“In 1993, the idea of teleportation moved out of the realm of science fiction and
into the world of theoretical possibility. It was then that physicist Charles Bennett and a team of
researchers at IBM confirmed that quantum teleportation was possible,
but only if the original object being teleported was destroyed.”
(How teleportation will work)

Research has been ongoing as to how matter can be teleported from one location to another.  In 1998, physicists at CalTech successfully teleported a photon, (or particle of energy that carries light); and more recently, researchers at the Australian National University successfully teleported a laser beam. (How teleportation will work) 

As scientists discover how to teleport these small components, this means that we as a society move closer to being able to teleport ourselves.  But do we really want to?

Basically defined, teleporting means that an object is dematerialized at its starting point, and then precisely reconstructed using its atomic configuration. (How teleportation will work)  So, in order for Louis Wu to be teleported, he had to die at his starting point, and be reconstructed and revived at his arrival point. 

In a sense, this would involve “biodigital cloning” of a traveler, where “digitization would recreate the travelers' memories, emotions, hopes and dreams.” (How teleportation will work)  If the teleportation machine were to make one mistake, the traveler could arrive at his/her destination with any conceivable “difference”. 

So, although this technology is beginning to develop, the chance that it will be used on humans anytime soon is quite slim.