Theory:Technopathy

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The following fan theories are about technopathy.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Micah's ability's primary function is not technopathy, but a form of empathy which allows him to identify "problems" with any organic or inorganic system through physical contact.	In every instance where Micah exhibits technopathy, he touches the mechanical device in question and concentrates, causing bank machines to dispense money (The Fix), locked elevators to work (How to Stop an Exploding Man), etc.	+ Micah receives a $2,000 laptop from his grandfather and then dissembles it. (Six Months Ago) Later, Micah fixes the logic board of his laptop, possibly using his powers. (Genesis) Having disassembled the laptop previously would have given him a knowledge of mechanical (computer-related) devices, teaching him how they work in order to identify "problems". + While hugging his cousin Monica Dawson, Micah deliberately places his palm on her back in the same manner that he touches the mechanical devices he has manipulated in past episodes. (The Kindness of Strangers) He then tells her that he wishes he could fix her dreams. - Monica is able to make tomato roses using her powers before Micah hugs her and touches her back. (The Kindness of Strangers) • Micah's comment was about Monica's dreams to better their present situation and not her fears about her abilities. • It is possible that if Micah had a working knowledge of how the human body works or at least the brain, he could "fix" Monica in some way (with a rush of endorphins or another naturally-occurring chemical to lift her spirits). • It's also possible that Micah's ability revolves around manipulating electric impulses, which would account for effects both in machines and humans, affecting hardware and the nervous system. - Micah has stated multiple times that his power allows him to "talk to machines", without referring to using it on any other kind of object. + He could merely be unaware of the extent of his abilities. When he hugged Monica, he could just be trying to see if his abilities would work on her. - Micah changes the traffic lights without touching them when in the car with Nikki. • He was still connected to them, he had a cell phone with him, he was using it to "connect" himself with the system that controls traffic lights. + In The Hard Part Candice is impersonating Niki. Micah seems to grow suspicious only after hugging her. - Micah is smart, you don't need to have powers to be smart.
The result of Micah's empathy ability, combined with knowledge of how things work, expands its power, resulting in his being able to manipulate organic and inorganic systems through physical contact.	See above.	+ His knowledge of technology allows Micah to alter the way technology works. He can cause programs to work within their parameters and may be able to alter their parameters and/or physical configurations as well (he may have fixed his laptop's motherboard using this power in Genesis). + If Micah were to learn the anatomy and physiology of the human body (or any organic system for that matter), he may also possess the ability to work within their parameters or alter their parameters and/or physical configurations. - Micah has explicitly called his ability "talking with machines". - This borderlines on Micah having two abilities; the writing staff has said numerous times that everyone has one basic ability. + It isn't necessarily two abilities. Niki refers to Micah as her little genius; being able to control machines upon physical contact (an ability demonstrated moderately late in the season) would not account for this. Micah could be a genuinely gifted child who also happens to be an evolved human.
Micah's ability may evolve into electronic communication.	Matt's ability eventually evolved into being able to project thoughts into other people, rather than just reading minds.	+ Bridget Bailey and Matt both seem to have evolved their power in some way. + He gets the traffic lights to change in Powerless without any physical contact to them. - He was using his mom's cell phone to relay electronic signals, rather than just his mind alone. - Hana stated in one of her conversations with Micah in corinthianlasvegas.com that she can't talk to machines like he does, suggesting that technopathy and EDT are fundamentally different (albeit similar) abilities. • It is possible that Micah could imitate electronic communication through his technopathy, interacting with the computer's software. Though he would still have to do this through touch unless he used a cell phone or his PDA seen in Cold Snap.
Micah's ability actually involves detecting and interpreting electrical signals. These can come from machines or human beings.	The Kindness of Strangers.	+ Micah places his hand on Monica's back in a manner similar to his manipulation of machines. He is able to realize that her dreams have been broken even though he had no idea why she was unhappy. The common element between machines and humans is electrical signals. • It is also hypothetically possible that Micah possesses a variation of electric manipulation, which, in combination with his mental (not necessarily intuitive) aptitude, could allow for him to "speak" to machines and affect humans' nervous system.
Micah's ability is a more advanced form of Activation and deactivation.	Micah can turn on a unplugged "devil" (Bully). Matt can turn on an unplugged TV (Turn and Face the Strange). Both can manipulate electronic devices.	- Baby Matt does not have to touch the things he activates or deactivates. + Neither does Micah. He turned the lights green without touching them. - Micah was with a cell phone. He could have told the cell phone to tell the lights to turn green. • This is mostly a supposition. - Micah was shown tracking signals with his cell phone, he was using his power through the cell phone, not a supposition. + Linderman can heal the flower without touching it, while Ishi has to kiss something to heal it. They have the same ability: healing. - She was shown using her power twice, just because she chose to kiss it doesn't mean she has to kiss in order to heal. • This is mostly a supposition. - Linderman did touch the plant at first, an initial contact was required to use the ability. • This is mostly a supposition. • Micah does more than just turning appliances on and off. Technopathy includes that, but also it includes accessing Internet with one's mind, sending and interpretating digital signals - which is what electronic communication does. More than that, Micah can command machines to do what he wants, which neither Matt Jr. nor Hana and Drucker could do. • Micah has stated in the past the his ability is not like Hana's. • It's not, Micah can just do what Hana and Drucker could. (Graphic Novel:Rebellion, Part 5) • It's not clear how Micah did it, he could have reached out to a cell phone and tell it to text the others, to be like Hana and Drucker, he'd text them directly. It wasn't made clear which one he did.