Communicating

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Discussion of the capability in individuals

Communication is beyond written or spoken words. Communication lies within the ability to transmit emotions, feelings, and information through speech and "body language". Today's modern digital environment extends preference to the speed and accuracy by which communication can be conducted. Technological advances have also hindered the ability of people to communicate with each other on a multidimensional level. Without person to person contact, much can get lost with the absence of facial expression, and body language. With this said, it can be argued that in this modern age of text messaging, emails, blogs and tweets, communication suffers in the absence of physical gestures.Of which play a large role in the connotations that are implied in person to person contact.

Discussion of the capability in society

Communication presupposes a common language and set of "rules" for which to express ideas. To communicate means to share a common ground (language, gestures, etc.), and through this ground you are able to share ideas, emotions, etc through either a language or other form of body movement, not necessarily verbal. A society is composed of people, all of which are made up of a unique sequence of DNA, and the basic "blocks" that make up what we have come to call humans. The inherent connectivity within humans allows great evolutionary advances in linguistics, technology, and other means, which has resulted in the ability for societies to communicate more efficiently. This does not presuppose that the evolution of communication has become more effective or intelligent.

The application of Communication has only expanded with the growth of technology but still remains within the individuals. So much eye witness accounts can be submitted to the world via Facebook, twitter, and other internet outlets, that information can become instantly accessible. To maintain a healthy social life its important to balance your access of mass information on the web, with face to face conversation, so we can interact as human beings.

It also seems that culture is constantly communicating with individuals in many ways. Morals and values are highly specific to different cultures. Although each culture has subgroups and individuals that don't fit the norms, it does an amazingly efficient job of communicating what behavior is tolerated and expected and it subtly identifies what interactions and world views are acceptable to the society.

How it currently works

Thoughts, ideas, emotions, and etc, are perceived amongst societies, and thus communication takes place.

Examples

1. Interpersonal
   1. Smoke Breaks
   2. Bar Chats
   3. Speed Dating
2. Telephone
3. Internet
   1. Email
   2. Facebook
   3. Twitter
   4. Blogs
4. Community "Visioning" Sessions
   1. Commonoly used for planning purposes, can be particularly effective when used in communities when an individual may not be comfortable with public speaking or not fluent in English. It can be used as a means for expressing how they perceive their community. (Chap. 6, "The Mapping of Knowledge" Coburn, J.)

Potential deficiencies

Mis-interrupting information that is given to you (i.e. telephone game), or distorting the truth for social or personal gain.

Idealized version of how the capability would work in society

There is one universal language where all societies understand words, thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc in the same perceived way, therefore eliminating misunderstandings, miss-communication. As a result, a universal language or "world brain" would eliminate the notion of war, conflict, etc. Therefore, societies would communicate efficiently and peacefully. Effective communicating is imperative in any socail setting for successful collaborting.