How It Works
The Time-o-matic Travelator allows detection of entities that have traveled to the present from the future or past. In technical jargon, these entities are considered to be chronologically displaced. Such entities may include:
- Physical objects, such as magazines or fruit.
- Living organisms, such as a gumtree or a dentist.
- Radio signals, such as a phone conversation.
- Various particles and forms of radiation.
Typically, chronologically displaced entities travel through time via a time donut. Time donuts are naturally occurring rifts in the spacetime continuum. No one is quite sure how they are created, but they seem to be triggered by cosmic radiation and/or stress. When a time donut forms, nearby entities are sucked into a closed dimensional geometry called a piespace. A piespace has extradimensional membrane walls (crust) around a narrow gap full of a mishmash of exotic matter (the filling). After passing through this geometry, the displaced entities emerge into another time.
The Travelator detects displaced entities by looking for certain particles emitted as a result of the time travel. The passage of an entity through the filling of a piespace causes a buildup of sprinkles. Each passage creates a unique pattern of sprinkles, or a flavour. The Travelator’s core feature is the capability to find and analyze these flavours.
How to Use It
The Travelator is a large, expensive piece of equipment. Fortunately, all of the Travelator’s functions can be accessed remotely, using cheap and inexpensive equipment. Currently, the best remote control is a simple mobile phone.
Generally, to detect chronologically displaced objects you will need a SNACK (Sub-Nucleic Anti-Chronoton Keystone) code. These 5 digit numbers are a kind of “temporal signature” created when something travels through time.
When you find a SNACK code, visit a Travelator Access Point. These points have large screens bearing the Travelator logo. Once there, SMS the code to the Control Line. The Travelator will conduct a scan, and within seconds the Access Point will display the approximate locations of any objects that have been found on campus. Go find them!
As you explore, the Travelator will take advantage of your mobile’s built-in sensors to conduct ongoing scans of your surroundings. If it finds anything, it will alert you via SMS, MMS or phone.
The Team
Chronodynamics Labs is a leading company in the field of applied theoretical physics. Their R&D division is one of the best funded on the planet, and has counted some of the world’s most renowned scientists amongst its ranks. Founded in 1979 as a snack food manufacturer, the company eventually stumbled upon advanced physics as a means of developing more effective preservatives. Since then, Chronodynamics has been responsible for innovative products such as Nuke-Be-Gone, Insta-Knowledge Medicated Brain Powder, and the Playtime Kid’s DIY Particle Accelerator Set.
Dr. Eliza Minkoff is the Director of the Time-o-matic Travelator Project, and a leader in the field of temporal kinematics. She has been a Senior Researcher of Physics at QR Labs in New York, Lab Director at the Keio Molecular Institute in Tokyo, and Chief Scientist at Eon Electronics in Sydney. Since 2004 she has been a senior lecturer and researcher at Curtin University. Dr. Minkoff holds a PhD in Experimental Physics from MIT, as well as a PhD in Science Education from University of Toronto.