COMMUNICATION

The squeeze and push of information flow are like water through a tube. The limits of throughput are based on the diameter of the tube. Remember the two open cans and a string tied in the middle as a means of communication between friends. It was a thrill of youth to be able to remain in “touch.” Even though the information passed between the two parties was negligible with a high degree of information error rate that Claude Shannon called “entropy rate.” Now however we are embarked on a magical carpet of multi-lane-highway-in-the-sky form of communication’ satellites receive and transmit at a pace unfathomable a few years ago. The fidelity of the transmission is unquestioned, yet the human problem exists to continue the dogma of the entropy rate viable: both through misinterpretation, disinformation and through limiting the throughput.

While the “bit” remains the universal currency of information shuttling between pairs of one to one, one to many, and many to one, the deterministic reconstruct of the original intent remains a problem sometime, due to the embedded selected entropy within.  The fundamental transmission of intelligence is therefore bogged down both by entropy and throttled down by limits imposed via the control levers.

Is information accurate?

Is information true?

Is information, disinformation or misinformation?

These perplexing questions rattle the un-caged minds of many. The fidelity once lost takes great pains to regain its ground. With functional distortions of the throughput aside, the prevention of dissemination of intelligence through control of those levers weigh heavily on society.

Communication is a dialog, a two-way street to enhance intellect. The flow of information generates questions and greases the levers of thought. Absent that, the mind roasts in its own mental construct, which hardens and ossifies into the grotesque. Society degrades and asymmetry of information propels a few and harms the many.

Somethings are worth pondering over.