by: Julie Ann Claire Nique, Michele Nudque and Mila Claire Nufable

If we are going to travel back in the early time, we can witness the rich and wondrous culture of the ancient people and their creative way of communicating with each other through growls and shouts. (Ong, 2002). And today, our lives are more advanced than before, most especially in interacting and connecting with other people, because of the presence of modern technology. But what would probably happen in the next 50 years, if now, our ways of communicating is already convenient? Will it become more upgraded?

Over the years, as our communication evolved– humans become more eager to know what’s running in someone’s mind and want them to read accurately in an instant to create harmony and order to the society as stated by Ross Buck (as cited in Paul, 2007). Many scientists are conducting experiments and studies regarding mind reading. In 2014, a person from India and France successfully made brain-to-brain communication possible by using the synaptic transmission process and in 2013, an experiment in the University of Washington resulted that brain-to-brain interfacing and transmission of emotions are possible. (Mei, 2015). Stocco (as cited in Mei, 2015) indicated that most innovated technologies over the years existed because of innovations of communication. And by that, after 50 years, a telepathy device will finally come to exist, to convey feelings and messages to anyone in a snap  that can be used anytime, anywhere. There will be no talking, writing, gesturing and typing; rather it will be a direct brain-to-brain connection.

This prediction may creep us out because the world will never be the same again. It will become silent because everybody will be busy listening to each other’s little voices. But who knows? It may help us know people better and build stronger bonds that will make our world the best place to live in.

References:

Mei, A. (2015, November 4). Science or Science Fiction? Telepathy and Mind Control. Retrieved from http://www.yalescientific.org/2015/11/science-or-science-fiction-telepathy-and-mind-control/?fbclid=IwAR3kAs4qJi4HnIHdjvkGmBnbFOOC-zuZ_HkHIXcXnZ10NlAR6BVyjsVx-7Q 

Ong, W. J. (2002). Orality and literacy: The technologizing of the word. London: Routledge. 

Paul, A. M. (2007, September 1). Mind Reading. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200709/mind-reading?fbclid=IwAR2RQ3rN8tOCC52lbArsETRxAbwYHb9WQ6tzaGPvq_-3HzgvyI-7IPK4B5I

By Maria Divina Tabasin and Jullienne Rose Tambirao

Communication transpired since the beginning of humanity. From an idea comprehended by the mind it was molded into signs, signals, and symbols (Cangelosi, 2001). Oral communication followed right after, then succeeded by writing (Lambert, 2019). The use of smoke signals at approximately 1800 BC evolved thousands of years later to telegrams, mechanical computer, telephone, radio, email, cellphone, World wide web, Google, and many other inventions (Doyle, 2016). The past simply illustrates the constant change in communication media.

Moving further into the future, microchips or memory cards that are biologically implanted could be the main medium of communication in 50 years’ time. These will act as credit cards, keys and train tickets. Short-range radio frequency identification (RFID) implant could already hold personal information such as medical history and acts as identification card as well as passport (Hooijdonk, 2013). Modifications of these chips could possibly replace smart phones and computers in texting, calling, and internet surfing.

These chips are already developed and being used in countries such as Sweden and in fifty or less years the whole world may have access to these devices (Agence France-Presse, 2018). Trends in communication show that communication media changes in more or less 20 years from its current form (Eastman, 2013). It also shows that even with change, it is inevitable that people revert to old ways and use the former medium of communication. Thus, 50 years is enough for microchips to improve and be used in a worldwide scale.

This medium of communication may vary according to today’s progress mainly in the field of science and technology. The probability of microchips as main medium of communication is minute compared to millions of possibilities that could arise between today and the future. With the human mind, nothing seems impossible.

References:

Agence France-Presse. (2018, May 13). Thousands of people in Sweden get microchip implants for a new way of life. Retrieved from South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/2145896/thousands-people-sweden-get-microchip-implants-new-way-life

Boyce, R. (Photographer). (2018, September 21). RFID microchip [photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/09/how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-microchip/570946/

Cangelosi, A. (2001). Evolution of communication and language using signals, symbols, and words. IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, 93 – 101. Retrieved from Journal and Magazines: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/918429/

Doyle, J. P. (2016). The History Of Communication Technology. Retrieved from Conference Calls Unlimited: https://www.conferencecallsunlimited.com/history-Of-communication-technology/

Eastman, H. (2013, July 7). Communication changes with technology, social media. Retrieved from The Daily Universe: https://universe.byu.edu/2013/07/07/1communication-changes-with-technology-social-media/

Hooijdonk, R. v. (2013, April 23). Human Microchipping, The Benefits And Downsides. Retrieved from Richard van Hooijdonk: https://richardvanhooijdonk.com/blog/en/human-microchipping-the-benefits-and-downsides/

Lambert, T. (2019). A Brief History Of Communication . Retrieved from Local Histories: http://www.localhistories.org/communications.html

How the microchips work [Digital image]. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/07/25/do-microchip-implants-pose-health-risks-ask-swedes-and-pets/507408001/