When Star Trek: The Next Generation began production in 1987, Gene Roddenberry said he didn't want the new crew's weapons to look like the pistols seen on the first Star Trek. Rick Sternbach's solution was to design a wand-like personal phaser. Sternbach upgraded his concept during the third season, making it a little more angular and business-like. This version remained in use for the remainder of the run of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it found use on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, as well.