This is a view of human history around text information. It revealed a strange imbalance. The problem is not limited to textual information. I encourage young generation to think through about how homo-sapience can change in human-to-human communication, human-to-machine interactions, and human-to-atom (via machine manipulation) relations.
Similar to Historical perspective of communication --- Imbalance in producing and consuming information since 6,000 years ago, even in IT ages --- (20)
2. ~50,000 years
ago:
languages -
speaking/hear
ing
~6,000 years
ago:
characters -
reading/writin
g
~2,000 years
ago: paper
~600 years
ago: printing
press
Today: digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
At sometime, ape started to live on trees. Eyes became the primary
receptor to sense the surrounding world in place of olfaction.
3. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
Around 7,000,000 years ago, the human race started upright walking.
It freed hands. Hands were a powerful tool to increase the human
ability. The hand dexterity and the intelligence of homo-sapience
developed together.
4. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
Then humans balanced his head on the spine. About 50,000 years
ago, human’s audio organs changed their positions, and humans
became to be able to control complex voices.
5. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
At that time, humans invented languages. This allowed humans to
develop concepts and communicate them. Humans speak and
listen at about 150-160 words per minute.
6. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
About 6,000 years ago, humans invented character systems. This
allowed humans to record concepts, read them, and communicate them
beyond ages.
7. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
Hand dexterity was useful to write the characters, and humans write at
about 22-31 words per minute. On the other hand, humans have strong
visual organs, eyes, and can read more than about 250-300 words per
minute. The imbalance was born with the characters.
8. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
Character system needs some education while any people can
communicate through voices. Character system became a formal
language while voice system is a private/informal media.
9. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
Around 2,000 years ago, humans invented paper. This allowed
human beings to communicate concepts beyond space and
time.
10. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
After the printing press was invented around 600 years ago, the
acceleration of paper-based communications resulted in a
circulation of knowledge that is believed to have led to the
scientific revolution.
11. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
Now we are in the digital information and internet age. Humans can now
access/communicate information around the world instantly.
12. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
But human beings still use keyboards and the speed of typing is 23-40
words per minute, which is not much different from writing. IT and
Human Computer Interface technology has not helped change the
imbalance.
13. ~7,000,000
years ago:
walking -
free hand
~50,000
years ago:
languages -
speaking/h
earing
~6,000
years ago:
characters
-
reading/wr
iting
~2,000
years ago:
paper
~600 years
ago:
printing
press
Today:
digital,
internet -
typing
History of Human Communication
14. Human beings can consume text
very fast but produce it slowly.
160
31 40
160
300
Speaking Hand-writing Key Typing Listening Reading
Words Per Minute
Gap
Producing Consuming
15. Human beings still rely on fingers
to produce texts.
160
31 40
160
300
Speaking Hand-writing Key Typing Listening Reading
Words Per Minute
Producing Consuming