Gizmodo: communication

What Method Of 21st Century Communication Do You Prefer?

Sean Fallon — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:00:00 EDT

From time to time I like to revisit the issue of communication because the options are constantly expanding and it is an interesting ongoing sociological experiment. So, the question is simple: which method of communication do you utilize most?

[Image via Flickr]

Google Adding Text Messaging To Gchat in Gmail

Elaine Chow — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:45:00 EDT

Those of you who use Gchat through Gmail can now send text messages to mobile phones. The function is experimental, so you have to go to the Labs tab inside of Gmail's settings (or click on that little green flask icon) to turn it on. Your messages will appear as a 406 number—once you've sent a text through gmail, that'll be your specific number. AIM's had this feature for a while, so it's not surprising that Google would implement it as well. Text your friends! See how it goes! [Webmonkey]

Synthetic Telepathy = In, Note Passing = Out

Benny Goldman — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EDT

With $4 million from the US Army, scientists at UC Irvine will study synthetic telepathy, otherwise known as sending and receiving messages using your mind. The scientists believe that this amazing new form of communication could benefit stroke victims who can't speak—but also aid soldiers in the battlefield. If it becomes popular enough, it will of course be abused by middle-school gossips and guys hoping to be like Mel Gibson in that crappy movie, too. Here's how the eggheads plan to make it work:

A brainwave measuring technology like electroencephalography records your thoughts, and a speech recognition system would decode the signals into words. The words would then be sent to the receiver using a different system "pointed in their direction." Presumably this is some form of radio, but since it's basically an EEG reading, one could imagine it being sent over the internet or via cellphone. Might even help you cut down on your minutes, but don't let your thoughts wander while you're talking to your girlfriend.

The scientists say that such a system will require a ton of training and will only send very specific messages at first, but over time the system will improve. This sounds like a pretty revolutionary step in communication, and one that will likely lead to many embarrassing results if it is every widely implemented. Would it be worth it to you to read everyone's thoughts if everyone could read yours? [Physorg via KurzweilAI]

Motorola TLKR, No Vowels for Walkie-Talkies

Mark Wilson — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:29:37 EDT

You know Motorola is stepping up their game when they begin ripping the grammar-strained vowels from a product line. Take the TLKR, it's Motorola's new line of walkie-talkies meant to convey a sense of style while you are calling in for airstrikes on the cootie patrol. The first version will be the T3, offering eight channels, 20 hours of battery life and up to a three-mile range. Where was this technology 15 years ago?

The luxury T5 will offer 121 channels, 16 hours of battery life and 3.7 mile range. Plus the T5 will feature hands-free functionality (which, though funny, could be useful in certain survival situations). Though no prices have been announced at the moment, the T3 and T5 will be released in October when the walkie-talkie army is set to overthrow cellphones and the internet for global communications domination. [pocketlint]

The Communication Flower

Jason Chen — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:05:18 EST

Even if we could read Japanese, we'd still be boggled at what the hell this Communication Flower is for. From what we've pieced together through the powers of Google translator and a spirit medium, the Communication Flower consists of two people—one human and one pixie—which combine together to tell you what your plant is thinking.

The device can speak in 200 languages, and whenever you "flatter" the flower and touch the flower or leaf, the fairy will "translate" and show you what it's thinking. Our brains just imploded from typing that. – Jason Chen

Product Page [e-revolution]

String-less Cup-and-String Communicator

Travis Hudson — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:08:46 EST

Artist, Duncan Wilson gave some new life to an old idea with the wireless cup communicator. It's like the old-school cup and string communicators that would let you talk to a friend 10 feet away through a cup or tin can (you know, because they wouldn't be able to hear you otherwise).

Tug the cord to activate, squeeze to talk and hold to the mouth and ear.
The design of the Cup Communicator is focused around a series of physical actions and gestures that create a poetic etiquette of use and a tactile intimacy between user and object.

By designing a communication device focused on the gesture of use, the relationship between the users and between the user and object I aim to explore the potential of the product as a medium for interaction and reassess the way we use technology.

Man, you artsy kids are so damn hard to understand sometimes. In laymen's terms—it's a walkie talkie inside of a cup. Period. Still cool, though. – Travis Hudson

cup communicator [Via Boing Boing]

Car-to-Car Chat: Sony Patents Talking Headlights

Charlie White — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 11:43:01 EDT

This idea of communicating from car to car seems to be gaining some traction, and Sony is next with a patent that uses powerful LEDs built in to car headlights that flash encoded messages similar to Morse code, but a whole lot faster. A highly responsive light sensor on another car would decode these rapidly flashing light messages. Sony's thinking also about implementing the technology for transmitting traffic light countdowns. Hey, that could be useful.

We're just thinking that if this isn't voice-controlled, the idea of people typing out furious messages while barreling down the highway is not exactly safe. For added convenience, perhaps Sony could just install a "fuck you" button...? Seems like an extended middle finger would do the job just as well. We're also wondering how well this might work on a bright, sunny day. – Charlie White

Car-to-car chit-chat [New Scientist, via OhGizmo]