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From: drd@siia.mv.com (David Dick)
Newsgroups: comp.groupware
Subject: Re: 2 comments
Keywords: emotional content; raw data; wealth
Message-ID: <1991Jan31.002006.2391@siia.mv.com>
Date: 31 Jan 91 00:20:06 GMT
References: <WEX.91Jan21140658@dali.pws.bull.com> <161@intrbas.UUCP> <1991Jan24.193942.8468@siia.mv.com> <163@intrbas.UUCP>
Organization: Software Innovations, Inc.
Lines: 52

In <163@intrbas.UUCP> kenn@intrbas.uucp (Kenneth G. Goutal) writes:

>Of course, in text we can hide all these [revealing] things 
>in the low bandwidth.
>Or, if we are skilled writers, we can pretend to emotions that we
>don't really have.

>I foresee a time when full audio/video is the norm, and
>    a.	turning down the bandwidth as Dave suggested will be considered
>	an admission of hiding something; 
>    b.	faked representations will become common;  and
>    c.	the richer you are, the more convincing your faked representations
>	can be.

There is an interesting exploration of some of the implications of
a politics of openness (non-secrecy) in the SF book "Earth" by David Brin.

"Representations" or simulated personalities to handle 
incoming voice interactions are popular in SF (some of Heechee series 
by F. Pohl come to mind).

These simulated interations are reminiscent of current day interactions
between word processing mailing list programs used to flood legislators 
with mail and legislators with mail handling systems for sending back
automated responses.

I'm surprised we haven't seen more of this automatic mail handling
now, while it's relatively easy (i.e., text-only).

>At the moment, the crudeness of our software (text only) 
>and the limitations of our hardware (low bandwidth)
>tend to be equalizers, giving those of us with any combination of
>the limitations I mentioned above the chance to present our views
>on an equal footing with those without those limitations.

Actually, I think part of it is just the same sort of advantage 
the "nerds" in any technology have until use becomes widespread.
That is, early users who learn how to use a technology despite 
any kind of coarseness have a headstart.

>Of course, the current situation *does* place a premium on being able
>to *write*.  Those of us who write well fare better in this medium
>than those who don't.  This is sometimes just as unfortunate as the
>situation where those who are mellifluous, or beautiful, or powerful
>fare better than those who aren't.

A topical note: there seems to be a resurgence of letter-writing 
because of the Gulf War, especially after the influence of the 
letters in the PBS series "The Civil War".

David Dick
Software Innovations, Inc. [the Software Moving Company (sm)]