Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

platypus · 04-29-2003, 05:42 AM

In several of his stories, the sci-fi author Larry Niven explores the societal changes brought about by such a technology.

The Earth is covered with a network of teleportation or transfer booths. Anyone with a credit card, can step into any public-access transfer booth, swipe the card through the reader, and type in someone’s phone number. The booth teleports you to the booth nearest that person’s address.

In a world of instantaneous travel, you are never more than a jump or two from any person. You are essentially a next-door neighbor to every other person on the planet. Moving to a new city to escape that psycho ex is pointless when he/she can practically flick to your door.

The transfer booth would seem to provide the ultimate alibi for murder. You could kill someone in Tokyo and be back among alibi providing witnesses before anyone notices that you've gone. Problem is, your alibi is worthless when your displacement booth use, like your telephone use, can be tracked. So it doesn't matter that you "were home in bed" at the time of the killing.

Niven also describes a "Flash Crowd" which occurs when large number of people teleport into areas where news is being made at the moment, i.e. riots. Kind of like "farking" a website.

"A Flash Crowd happens like this: Riot begins, more rioters transport in after seeing riot begin on the news, more news reporters transport in, every johnny-come-lately wanting a view of the riot transports in, every mad religious cultist wanting exposure transports in as well as looters who are coming in to take advantage of the overwhelming crowds. By this point, no one can transport out of the area as the transport booths are blocked by even more hawkers wanting to view the riot."

He also presents a solution. Authorities turn off the "receiving" capability of all booths near the riot. They also set the "sending" destination of these same booths to a large holding pen, say a sports arena. As people leave the riot area, they arrive on the 50 yard line, and must be "processed" through the gates.

All plausible effects from a technology that current physics says is impossible, but who knows. It would definitely make this world a much smaller place. No point in National Geographic shows - just go see for yourself. And no more security hell at the airport.

I would welcome it.

04-29-2003, 05:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
platypus Essen meine kurze Hosen Location: NY Burbs	In several of his stories, the sci-fi author Larry Niven explores the societal changes brought about by such a technology. The Earth is covered with a network of teleportation or transfer booths. Anyone with a credit card, can step into any public-access transfer booth, swipe the card through the reader, and type in someone’s phone number. The booth teleports you to the booth nearest that person’s address. In a world of instantaneous travel, you are never more than a jump or two from any person. You are essentially a next-door neighbor to every other person on the planet. Moving to a new city to escape that psycho ex is pointless when he/she can practically flick to your door. The transfer booth would seem to provide the ultimate alibi for murder. You could kill someone in Tokyo and be back among alibi providing witnesses before anyone notices that you've gone. Problem is, your alibi is worthless when your displacement booth use, like your telephone use, can be tracked. So it doesn't matter that you "were home in bed" at the time of the killing. Niven also describes a "Flash Crowd" which occurs when large number of people teleport into areas where news is being made at the moment, i.e. riots. Kind of like "farking" a website. "A Flash Crowd happens like this: Riot begins, more rioters transport in after seeing riot begin on the news, more news reporters transport in, every johnny-come-lately wanting a view of the riot transports in, every mad religious cultist wanting exposure transports in as well as looters who are coming in to take advantage of the overwhelming crowds. By this point, no one can transport out of the area as the transport booths are blocked by even more hawkers wanting to view the riot." He also presents a solution. Authorities turn off the "receiving" capability of all booths near the riot. They also set the "sending" destination of these same booths to a large holding pen, say a sports arena. As people leave the riot area, they arrive on the 50 yard line, and must be "processed" through the gates. All plausible effects from a technology that current physics says is impossible, but who knows. It would definitely make this world a much smaller place. No point in National Geographic shows - just go see for yourself. And no more security hell at the airport. I would welcome it. __________________ Out the 10Base-T, through the router, down the T1, over the leased line, off the bridge, past the firewall...nothing but Net.