Communicating

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Discussion of the capability in individuals

Communication is beyond written words, its the ability to transmit emotions, feelings, and information through speech and posture. Todays modern digital environment extends preference to the speed and accuracy by which communication can be conducted. Yet in this modern age of text messaging, emails, blogs and tweets, I wonder if communication suffers in the absence of nonlinguistic gesture.

Discussion of the capability in society

To communicate means to share a common ground, 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 ability to connect as humans has allowed great evolutionary advances in technology, which has subsequently allowed societies to communicate more efficiently, but not necessarily more effectively or intelligently.

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.