More Semaphore

Wiki Definition “Semaphore Flags are a system for conveying information at a distance by means of visual signals with hand-held flags, rods, disks, paddles, or occasionally bare or gloved hands. Information is encoded by the position of the flags; it is read when the flag is in a fixed position. Semaphores were adopted and widely used (with hand-held flags replacing the mechanical arms of shutter semaphores) in the maritime world in the early 1800s. Semaphore signals were used, for example, at the Battle of Trafalgar. This was the period in which the modern naval semaphore system was invented. This system uses hand-held flags. It is still used during underway replenishment at sea and is acceptable for emergency communication in daylight or, using lighted wands instead of flags, at night.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_semaphore

Semaphore

Semaphore is a similar concept to Morse code, each letter of the alphabet is converted into another form, the main difference is that morsel code is mainly used to send messages over a telegraph line. Semaphore is used as a way of communicating information over long distances using a visual method. The newest version of semaphore has different coloured flags to portray whether the message has been sent by sea or on land.

This is the semaphore Alphabet:

African Drum Language

The traditional drumming found in Africa is actually of three different types. Firstly, a rhythm can represent an idea (or signal). Secondly it can repeat the profile of a spoken utterance or thirdly it can simply be subject to musical laws.

Drum communication methods are not languages in their own right; they are based on actual natural languages. The sounds produced are conventionalized or idiomatic signals based on speech patterns. The messages are normally very stereotyped and context-dependent. They lack the ability to form new combinations and expressions.

In central and east Africa, drum patterns represent the stresses, syllable lengths and tone of the particular African language. In tone languages, where syllables are associated with a certain tone, some words are only distinguished only by their suprasegmental profile. Therefore, syllable drum languages can often communicate a message using the tonal phonemesalone.

In certain languages, the pitch of each syllable is uniquely determined in relation to each adjacent syllable. In these cases, messages can be transmitted as rapid beats at the same speed as speech as the rhythm and melody both match the equivalent spoken utterance.

Misinterpretations can occur due to the highly ambiguous nature of the communication. This is reduced by context effects and the use of stock phrases. For example, in Jabo, most stems are monosyllabic. By using a proverb or honorary title to create expanded versions of an animal, person's name or object, the corresponding single beat can be replaced with a rhythmic and melodic motif representing the subject. In practice not all listeners understand all of the stock phrases; the drum language is understood only to the level of their immediate concern.

Some people such as the Melanesians extend this idea further by freely inventing signs to make up their drum signals. This is in sharp contrast to the Efik tribe of Nigeria who use notes which exactly correspond to the tones of their morphemes. Different still is the Ewe language found in Togo, where only full sentences and their combinations are translated into the drum language. No smaller units are used; a sound picture represents a whole thought. This is similar to the Tangu tribe of New Guinea, where signals represent phrases, the mnemonics of which are parts of song melodies, quasi-poetic rhythms or purely personal rhythms.

When a drum is used in speech mode, it is culturally defined and depends on the linguistic/cultural boundaries. Therefore, communication suffers from translation problems as in vocal communication. There is no international drum language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_(communication)

Smoke Signals

During my research on smoke signals I found that this is in fact one of the oldest forms of communication dating back over 5000 years ago, it was typically used to communicate news, danger or to signify a gathering.

At the time it was the quickest way of communicating messages over long distances. Smoke signals are still in use today, in Rome they use smoke to indicate the selection of a new pope, if you see black smoke this indicates that the selection process has been unsuccessful, though if you see white smoke it indicates that a new pope has been elected.

Assignment Specification

You are required to research and examine outmoded means of communication and re-purpose  the most appropriate for the new digital media age. Your challenge is firstly, to understand how the chosen method affected change in the context of its time and secondly, to propose and construct a contemporary response.

Keep a blog of your work and try to draw inspiration from your research – avoid the prosaic. Some examples for consideration are:

• Smoke Signals
• Drums
• Semaphore
• Flags
• Heliographs

The final pieces may end up entirely on screen or become integrated into real objects into real objects – see Steam Punk for inspiration.