• Each language has their unique encoding of their language represented in pulses of light.
  • Written text remains the same
  • The light is beamed from the human head in 360 degrees when ever they communicate, visible for up to 1KM
  • Instumental music still works, and people can still hear things, just not talk.
  • People currenly alive will instantly know how to communicate with light in equivalent proficiency to their speech proficiency before the scenario happening, but everyone born from now on will have to learn from the adults.

Remember: Light cannot penetrate walls

  • JTskulk@lemmy.worldEnglish
    4·
    2 days ago

    I’m re-listening to 3 Body for the 2nd time :) I’ve thought a little of the consequences of using light to communicate instead of sound. Tri-Solarans can probably easily communicate very long distances naturally. I also thought maybe this style of communication makes them more apt to computer technology in general as the light modulation is what a lot of computing is. I also wondered if “conversing” with a computer is more natural for them and much simpler for a computer to interpret compared to speech.

  • Iamsqueegee@sh.itjust.works
    14·
    3 days ago

    Epileptics are not going to be thrilled, neither are the blind. Buy stock in aspirin because migraines and headaches are going to increase. Driving at night will become a silent affair. No more covert night ops.

    • insomniac_lemon@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      41·
      3 days ago

      I was going to say something like this (that it could combine in interesting ways) though if we assume that it was part of society’s past it’s more likely it was never created due to lack of need (being deaf would no longer be a hindrance to communication).

      Though being blind would be even worse and I’m not sure what (simple) system* could be created to overcome that. It would be like being deaf now but without sign-language existing, at least when it comes to receiving communication.

      * I guess maybe some implant like a modified cochlear implant, but that’s not exactly simple

    • throwawayacc0430@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
      6·
      3 days ago

      Lol, roadrages is gonna be fun when people start instictively saying communicating via light “you motherfucker” on their drive to work. The entire road will hear see it.

  • PetteriPano@lemmy.world
    4·
    3 days ago

    I’m going to place an angled mirror from the bathroom to the kitchen so I can blink to my wife to bring toilet paper. Or a towel.

  • lunarul@lemmy.world
    4·
    3 days ago
    • The light is beamed from the human head in 360 degrees when ever they communicate, visible for up to 1KM

    This sounds extremely impractical. It’s like everyone can only yell at the top of their lungs. At least we can choose to focus on the person we’re interested in and ignore background “noise”. But someone trying to get our attention would be difficult. Now we can just call someone’s name from behind them. Something equivalent would be impossible.

  • NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de
    4·
    3 days ago

    Nearly all existing media (radio, songs, TV, movies, YouTube videos, …) will eventually lose its appeal, as (for new born people at least) it will effectively be in a foreign language, that uses a completely separate mode of communication. You can’t share Back to the Future with anyone new anymore.

    But all of Star Wars gets a remaster with a CGI light-speech dub.

  • Dizzy Devil Ducky@lemm.eeEnglish
    3·
    3 days ago

    Well, all fully blind people lose their ability to effectively communicate, at the very least. At least until some form of sound based “sign” language is developed.