The document discusses the limitations of language in human communication and how technology has the potential to expand communication beyond language. It proposes that experience design and virtual/augmented reality interfaces could allow direct expression of thoughts and feelings without relying solely on symbols and words. The document envisions a future where these new forms of communication are used in daily conversation and knowledge sharing to move beyond the constraints of traditional language-based mediums.

1. Technology’s Potential to Expand Human Communication Jay Vidyarthi User Experience Designer / Research Coordinator

3. Modern society is a product of language. Technology has improved its range/format. Speech Writing Print Phone Internet The Limitations of Language

4. Language is a symbolic representation. Abstract meaning is assigned to combinations of symbols to facilitate transmission. The Limitations of Language

5. Symbols are naturally ambiguous. Me : I feel like a burger… You : Funny… you don’t look like a burger… lol! The Limitations of Language

6. “ Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” - Robert Frost “The Road Not Taken” The Limitations of Language

7. … efficient with words, isn’t he? In fact, language is an interface for human communication, and poets are ‘ power users ’ The Limitations of Language

8. The Limitations of Language My Thought Your Understanding Language

9. The Limitations of Language My Thought Your Understanding Language My ideas are going through a funnel…

10. The Limitations of Language My Thought Your Understanding Language The poet makes very elegant use of the funnel…

11. The Limitations of Language My Thought Your Understanding Language Technology: Telephone/E-mail/etc. Language

12. The Limitations of Language My Thought Your Understanding Language Technology: Telephone/E-mail/etc. Language Your ideas are still going through a funnel…

13. The Limitations of Language My Thought Your Understanding Is there a way to communicate without the “funnel” of symbols/language? ?

14. The Limitations of Language Poets master working within the constraints of language. Musicians master working within different constraints to communicate abstract concepts/emotion through sound. (our innovation where language fails…)

15. The guitar provides an EXPRESSIVE interface to control sound and communicate moods beyond the limits of language. The Limitations of Language Interface design: helps us surpass language limitations.

16. Singer/songwriter: uses guitar interface to create sound to supplement words. Experience Designer: uses technology to create context which supplements words. ‘ Improve’ vs. ‘Expand’

17. Computers and technology could provide such interfaces for abstract expression… … but instead we mostly use it to amplify verbal expression. The Limitations of Language

18. With an expressive interface for computer programming, we could expand communication beyond the limits of language. (WTF!?) i.e. “What happened to you last night?” The Limitations of Language

19. Technology has the potential to become like music… a novel form of communication, beyond words. Communication Through Experience

20. “ Post-Symbolic Communication” Beyond symbols, a direct expression of thought / feeling. Jaron Lanier… Father of “virtual reality” Tele-immersion researcher Computer scientist Philosopher Musician “ Musical instruments are the only good user interfaces. ” – Jaron Lanier Communication Through Experience

21. Experience design IS “post-symbolic communication”. … building experiences for your audience, using technology to supplement words… just as the musician uses his guitar… (music, movies, video games, websites, etc.) ‘ Improve’ vs. ‘Expand’

22. Today, creating impressive experiences is difficult and time-consuming. Implementation is complex and costly, so we need to plan. Analyze > strategize > design > test… … implement . Future Directions

23. tele-immersion + virtual reality + expressive programming = on-the-fly experience design START: tele-conferencing FAST FORWARD: expand to daily conversation through social networks. Future Directions

24. We could EXPAND human communication! Real-time manifestation (help me express my thoughts) Self-identity, communication and creative expression… Future Directions

25. Remember: design is communication. Consider how the concepts in any design project can express themselves beyond language… Your designs can become an embodiment of technology as its own form of communication. Future Directions

26. Wikipedia uses language to its limit, but… Future Directions Would every practitioner agree?

27. Future Directions The true state of human knowledge is a vibrant ongoing discussion… … and we end-up with a flat, flavourless “average” definition.

29. … designing for the technological expansion of communication . Please, disagree with me!!!111 [email_address] Thank you.