[NicknamedBob]

Update:

Regarding the very interesting idea of being able to communicate on virtually a neuron by neuron level. There are a number of ramifications that should prove interesting to explore.

1.) Perfect communication, as described. Much desired in romantic fiction, but it would make for some very difficult transitions for most of us. I recall a Science Fiction short story in which a telepath manages to track down, in a very large city, another telepath who had flashed into his awareness during a trip on a transit train.

One blissful moment of perfect communication -- snatched away by the speeding train which separated them. For months he searched, trying again to find his soulmate. At last he succeeded, and quickly they shared all their secret dreams and aspirations, all their dark desires, all their hidden, shameful nastiness...

He hated her.

2.) Perfect communication obviates travel, for all reasons. This too would be a wrenching change for us, though we would save energy. Why go anywhere when you can bring the where to you?

3.) Similarly, much of our art and industry would be affected, if not wiped out. Essentially, we would have stumbled unknowingly into the world of “The Matrix.”

4.) A new method of slavery. Or perhaps, a way to allow our physical bodies to “go to work”, controlled by computer, while our minds are being entertained elsewhere. I had in mind to re-work “The Gift of the Magi” along this theme.

[Darkchylde]

Ooohhh, I'm lost. What exactly are you updating?

[tuliptree76]

I like the idea of teleporation devices. It would make travel a whole lot easier. Of course...I don't really want to be one of the first people to test it out.

[Fedora]

Interesting ideas. I usually do telepathy as "non-perfect" communication as my stories, which doesn't run into some of those issues. It'd be interesting to read a story where that's done differently.