It's February 13th. I have a Valentines dinner planned in NYC. But, my one way flight to San Jose, California leaves me with no time to get a flight back. But, the subject of my interview today assures me I will make it to my date on time and well rested. This is a tall order, since my flight out had me packed onto a full flight and I almost couldn't find my luggage when I landed. I'm not even feeling well rested now.
I'm speaking to Dr Sam Dunn. The inventor of the transportation system everyone is talking about. I'm sitting in his office at the 3T Transportation Offices in San Jose. I'm Anna Tuton, and this is one exciting interview.
AT: Dr Dunn, everyone I've talked to has their own take on what you are doing here. I'm going to ask you about some of them. But, I'm about to go from California to New York in mere moments. So, the first thing I want to know; just how safe is this transportation?
SD: Perfectly Safe. We've passed every test thrown at us. We have a 100% success rate. Including socks. You can't even say that about your dryer.
AT: No I can't.
SD: The process doesn't move you anywhere. It's a trick of folding interdimensional space to change your location. Since you aren't moving, there is literally no change to you.
AT: That's a little more technical that I can wrap my head around. And from what I've read, some scientists aren't exactly sure what you are talking about either.
SD: It's some pretty unexplored areas. The idea of interdimensional connections and space folding aren't completely unheard of in published papers. I just found a way to put them to practical use with some proprietary technology that allows it to affect macrospace items safely and wholely.
AT: But, your proprietary technology is not published. It's not even patented. Aren't you afraid someone else will figure out what you are doing and repeat it. Swoop in and take it all out from under you.
SD: I'm confident that others are a long way away from figuring out my trick. This is a third generation secret that we've been perfecting until it was working. Now we bring it to the world. We've kept our secrets this long. We believe we can keep them longer.
AT: Wouldn't there be some global advantage to sharing this technology to help the many rather than the few.
SD: We aren't keeping the secret just to get rich. You are traveling to NY for $100. That's the rate now. As usage increases we will likely lower that cost. We are keeping the secrets, because there are people in the world bent on destroying things and people. There has to be some management of the resources.
AT: Lower? I thought that was the introductory rate. So you are expecting to be able to close the gap on travel completing the "live where you want, work where you need" equation?
SD: Exactly. When we can remotely communicate with people at any time, the ability to bring supplies and people where they are needed brings the greatest freedom to 7.8 billion people on the planet. I intended to facilitate access, not block it.
AT: So what can I expect when I travel here in an hour?
SD: You don't have to worry about anything. When it's your groups turn, we will allow you to go to the lower platform. Just stand so you and all your luggage are inside the inner circle. We will initiate a countdown from 10, around 3 you will notice the area around the platform dim down to total darkness shortly after 1. After a few seconds in darkness you will hear a count up 1 to 10. We ask you to stay still and relaxed until 10 is reached even though the lights will be back up to full by about 3. You will be in New York City. Grab your gear and go get a taxi to get a nights sleep before your big date.
AT: I look forward to that. Are there any risks? What happens if I'm slightly out of the inner circle?
SD: While I can't guarantee someone doing something stupid and unexpected can't hurt themselves, the outer circle is the transportation zone. We will abort if anything looks like it gets close to that line. Both human and machine observation is watching the line. The inner circle is three feet in from that line to allow you to relax knowing you are well inside the zone.
AT: That does make me feel better about possibly being positioned at the edge of the circle. This technology for goods and services alone would have been a huge improvement. Can you answer why people testing was pushed forward so much?
SD: I'm a human first person. Goods and services are fine. But, we have ways of getting things where we need things. People traveling is always unpredictable and unsafe. I'd like to help all of humanity in that way. I'm looking to work with current travel companies as we expand to make sure they remain profitable and involved if they want to work with our technology. Plus, we can only build single point-to-point stations. They take a lot of space. So some transportation in local markets will still be needed. Something will work out. I have faith in that.
Shortly after that, I was checked into my travel group. I'm told they can transport about 40 people and luggage at a time. But, they are keeping the groups to 10 for now as they ramp up. I watched the prior group go onto the platform. The darkness wasn't like anything I expected. It wasn't the lights being dimmed. It was literal darkness as the countdown ended. Just a sphere of black. When the countdown hit 0, it started counting up. By, 3 the darkness was gone. At 10 they started checking us in and reminding us to stay in place once we pick a spot on the platform. And to relax.
Our countdown seemed so much longer. I was so anxious. watching the edges of the circles. Then it started to dim. I was shortly surrounded by black.
I heard the one, but not the zero. Then a moment later I felt different. Like I moved, but I didn't. Then the one again, followed by 2 as the lights quickly came back to us. I was thankful the transportation deck was dimly lit.
At 10 they came in and said, "Relax, take a breath, and you can head to the exit door on the left when you are ready. If you can't take the escalator, please flag down a porter to assist you to the lift. Welcome to New York City."
I was there. 15 minutes later I was flagging down a taxi to go from Hell's Kitchen to my apartment in queens. 10 out of 10, would do again.
The world just got smaller.