2008-01-24

Measures of Ideally Effective Communication

PhD-24jan08-5th

By DanShaw.com

Abstract: Examines some models of ideal communication suggested by ‘new’ math and physics in order to begin to establish measures of effectiveness of communication.

Dr. Kirby posed the questions, “How effective do we want our communication to be?” and “How can we measure the effectiveness of communication?” Our initial conversation included Gordon Arthur, whose new book, Law Liberty and Church, “examines the presuppositions behind authority in the five largest Churches in England.”

http://www.ecumenist.org

We explored the possibility of presenting the same information in several formats, e.g., written-printed, verbal, audio, video with audio and without audio. Comunicatees could then be observed and / or tested in some way for various desired outcomes of the communication; outcomes could include such factors as change in behavior, change in belief-attitude, or taking a certain action, such as doing further research, talking to friends. This article seeks to explore the measures of effective communication, so that we can improve our communication, and be more certain that our communications have the effect and outcome we intend or hope for.

2-dimensional Geometric models of communication

Many 2-dimensional diagrams of communication have been described, which we will not discuss here.

3- & 4-dimensional Geometric models of communication

In his writings on the Hejera Plot®, a proposal for a socially-culturally-spiritually constructive and healing computer game, cyberneticist Yitzhak Hayut-Man describes the geometry of the relationship between the gameplayers in terms of a hypercube:

http://www.thehope.org/MAINp2.htm#publications

An Infinitely Small Period of Time

As a scientific paradigm shifts, there is a time-lag before the new model is assimilated by other sciences and by lay people. Ideally effective communication accelerates the time period of dissemination, as can be done by streaming video live through the internet, as we are doing with

http://worldportlive.com

Fractal and holographic Models of Communication: Abstract, Synopsis, Summary

It is natural to apply the laws, language, and worldview of mathematics to the liberal arts as suggested by Stuart C. Dodd in his article, “A Scientific Foundation for World Culture”:

http://www.stuartcdoddinstitute.org/dodd-worldculture.shtml

It seems just as natural to apply the new physics to the social sciences, as Dr. Richard S. Kirby has done in his various articles, some mentioned earlier.

http://www.wnrf.org/cms/drrskirby.shtml

Hence in thinking of models of ideal communication we should also bear in mind the mathematics, etc. of fractals and holograms. In the communication itself, we should see a microcosm and macrocosm in the form of an abstract or synopsis at the beginning and summary at the end. This increases the usefulness of the article, since a reader can then easily assess for themselves the contents and thus the value of the article to them at that time or perhaps for a later time.

Many-to-Many model: The Fast-Forum Technique

The Forum Foundation developed the Fast Forum® technique, which has been used “as a part of many-to-many communication groupware technology [that] allows the head-of-state to ‘talk’ symbolically to those youth and parents participating” in an exercise in direct democracy based on George Bush’s State of the Union.

http://forumfoundation.org/default.asp?pageID=53

Media Virus & Re-Visioning a Qaballistic Tarot

Douglas Rushkoff has described “Media Virus” in his book of that name, and I have attempted to realize that model in the design of a card deck that combines traditional playing cards, astrology, tarot and qaballah, inspired in part by

The Qabalistic Tarot: A Textbook of Mystical Philosophy

by Robert Wang.

Metadata: Title, Author, contact info, Date, Length, Keywords, URL

The most useful data includes extensive metadata. That would include the Title, Author, contact info, Date, Length, Keywords, URL. This also includes an effective subtitle and section titles. Metadata also includes filename and location. These principles apply to some degree no matter what one is writing, whether an article, a book, or even a link on a webpage. With metadata, more is always better.

Asking for Action: feedback

Every article should include an invitation for the reader to take some action, such as contacting the author with questions and comments, and provide contact info.

Asking for Action: subscribing

Ideally the communication should provide for a way for the recipient to be notified of new information, such as with RSS. I should determine how, if it is possible, people can ‘subscribe’ to my blog. Please subscribe to my Youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/vortexmaps

Asking for the multiplier effect

Article should include a request for readers to pass on the message. Please pass along my writings and videos to interested parties!

Multiple Streams of Dissemination

Writings and communications should strive to use as many channels as possible; these articles will be posted to my blog

http://earthgrid.blogspot.com

and I will email them to the people whom I mention, and hopefully they will email them to their friends. Ideally, I will also print them out, hand them out, and mail them, as I do with my poetry.

http://danshaw.com/verse

Asking & telling about best channels and times for communication

Do you prefer to be called at a certain time? Do you prefer email to phone or vice-versa? Do you use a certain social networking site more than others? What are the best times and channels of communication for you? I want to know. You will find it empowering to take control of your channels in this way, answering phone calls only during certain times, etc.

My preferred channels and times

You are welcome to call me anytime, Sunday through Friday. I prefer not to do work on Saturdays. You may call within business hours Pacific Time, or even later, up to about 9 p.m. if you like.

Granularity and Non-Linearity

These topics I mentioned in a previous post:

Initial Thoughts on Learning Russian, & Languages in general

http://earthgrid.blogspot.com/2008/01/initial-thoughts-on-learning-russian.html

Put simply, the usefulness of information increases as the granularity, i.e. segmentation increases. Linear media require relatively slow viewing, fast-forwarding and / or ‘scrubbing’, while digital media allow instant access to many (if not all) points, e.g., the scenes on a DVD. Hence the importance of also archiving the

http://worldportlive.com

broadcasts so that viewers can enter in at the beginning at any time of day. These criteria allow the user more rapid assessment, and access to the most useful data ‘bits’.

Evaluating This and other Writings

This article contains extensive metadata: effective title, author’s name, contact info, date, a synopsis, word-count, and keywords list, and URL. Future articles by me will have these features, and I will continue to develop an exhaustive list. Some metadata, such as length, URL, may be inaccurate or incomplete in early, working versions.

I will continue to research and write on this topic, in pursuit of my PhD in Communications Theory. I invite you to contact me with your thoughts on ideally effective communication. Please pass this article on to your friends.

Keywords:

Ideally Effective Communication; Gordon Arthur; 2-dimensional Geometric models of communication; Fast-Forum Technique of the Forum Foundation; many-to-many communication groupware technology; 3- & 4-dimensional Geometric models; the Hejera Plot®; http://worldportlive.com streaming video; Fractal and holographic Models; Stuart C. Dodd; Media Virus; Qaballistic Tarot; Granularity and Non Linearity.

Length: Approximately 1,120 words

Author:

http://danshaw.com/

danshaw19@gmail.com

URL: http://earthgrid.blogspot.com

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