In what ways do you communicate online?
The content explores the evolution of communication across various species, highlighting how even the simplest organisms engage in communication. It observes animals like ants, whales, and dolphins using unique techniques, while also noting plants’ primitive responses to stimuli. The narrative illustrates the progression of communication complexity, culminating in humans who developed advanced speech and writing systems. The advent of computers and social media has transformed communication, enabling instant sharing of various content types. Despite these advancements, a cautionary note emphasizes the importance of discerning and responsible use of digital platforms, given the potential risks linked with careless communication practices.
It was a pleasant spring morning. Nature was at her best. Colourful flowers, gentle breeze, clean azure sky with flakes of wispy clouds, all boiled down to an invigorating atmosphere. The chirping birds added dimension. They were happily hopping and chirping, sometimes solo, sometimes making a call to communicate. Amid it all, a pair of birds were busy making their home. It was a nice experience to watch them busy with their work and conversing with each other at the same time.
Communication is a unique and important gift of Mother Nature to organisms. It is the communication which helps connect individuals in private or in groups. Even the most primitive organisms try to communicate with each other in one way or another.
Halt for a moment and behold the line of ants. While moving ahead, they stop for a moment, touch each other with their labial palps, communicate and move on. They release pheromones for communication and reach en mass to the place where they need each other’s joint effort. Ants lead a highly organised life, and each one of the group remains connected. Other insects also lead an organised life, like ants, and communicate in their way.
Animals like white ants (termites), honeybees, et cetera have a complex society and highly organised hierarchy with a clear division of labour. Each individual has a well-defined role. They effectively communicate with each other by their unique modes of communication.
Rising above the ladder of the living world, especially in the Animal Kingdom, a gradual increase in the complexity of the mode of communication is seen. It became more telegraphic and effective in higher groups of animals like birds and mammals. The birds communicate with their chirp, quacking, cawing, cooing or calling. It differs under different conditions.
Apart from terrestrial animals, aquatic animals have highly technical modes of communication. Whales, for example, who live in pods, communicate with each other using pulsed calls, whistles, and even symbols. In the latter case, they used to stroke water with their tails in various ways for communication. Similarly, animals like Dolphins and Bats use echolocation to communicate and perceive any danger or objects coming their way. Echolocation is a process of communication where high-pitched sound waves are released. When returned after reflection, the waves tell them about the distance of any object in their way. Humans use this technique to locate ships, submarines in the sea or sometimes even aeroplanes in the sky.
In the amazing world of plants, communication is not so defined, but they respond to stimuli in their own way. Plants have no nervous system or the powers of speech. Unlike animals, plants lack sensation and speech. In contrast to animals of even lower groups, which have the power of senses, plants have no sensual power. The plants, nevertheless, communicate subtly. Their communication is primitive and, to a certain extent, insignificant to us as well.
Look at the Touch-me-not plant and the way how it contracts its leaves when touched! Plants respond to various physical stimuli like light, gravitation and water. A plant wilts when it faces water scarcity. They even feel shocked in extreme weather conditions. Like animals, they adapt themselves according to the environment in which they live and thrive.
Animal Kingdom, as has been said above, is different from that of plants in having sense organs and a defined brain. Their response to the stimuli is distinct. Even primitive animals, having no developed nervous system, show their ability to respond to bright light or heat.
As the evolution progressed, more complex animals evolved. Depending on the changing scenario, they adapted according to the environment. Mammals, being at the top, are an advanced group that are viviparous except for a few, which are egg-laying mammals. Their mode of communication is more advanced and structured, as has been discussed above in the case of Whales, Dolphins and Bats.
At the topmost level, human beings are endowed with highly developed communication. With time they developed speech and the ability to make sentences. With the power of articulation, they made words, sentences and language. Power of speech gave them wings. Humans could express themselves and their feelings clearly by speech, not by miming. This reached a crescendo when human beings learned the art of writing. Initially, they used to express by the use of drawings of a particular thing that, with time, developed into symbols and letters. Although most ancient languages have been deciphered, languages like those of the Indus Valley people stay undeciphered.
The symbolic language is seen as hieroglyphs, carved out on stone in Egyptian Civilization. The writing was started initially on stone. It was followed by clay tablets and then substances like leather, paper, the bark of Himalayan birch, palm leaves and papyrus were used to write. The ancient scriptures were written on the bark of Himalayan birch (“Bhoj Patra”) and on palm leaves (“Tal Patra”).
Modern Era saw the use of paper to write, drawings and other forms using dip-pens, ink and colours. It was becoming a means of communication and also a means of keeping records of happenings, various orders of emperors/rulers and official proceedings. Besides its formal use, paper was used to express one’s emotional and romantic feelings in the form of poetry or simple love letters. The letters were sent to receivers by different modes; the most talked about was by pigeons. The birds, adapted to fly long distances and have the ability to remember places, were used as messengers.
In recent times, with the currency of postal services, letter-writing was the main source of communication and knowing about the well-being of relatives, friends and loved ones. The expanding network of postal services augmented the letter-writing. It was a convenient, economical and effective way of knowing about each other and feeling connected.
Artistically designed heavy papers were used to write a letter especially when pouring hearts to the lover was required. The letter was written painstakingly in calligraphic style, using ornamental language and the choicest words, phrases and figures of speech. Both sides were eager to have letters, which used to be a prized possession and a storehouse of emotions.
With the development and use of computers, communication has seen a paradigm shift. The long and time-consuming letter-writing and waiting for its reply has become a thing of the past. It was not long ago when people relied on postal services, but now, no more. The tsunami of computer technology and its fast refinement has taken the world by storm. Once used to be huge and cumbersome, computers are becoming faster, smaller, thinner and more convenient to use.
The increasing use of computer technology in people’s lives has drastically changed the way of communication. Different social media platforms have become available to communicate and stay connected. Some popular applications include, but are not limited to, Facebook, WhatsApp, X, and Instagram. Many communication platforms focus on user convenience. People can exchange communication at lightning speed on a real-time basis. It is not restricted to text messages only. A user can send pictures, videos and voice messages along with text messages. Digitization has created wonders. Anyone can watch the news, views, comments, and the latest happenings live, anywhere and anytime, using their smartphones.
Choosing a platform for communication is personal. It depends on the taste of the person using it and how. The confidentiality of the messages is of utmost importance for some platforms. The ease and convenience of digital platforms have some dark aspects as well. Individuals should navigate digital platforms with care and caution, adhering to established norms and protocols. Proper knowledge, awareness and precautions can save a user from impending mishappening and bamboozling.
The fast-moving life of modern humans has brought some fast, smart and efficient modes of communication. Besides being beneficial, digital platforms can sometimes be fatal and devastating. The digital platforms are machine-generated and, if used casually and carelessly, can prove hazardous. It can range from financial loss to emotional shattering or even trapped in undue problems. A knife, when used carefully with prudence, is useful. It is dangerous when used with mala fide intention to harm someone. Thus, knowledge is the best defence.
Digital platforms, social media and other computer-driven technological things are extremely good and beneficial when used with care and prudence. So, be careful, be safe.
-END-
Leave a Reply