The Future

As all you Star Trek fans, or trekkers/trekkies to give us our official title know, this franchise has, over the years shown us the future which we have all now adopted. I am talking, of course (Mainly) of computers. Star trek was the first show that showed us proper computers, laptops and even the iPad. Universal translators are used by troops abroad in Afghanistan, communicators (Mobile phones) have touched everyone's life for over 20 years. Laser weapons, communication earpieces (Bluetooth), voice commands such as those used in motor vehicles are used on a daily basis. The only thing that we haven't been any good at yet is the teleportation of organic material such as a human being.

This problem, as well as warp speed is, believe me, being worked on as you read this. With warp speed, I can image that something along these lines of propulsion will indeed materialise (Pun intended), but teleportation? I'm sorry, but I just cannot see how a machine can reduce a living body to sub atomic particles in one location, transport it through the ether and reassemble it perfectly in another location, hundreds, even thousands of miles away. To illustrate this, lets look at the potential problems.

1. Halfway through the teleporting process, the receiving machine breaks down. Where the hell do you go? All your bits are hanging around somewhere, but where? Now imagine that someone is, at the same time, beaming their favourite  poodle to the same broken down transporter. We've now got all it's bits floating around. Who's to say they aren't intermingling with your bits. By the time the AA have repaired the busted transporter (After first towing it to the nearest garage), your atoms have now become one with the poodle. So, when you eventually get to your destination, you have more than a passing resemblance to Russell Brand. Not good.

2. Again, half way through beaming across continents, you lose the signal (Think mobile phones). That would be fun. Will the destination location receive an automated message saying “Sorry, I can't come to the transportation pad at the moment, but please leave a message and Ill get back to you as soon as I land. Oh, and by the way, please make sure there are no dogs wondering about when I get there.

3. Have you seen the film The Fly? Enough said.

The potential for a cock up is immense. It is for this reason that I don't think we will see this technology in my life time. Besides which, the only people who will understand and therefore be able to operate this high tech food mixer will be adolescent zit covered school leavers. 

Beam me up Spotty!