We are rapidly approaching a moment of truth. Now, truth is not always a pleasant thing.
There are (at least) two ways to implement a (Star Trek style) transporter:
1. A space-time wormhole takes you “directly” from here to there, or
2. We scan you, send the info, make a new copy at the other end, and destroy the original.
Some people care greatly about transporter type; they’d pay to use type #1, but pay greatly to avoid using type #2. But regardless of the morality of a type #2 transporter, I’m pretty confident that if cheap type #2 transporters were available, but not type #1, many people would use them often. (…)
A similar relation applies to two types of super-watches. (…) Here are the two ways to make super-watches:
1. Time Machine + Memory Wipe: The second time you push the button you enter a time machine that brings you back to soon after the moment you first pushed the button, displaced by a few feet. It also erases all memories you might have acquired since the first time you pushed the button. And no, you can’t bring anything else with you in the time machine.
2. Limited Time Copier: When you turn on the watch it makes an exact copy of you and puts that copy a few feet away. When you turn the watch off, or it automatically turns off, you are destroyed.
