possibility to convert it to real matter with the help of the transporter are discussed in TNG: "Ship in a Bottle".
The holomatter characters in TNG: "The Big Goodbye" do actually vanish just outside the range of the holoprojectors. However, according to the STTNG Technical Manual this matter does not cease to exist outside the holodeck, but is only without computer control. Maybe the holdeck has been improved in the meantime so as to provide "real" characters.
The Mobile Greater 'Fable 'Zone Fleet evolves in a time which is only approximately defined. Based essentially circa 2378-2380, there are still definitely elements of 2150 "Eternal" Technology in there.
Since the ship technology has progressed only gradually, the previous discussion relating to earlier Holodeck Technology is still important.
You enter the Holodeck and your clothes change into an outfit. One program involves chilling out in a strange Caf� , the "Replimat Corner".
Drinks materialise.......You wait a moment and strange people come into the Caf� corner.
Replimat Corner
You step into another Holodeck program, and the black and yellow grid changes to a gaming scene. You tell the computer you would like to play a futuristic version of Mah-Jong or a Card-Game and off you go.
The computer generates the table and your choice of card-game.
Gaming Table
The next program is more sophisticated, and is for Marine Training Missions similar to those organised in the StarBase 17 environment. The orbiting StarBase is teeming with Starfleet activity.
