|
Erm lets see ... when did you ever see a light saber on "stun" .....
|
|
|
|
|
No brainer for me! Star Wars all the way baby! 
I don't dislike Star Trek, but it never quite got my attention like Star Wars did when I was a kid 
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
}
|
|
|
|
|
I fail to comprehend your indignation, sir. I've simply made the logical deduction that you are a liar.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Let's say you wanted to leave a message to be interpreted by some unknown alien race, after some unknown time when the human race may not be around any more to help with translation.
I can imagine that counting would be trivial - assigning symbols to numbers of objects and showing mathematical concepts (addition, etc.) by example.
Similarly vocabulary could be shown by assigning symbols to objects or representations of objects (the word 'tree' with a picture of a tree, for example)
I can even imagine some grammar similarly being taught by example.
But how about units? How do you explain what a kilometer, mile, kilogram me,tonne, etc. is?
The only constant I cold think of using is the speed of light, but you first need to determine either a unit of measure of distance or time.
Is there some way you can think of to get these concepts over to some unknown alien?
I know this isn't your usual lounge post, but I'm stuck at the skatepark and my mind started wandering (and wondering)
|
|
|
|
|
You could use the distance from Earth to the sun. Show the Earth with a line going to the sun, along with the number of kilometers that it represents.
Or better yet, do the same with the diameter of the Earth.
And for weights, you could use the atomic weight of some well-known element multiplied by some constant number.
The difficult we do right away...
...the impossible takes slightly longer.
|
|
|
|
|
I agree: using graphical representations of objects that remain (relatively) constant should be reasonably portable.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair.
nils illegitimus carborundum
me, me, me
|
|
|
|
|
Why do you assume that aliens know what tree is and how it look like?
|
|
|
|
|
Indeed, I have a theory that as long as we can't talk to animals, we'll never be able to communicate with aliens.
Oxfords English < Official CCC Players Dictionary
Excuse me for my improper grammar and typos.
It's because English is my primary language, not my first language.
My first languages are C# and Java.
VB, ASP, JS, PHP and SQL are my second language.
Indonesian came as my third language.
My fourth language? I'm still creating it, I'll let you know when it's done! 
|
|
|
|
|
A little flawed, if I may say so. we can communicate with animals. I regularly tell my dogs to sit, for example (OK, so Sprout doesn't sit, but you get the idea)
And I am talking about communicating to aliens that have managed to cross interstellar space - something even the brightest dolphin isn't likely to do for a couple of million years!
|
|
|
|
|
"something even the brightest dolphin isn't likely to do for a couple of million years!"...
Don't tell Douglas Adams! ("..so long and thanks for all the fish..") 
|
|
|
|
|
wELL A) iT'S JUST A STORY
AND B) i COLDN'T - HE'S DEAD
|
|
|
|
|
I don't think he mentioned trees...
He is talking about physical items which are common and observable in the entire universe, rather than local to a single planet.
If aliens come here, then using local reference points such as planets, moons etc. is feasible. Otherwise you would use similar items in the system in which you find them.
Other physical things you can use are elements, such as Hydrogen, Helium, etc.
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks: that is exactly what I meant.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair.
nils illegitimus carborundum
me, me, me
|
|
|
|
|
The elements sounds good - I will investigate that.
the planets, no so much. Find in the short term, but you know we're talking interstellar if not inter-galactic travel, so a LONG time could have passed between writing the message and having it read.
|
|
|
|
|
I did say "if the aliens come here..."
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
|
|
|
|
|
I just realized from your post that of course for distance you could just include a meter ruler!
|
|
|
|
|
Richard Andrew x64 wrote: distance from Earth to the sun
It is not constant enough to be accurate, the planet has a wobble and almost certainly changes it's distance from the sun. beside what if the alien is not in this solar system but you are trying to communicate!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
|
|
|
|
|
_Maxxx_ wrote: but I'm stuck at the skatepark and my mind started wandering (and wondering)
Next time, when you come here, bring a book and read!
Too much of heaven can bring you underground
Heaven can always turn around
Too much of heaven, our life is all hell bound
Heaven, the kill that makes no sound
|
|
|
|
|
do you think it's important to aliens how we measure distances?
Other things are more important: Voyager_Golden_Record[^]
EDIT: fixed the link to provide english wiki
regards Torsten
I never finish anyth...
modified 17-Nov-11 2:58am.
|
|
|
|
|
Well, yes it might be important say you wanted to tell them that the birman race has gone off 423400 light years in that direction and not to go 234 light years in that direction (because there be dragons)
I'm suggesting here that we attempt communicating something more than 'here are some nice tunes' (the link u provided was German so I can't remember what else was on that disc, but from memory it was aimed at basically saying "hi, we're bipedal and. Oh do we have some music to Play for you"
Though I will look it up in English when I escape the confines of raMp attack and get on a computer rather than my phOne
|
|
|
|
|
I fixed the link.
When another creatures are able to fly through space they should also be able to measure distances them self. They don't need to bother about our way to measure distances.
Also it might be interesting to see that we value things by using a number system. Therefor some calculations have been added to that record.
regards Torsten
I never finish anyth...
|
|
|
|
|
TorstenH. wrote: When another creatures are able to fly through space they should also be able to measure distances them self. They don't need to bother about our way to measure distances.
They do if we want to communicate a a distance to them. If you want the message to say, for example
"Go in this direction, for 23 miles, and you will find something of value" you need a way to get over the concept of distance of 23 miles. They can only measure it themselves when they know where it is.
|
|
|
|
|
What makes me laugh about that disk is this quote:
When eminent biologist and author Lewis Thomas was asked what message he would choose to send from Earth into outer space in the Voyager spacecraft, he answered, "I would send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach." After a pause, he added, "But that would be boasting."
Ideological Purity is no substitute for being able to stick your thumb down a pipe to stop the water
|
|
|
|
|
Here's another one: How do you explain the concepts of right and left to aliens that have 100% symmetrical bodies?
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
