Waving Your Hand Without Actually Waving Your Hand

It’s already 7pm and as I’m writing my blog here in Ateneo. I’m just sitting here typing on this blog as I look at out the 2^nd floor area of Matteo only to see it raining. As the rain pours and the clock ticks I kept stopping to stare outside and then face my laptop’s screen again. It’s depressing to be alone….. with no one to communicate to.

As I ponder what to write about in this blog I kept staring at the empty seats beside me. “Walang makausap dito!”  kept ringing and ringing inside my head. Communication has evolved through technology as I’ve learned. Such is the beauty of technology that I’ll just log in my Facebook or Yahoo accounts and talk to someone. Then an idea or rather a theory of my own hit me as I was talking to my friend online. What if technology has evolved to the extent that you won’t need to be physically there and yet still communicate? I don’t think that my theory is so far off. We can communicate now without the need of actually seeing who you are talking to in person; you can just use your phone now. Sooner or later we won’t even need physical communication to actually communicate.

Just In communication class we kept talking about the theory of non-verbal coding. Gestures and actions are a big part of communication. From the way we stand, to the movements of our hands, and the emotions of our face; we use all of this convey a message. One thing that the theory of non-verbal coding also assumes that hasn’t been stated (IN MY OPINION) is that you actually need a physical body or concrete entity to do gestures. But that isn’t the case now. You really don’t need to wave your hand now to wave your hand (no mistake there, yes you read “wave your hand” twice). Curious yet, how are you going to wave your hand without actually waving it?

Two trolls and a tauren waving. /wave

Before the advent of information technology, humans only moved in the physical realm. The physical realm was where all communications used to happen, BACK THEN THAT IS! Now we have the virtual realm to communicate in. The virtual realm not only allows us to communicate verbally but also non-verbally. How you say? How are you going to communicate non-verbally through a computer screen? Some might say you can use cameras to communicate in a non-verbal manner but what I’m saying is COMPLETE non-verbal communication through the computer screen. You only need to life your fingers now and several gestures and actions are now literally under your fingertips.  I use to play World of Worldcraft (WoW). WoW is a prime example of what I’m saying. In the virtual realm of WoW people’s avatars (or characters for the non-gamers) can communicate non-verbally. Just by simply pressing “enter” and typing in “/wave” I have waved my hand without actually waving my hand. Best of all, someone actually waves back at you! Suddenly the theory of Kinesics is challenged.  Kinesics itself is presented in the virtual world just like in the real world. Inside WoW you can do several real world gestures even facial expressions. Other sites offer the same thing like Habbo where you control a virtual avatar and mingle with other real people. Meetings have been replaced with YM conference or Facebook groups. The virtual realm is slowly encroaching the physical realm.

Is it possible that in the future that our whole communication process only exist in the virtual realm? Communication evolves along with technology. Maybe 10 or 20 years from now new communication students can get to choose between 2 different comm classes; Physical Communication and Virtual Communication. Imagine just sitting in front of the computer and still be connected to everyone, you don't even have to leave your home to have a relationship or wave to your neighbor. Maybe it isn't so far off....

The end?

    Or the future?