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THE PARADOX SIGNALLING TOOL
To help avoid confusion and waveform decoupling, the PST is capable of logging time and location in addition to detecting any decoherence inconsistencies in the universal temporal waveform. It will alert the user to any potential problems with their timeline both in the present and in response to jump times input. It also tracks both local and global coherency fractions, and can be set to disable jumps to times at a given level of risk.
Yellow PST warnings signal an anomaly in observed decoherence. These are not immediate problems and sometimes yield useful results in the short term, but should be fixed reasonably quickly to reduce risk.
Flashing red PST warnings signal imminent existential paradox due to doppleganger exclusion (travelling within sight of yourself), exceeding the maximum number of decoherence anomalies, or imminent creation of an an irreversible decoherence anomaly. Fix the problem quickly before being wiped from existence.
Solid red PST warnings signal immediate termination from existence, and jumps to times indicated with solid red should not be made.
COHERENCE AND DECOHERENCE - Avoiding Paradoxes
Consider a coin toss. Before the flip of a coin, nobody knows if it will come up heads or tails. We'll call this state "coherent": at that moment, the result is unknowable.
After the coin is flipped and we see that the result, the state of the coin flip is "decoherent". The key event here is observation, seeing the result. Even if the coin is flipped, as long as nobody has looked to determine the outcome, it is still in a coherent state.
A person who simply moved forward in time would never experience any decoherence inconsistencies. But if they travel in both directions, inconsistencies in the reality they experience -- incompatible decoherence states -- could arise.
The temporal waveform has some tolerance for these anomalies and a small number can be ignored provided that:
1: The person must not pass through the point in time and space where the anomaly occurs.
2: Nothing that would make the anomaly irreversible occurs.
A cautious person would correct anomalies as soon as possible, since knowing what events may make an action irreversible is difficult if not impossible.
ENTANGLEMENT AND DETERMINISTIC LOOPS - Uncertainty Incarnate
Occasionally a person will experience temporal loops out of order relative to their own consciousness. This is generally the effect of decoherence state entanglement with an outside observer; the effects of temporal travel are not well defined when multiple people are involved.
Beware of temporal anomalies and predetermined conditions which must be met to complete the loop. It is advised to avoid other people entirely, or at the very least treat any interaction with extreme caution.
DOPPELGÄNGER EXCLUSION - The Final Rule
Although a person can exist in multiple places at the same time, they must avoid catching sight of themselves at all costs. Doing so causes immediate and terminal waveform decoupling.
(The less formal summary rules:
* Don't fuck around with the timeline too much unless you can put it back the way you found it.
* Stay away from people unless you like dealing with crazy bullshit.
* Make sure you don't see yourself.)
To help avoid confusion and waveform decoupling, the PST is capable of logging time and location in addition to detecting any decoherence inconsistencies in the universal temporal waveform. It will alert the user to any potential problems with their timeline both in the present and in response to jump times input. It also tracks both local and global coherency fractions, and can be set to disable jumps to times at a given level of risk.
Yellow PST warnings signal an anomaly in observed decoherence. These are not immediate problems and sometimes yield useful results in the short term, but should be fixed reasonably quickly to reduce risk.
Flashing red PST warnings signal imminent existential paradox due to doppleganger exclusion (travelling within sight of yourself), exceeding the maximum number of decoherence anomalies, or imminent creation of an an irreversible decoherence anomaly. Fix the problem quickly before being wiped from existence.
Solid red PST warnings signal immediate termination from existence, and jumps to times indicated with solid red should not be made.
COHERENCE AND DECOHERENCE - Avoiding Paradoxes
Consider a coin toss. Before the flip of a coin, nobody knows if it will come up heads or tails. We'll call this state "coherent": at that moment, the result is unknowable.
After the coin is flipped and we see that the result, the state of the coin flip is "decoherent". The key event here is observation, seeing the result. Even if the coin is flipped, as long as nobody has looked to determine the outcome, it is still in a coherent state.
A person who simply moved forward in time would never experience any decoherence inconsistencies. But if they travel in both directions, inconsistencies in the reality they experience -- incompatible decoherence states -- could arise.
The temporal waveform has some tolerance for these anomalies and a small number can be ignored provided that:
1: The person must not pass through the point in time and space where the anomaly occurs.
2: Nothing that would make the anomaly irreversible occurs.
A cautious person would correct anomalies as soon as possible, since knowing what events may make an action irreversible is difficult if not impossible.
ENTANGLEMENT AND DETERMINISTIC LOOPS - Uncertainty Incarnate
Occasionally a person will experience temporal loops out of order relative to their own consciousness. This is generally the effect of decoherence state entanglement with an outside observer; the effects of temporal travel are not well defined when multiple people are involved.
Beware of temporal anomalies and predetermined conditions which must be met to complete the loop. It is advised to avoid other people entirely, or at the very least treat any interaction with extreme caution.
DOPPELGÄNGER EXCLUSION - The Final Rule
Although a person can exist in multiple places at the same time, they must avoid catching sight of themselves at all costs. Doing so causes immediate and terminal waveform decoupling.
(The less formal summary rules:
* Don't fuck around with the timeline too much unless you can put it back the way you found it.
* Stay away from people unless you like dealing with crazy bullshit.
* Make sure you don't see yourself.)
