After reading a bit about faster-than-light (FTL) travel and warp drives, etc., I found a line that was particularly telling: that hyperspace is always regulated in some way.
Now, I don’t believe that hyperspace can be used for travel (for one, there are no “alternate dimensions” to access — they’re all here right now; what is meant is clearly an “alternate universe” or another *set* of dimensions. The fourth+ dimensions are all Planck-scale in length anyway, so who could ever use that …) in any feasible manner. However, this is common theme and problem in sci-fi or in fantasy, too. Extremely powerful weapons or units have a limit. But why? We invented the internet and cell phone. We certainly have no limit to their use – that is to say, we could communicate with anyone in this world, instantaneously, provided that we had the technology, which is roughly affordable. So if we invent the hyperspace drive, wouldn’t we exploit it in precisely the same fashion, or not use it at all? If we could use it, we would, and we would use it so much that it would become cheap; or, if it were too expensive, no one would use it and the technology would be lost.
The problem is that people are unwilling to accept widespread use of instantaneous travel. Just as people long ago I’m sure would not have been able to conceive of how life would operate when the nation can be traversed in 5 hours by plane, I don’t think that people today can properly conceive of the true future, if travel indeed became instantaneous. I mean, just think about the differences! No more traffic jams; criminals would run rampant; long-distance relationships would be just as good as nearby ones.
We have erased the boundaries to communication, and with that, we have completely changed the way of life. When we erase the boundaries to transportation, the same will happen – but it will happen nonetheless.
I think it is silly to “limit” high technology. There’s no such silly RPG rule like you can only use your most powerful move once per battle. No, the “superweapons” would be mass produced and used to their full extent. We didn’t just build one atomic bomb, did we?
anyway, mind strayed again
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