Over time we can train dogs to do things with reward/punishment feedback. But that's not the kind of communication I was referring to. I was referring to true communication, actual understanding. For example being able to tell a fish to go to a certain location to find food, and see the fish immediately do that; to tell flies to stay away, and without using offensive repellant, have them obey; to tell a bird to sing a song and it does.
Only God could do that with all the animals, eh? But ask yourself what would it take to achieve this result with even one other species -- here is a list, pick one. You know none of our technology is currently geared toward this end. But consider the benefits if we could manipulate our world in such a way. I have no doubt the benefits of this ability would exceed those of machine technology by a trillion-fold.
Space/Science » in reply to There are levels of imagination, of course.
Communication not the same as training
The whole thread (34 posts)
- SETI: Reality Check
- One nit-picky point
- re: SETI: Reality Check
- tool-using sapients
- more
- Millions of species on Earth, we haven't made meaningful contact with any of them
- meaningful contact
- Perhaps because they aren't as smart as we are.... It should be easy then, shouldn't it.
- Make an appointment with Polynesia the Parrot for lessons.
- Still not following
- Millions of species on Earth, we haven't made meaningful contact with any of them
- more