CHANGES IN COMMUNICATION

Evolution of man

When man first painted his hand on a cave wall the future of communication was born. Archeologists in Griffith University Australia believe, “Prehistoric cave art provides the most direct insight into the earliest storytelling”, Aubert, M., Lebe, R., (2019). This can be seen in The cave of hands in Cueva de Las Monas Argentina and the Magura cave in Bulgaria.

Hand paintings found in Cueva de Las Monas

Genevieve Von Petzinger, (a paleoanthropologist and rock art researcher), came to this conclusion after studying over 300 archeological sites, including caves from France, Spain and Italy. It is believed hunting scenes painted on cave walls were not only used to pass on information of how to hunt, but also to influence the hunt. These caves not only show that prehistoric man recorded his history and culture, but also how he perceived the world around him. “There is Good evidence to show that a neurological relationship between visual creativity and language existed”, Stout, J., Hutchins, G.,(2000).

Hunting scene found in the cave of Magura in Bulgaria

Storytelling predates the written word and first became popular around 1,000 BC with the ancient greeks passing down myths and ledgends. We can also see this in the Greek and Roman civilisation.

Cunieform (latin meaning wedge shaped), believed to be the oldest form of writing was developed as a means to allocate rations in Ancient Sumeria. This early form of writing enabled people to share information such as temple and business activities. One of the earliest examples discovered, “The Epic of Gilgamesh”, was carved using cunieform onto 12 clay tablets. This epic tale chronicles the fictional quest for immortality of Gilgamesh, King of Uruk”.

The epic of Gilgamesh carved using cuneiform

Ancient Egyptians developed their drawing into heirogliphics, (greek meaning ‘sacred carvings’). Known as picture writing, symbols represented objects or sounds. Pricila Scoville (Phd student in Ancient History) claims, “there are convincing views to show that heiroglyphics derived from rock pictures were first produced by prehistoric hunting communities”.

Heiroglyphics derived from rock pictures

200 BC saw story telling become more persuasive with the bible. The old testement tells tales dating back many years before being written down. The bible is persuasive as it encourages the reader to believe if they lived their lives according to Gods laws they would have eternal life.

Bible early example of persuasive writing

Following the invention of the printing press, (created in China and further developed in the 15th centuary by Johannes Gutenbergto), the first newspapers emerged and by the 1700’s the written word had become wildly circulated. In 1826 the first photograph was taken by Nicephore Niepce and visual communication was born again.

First photograph taken by Nicephore Niepce in 1826

Now technology has advanced and communication is at our finger tips. Television relays important information directly into our homes. Social media, twitter and instagram enables us to have instant connection with others and have attracted millions of users over the years.

Communication at our fingertips

But who are we speaking to? Can the way we portray ourselves hide who we really are?

Companies such as Diligent Robotics in Texas are already using robots to take over mundane jobs. Hanson Robotics based in Hong Kong have developed a robot named Sophia, who can move, talk, draw, sing and show some emotions. Photographer Di Sturco, after being allowed to enter Hanson Robotics claimed. “In the beginning it was difficult because Sophia did not recognise the camera, but after 3 days she kind of learned. It was really strange, I realised I was even speaking to her”.

Sophia developed by Hanson Robotics

With technology becoming so advanced what is happening to our brains?Christopher Stringer a (Paleonthropologist from the Natural History Museum in London), reports,“the fact that we increasingly store and process information externally in books and on line means that many of us can probably get by with smaller brains”. Research suggests the “internet is not just changing how we live and work its actually altering our brains”, neuroscientist Michael Merzenich says “this should not come as a surprise, our brain is constructed for change”.

So what will our future hold? Will we have brains the size of microchips? Will we be able to tell if we are communicating with a fellow human being? But more importantly will we care?

Are our brains shrinking?

Reference List:

Aubert, M., Lebe, R., (2019), Earliest hunting scene in prehistoric art. Available at: https/doi.org/10.
Stout, J., (2000), Journal of Archeology Science. 27((12), pp. 1215–1223.