The Utah State University has created an insightful micro site on the origins of writing. The micro site covers also writing systems, particularly the topic of Runic writing – the …
Language, music, syntax and the brain
A really interesting high-level article by Aniruddh D. Patel and published in Nature Neuroscience which looks at the comparative study and cognitive theory of music and language and its representation …
An overview of Semiotics
There is a great article by Challis Hodge in boxes and arrows titled, Semiotics: A Primer for Designers. It is a great introduction on semiotics which comments on its origins …
Neil Gershenfeld on Personal Fabrication
MIT’s Director for the Center for Bits and Atoms and lecturer of a class called, How To Make (almost) Anything, speaks to Edge.org about Personal Fabrication. The Edge interview which …
Electronic glove translates sign language to speech
Jose Hernandez-Rebollar, a researcher for George Washington University in the US has developed an electronic glove called the “AcceleGlove” that can translate the rapid hand movements used in sign language …
SMS, Email is changing how we say Hello-Goodbye
BBC reports that recent technologies such as sms and email is slowly changing the way we use language, words such as hello and goodbye are being replaced with Hey, G’day, …
A quote from Umberto Eco’s 1996 lecture, From Internet to Gutenberg
Even if it were true that today visual communication overwhelms written communication, the problem is not to oppose written to visual communication. The problem is how to improve both. Reference: …
Is music older than language?
Here is a fascinating blog entry by Ottmar Liebert on our human ability to enjoy Music. His blog entry and also user comments have brought up an interesting discussion suggesting …
Analysing language using DNA techniques
Here is an interesting article on the research by Geneticist Peter Forster of the University of Cambridge in Britain who used techniques usually reserved for DNA to support the idea …
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gets updated every decade
Every decade the Merriam-Webster Dictionary gets an update, this new edition version 11 includes over 100,000 new meanings and revisions with the Internet playing a strong influence.
What is meant by Captcha?
For a few months now I’ve been visiting a site called Word Spy, if you haven’t heard of it, it’s a great site by Paul McFedries which identifies recently coined …
James Elkins lecture on What is Visual Literacy?
There is a public lecture this coming Wednesday 11th June, 6-8pm by Professor James Elkins from the Department of Art History, Theory and Criticism at the Art Institute in Chicago. …
Natural language is coming to a computer near you
Wade Roush from Technology Review comments on the goal to make natural language the norm when searching for any type of information, anywhere. The article titled, Computers That Speak Your …
Music lyrics can influence aggression
New Scientist comments that music with violent lyrics increase aggressive thoughts and emotions. The finding is interesting because previous popular belief showed that aggression and increased aggressive tendencies were thought …
Phonetically searching Audio
Technology Review posts an interesting article by John Harney titled, The Grammar of Sound which looks at a new software by a company called Fast-Talk Communications that allows a new …