Apparently, in Riker's imaginary future, the comm. badges, as well as being a different design, will be able to distinguish between an accidental touch and one intended to begin communication. To chirp or not to chirp, that would appear to be the question, for when Riker is still in real-time down on the planet, he cheerily whacks his badge with his torch to initiate comms, whereupon it chirps and communications are established, yet in his ersatz future Beverly is able to push on his chest badge when she urges him to sit down without initiating comms. Further, when he's rough and tumbling with his 'son' (in the sequence where he's in full uniform - not the other one) his badge is rolled across and generally thumped several times, yet we hear no chirp and thus presumably no communications are initiated. It's always possible that in Riker's phoney future a way has been worked out how to turn these things on and off, but I'm not going to go into all that because at time of writing I've not found a way of explaining the real ones yet, let alone pretendy ones. (Well, all right then, the more pretendy ones). (Incidentally, Riker also seems to have fantasised for himself larger quarters; sensible fellow).
One last thing. When the trombone-toting Riker is asked what he wished for after blowing out his candles (no big deal this, as judging by the number of them on Riker's birthday cake, he is only six), he looks a little unsure of himself for just a moment, and then tentatively suggests "Music lessons!". Watch the others respond to this, particularly Troi. Don't their reactions seem natural and unaffected compared to much of what we normally see? I've never read or heard anything to back this up, but I can't help wondering if this was an ad-lib that they kept in. I've never seen Troi react or laugh like that anywhere else in the show. Still, maybe since it was supposed to be a birthday party, perhaps they were just acting natural, and are all a lot better than I give them credit for.
The Best of Both Worlds Part
Two Family Brothers Suddenly
Human Remember Me Legacy Reunion Future Imperfect Final
Mission The Loss Data's Day The Wounded Devil's Due Clues
First Contact Galaxy's Child
Night Terrors Identity Crisis
The Nth Degree Qpid
The Drumhead Half a Life The
Host The Mind's Eye In Theory
Redemption