Silent Messaging

I recently finished Rainbows End. Like many sci-fi books the plot is passable but Vinge’s real skill is in envisioning future innovations. In 2025 San Diego, aging has been largely cured, ubiquitous computing is the norm, and everyone communicates via silent messaging (SM), basically discrete texting. People compose messages with subtle body movements that are picked up by their clothing and recipients see the messages as floating letters via high tech contact lenses (Google Glass 12.0?).

I can’t stop thinking that some version of silent messaging is going to be our next big form of communication. Nonverbal communication has been around forever so silent messaging is really just the next logical step. Vinge’s implementation is interesting but the technology required is not available yet.  I’m more intrigued by how we can communicate silently under our current technological constraints.

What gestures are subtle enough to be imperceptible to bystanders and how can messages be received just as quietly? Morse code and vibrations is one option. I learned to type quickly with T9 and I would learn morse code if the benefit was there. Maybe we could wear a wristband that detected tiny muscle movements, allowing us to discretely move our fingers as if we were typing on an actual keyboard. Picking recipients and correcting errors is going to be tough but I’m sure someone will figure it out soon.