knowledge acquisition

Maybe it would be possible to structure the development of concepts and ideas in the human mind to a manner such that it would permit the communication of other concepts and ideas in a nontraditional form of communication.  Such a form could be in some kind of technology integrated into our bodies.  Thus, rich communications could be automated and fed into a human mind.  Perhaps simply repeated input would allow memorization, so such a system could be used to efficiently infuse knowledge into people.

Talk about speeding up development of humankind.  That would be revolutionary.

universal symbols

Further consideration led me to the idea that there are many universal symbols in existance.  Such as a heart for love, a peace sign, etc.  Many corporate logos are universal in the companies they represent.  I wouldn't consider corporate logos characters per se, as they can't be combined to communicate many thoughts.

Interesting.  It seems the more ways a given symbol can be utilized, the more likely it is that I would consider it part of a language.  For instance, I could make up a word.  But since noone uses it but me, I wouldn't consider it part of the English language.  A popular word, on the other hand, I would.  A corporate symbol has too few legitimate uses in communication, so I wouldn't consider it part of language.  But yet there are words in the English dictionary with very few useful situations.  These probably shouldn't be considered part of the language either, but these guys printing the dictionary are quirky, aren't they.

There is an interesting parallel to all of this in the concept of data compression.  The goal is to create a minimal character set to represent data in the smallest space.  Ahah, this realization makes my earlier blog's consideration of ways to make communication more efficient rather special.

It seems the idea of making communication more efficient is a very good goal.  So then, the embedded nature of culture and language is seen to be a bad thing.  Culture resists change, but more efficient communication requires the language to change.

I bet there are dudes that research what an optimal form of language is.  Commence www search..

universal concepts

Upon further thought concerning the efficiency of human communication, I realized the distinction given to numbers, with their unique character set, is seemingly arbitrary.  I suppose it was simple to make a universal language for numbers, or rather more simple than making a universal language for everything else we try to communicate.

It is ultimately more efficient to have a universal language of communication, but the breadth and depth of language and its level of entrainment within society makes the selection and conversion to such rather difficult.  So, it is understandable that a single, universal language has yet to develop.  It is also interesting that numerical values have yet managed to achieve this.  Perhaps this is due to the necessity of trade for survival, and how essential numbers are to such a function.

Regardless, my initial premise was that there is no need for numbers to be represented in an alternative character set to the rest of our language.  This fact makes me wonder what other concepts or ideas could be represented in an alternative, universal character set..

thinking

The linearity of human communication is a rather frustrating limitation on our ability to share and exchange thoughts and ideas.  Indeed, this form with which we progress through thoughts in our own minds is an inherent limitation on our ability to build upon existing thought paradigms and improve the social, economic, scientific, spiritual, political, and other systems used and depended on by all humankind.

Further examination of the limiting properties of linearity is a frustrating exercise in itself.  It is also interesting to be aware of the recognition of such a limitation while still being bound by it.  Nonetheless, I suspect useful insight may be gained by analysis of such.

I shall contrast linearity with other forms of development in order to produce properties that can be referenced for examination.  It's an interesting endeavor, as there are multiple ways to proceed.  I could consider various incarnations of tree structures, such that each node is a parent of a number of children.  There could be a fixed number of children for each node, or a variable number.  The variable number could have constraints dependent on any abstract thing.

It seems the definition of thoughts/ideas should be refined to allow more complex structures to encapsulate them.  Further, this realization leads me to the idea that such representations of thoughts could then be digitized and transferred between entities with great efficiency, far surpassing real-time human capability.  Eek, I fear any approach on an artificial intelligence.  Perhaps I should calm this thought train for now and allow the implications to percolate in my subconsciousness.

space, the final power plant

Imagine a view from space, with the earth circling the sun in its annual cycle.  Now imagine a tether from the earth to a giant object that is pulled along behind the earth.  Then, another object is tethered between the earth and the first, then another, etc.  A long string of objects dangles behind the earth, trailing it in its annual trek around the sun.

So how about these objects are giant solar panels collecting energy from the sun and transmitting it along the tether back to earth.  Lots of energy without taking up precious land space, and without obstructing our sky view.  Just have to hope no asteroids break the tether.. Although they could have some kind of embedded backup propulsion to maintain trajectory for exigent circumstances.  And robotic repair bots could be on standby on the tethers to fix things on demand.

Additional giant panels can be added to the tether as investments in the system are made.  I like it.