Dimensional Communications
Right on the edge and closing fast…
In 1999, I started using the phrase “Dimensional Communications” to describe the concepts behind some interactive visualization work I developed for my Silicon Valley startup to help business people communicate their most important ideas quickly, clearly, and in a memorable fashion.
The key part of this pioneering work was communicating to people through multiple dimensions at once — specifically sight, sound, emotion, and feel, in an animated and engaging way.
Here we are almost 20 years later, and the experience behind those early business communications prototypes still hasn’t been fully realized. That said, we’re right on the edge and closing fast. The impact foreseen then still remains, and is more relevant than ever because of a new communications medium that now exists — mixed reality.
At its core, Dimensional Communications focuses on effectively getting our points across using impactful Design techniques across a variety of electronic mediums. That approach requires the skill to isolate and amplify the most impactful elements of a thought, story, or report. Not everyone has that talent — thus the opportunity for us to develop the necessary toolset and techniques to make it achievable by anyone.
All the elements required to make this approach pervasive in business and education now exist, so let’s restart the conversation to jumpstart that effort.
Here are some key things I learned about people during the initial development of Dimensional Communications…
1. People need an easy way to see each other’s mental models
There’s nothing more frustrating than realizing after talking with someone for a long time that you have a completely different understanding of important points. You formed different images in your mind. Yet, many times it’s not either person’s fault. Its not that you weren’t smart enough, or weren’t listening carefully, or even missing some key piece of domain expertise.
The problem almost always lies in the simple fact that you couldn’t see the way the other person conceptualizes and understands whatever it is you were talking about.
The mental models we’re talking about don’t have to be abstract concepts (such as how quantum computing works) — it could be as simple as not knowing how an organization actually functions in practice vs. what the org chart would have you believe.
When we cannot clearly see something being discussed, the great possibility exists we are not actually aware of the other party’s perspective and viewpoint.
Imagine being able to take your understanding of something, visualize it, then pull it out of your head and place it on the table in front of you so that the person you are talking with can see it, comment on it, and argue why you’re wrong for thinking about it that way ;-)
Dimensional Communications techniques and tools help people to get mental models out of their heads and onto screens or other hard output. When you transfer the imagery to a place where it can be examined, discussed, and argued about, there’s a much higher probability two different people will be able to understand and discuss it effectively.
No question we can do an incredibly better job of visualizing mental models today using our AR, VR, or Mixed Reality mediums coupled with a deep engagement and interaction model. Time to test that out.
2. Current representations of data, processes, and models are too shallow
People are insatiably curious creatures. We always want to know more about the things that interest us, especially when we need to make decisions based upon our understanding. Why is that so? How was it done? Who was responsible? Where can I get one? and so on.
We increasingly want to know if things are true and came from reputable sources, which is getting increasingly more difficult to determine. It’s a mystery to solve rather than a matter of making the sources clear. Why aren’t we investing more in using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)to surface the source of the information we’re consuming?
This lack of depth in determining authenticity and intent is just one aspect of today’s information, data, process, and models being too shallow.
We don’t want to see everything about a tweet, article, Instagram post, or advertisement all the time, but we do need access to more than the surface level form when we ask for it. Everything we communicate is actually a multi-level collection of information and data. Dimensional Communications is an attempt to surface what we don’t usually see, but only when appropriate or asked for. It’s all there, but not presented all at the same time like some middle manager’s PowerPoint slide from hell.
When your incredibly insightful commentary on that critical issue is presented, we’ll be able to dig deeper right away — whether you’re in the room or not. Dimensional Communications techniques encapsulate enough levels of detail and related items that our obvious next questions formed can be answered, and in turn continue to be dug into. They will convey the message quickly, clearly, and in memorable fashion.
Our key messages will stop being one dimensional.
3. One size doesn’t fit all in communicating ideas that are important to us
We often make the mistake of thinking our “expert opinion” yields the most useful form of an argument, visualization, video cut, or article. It probably is sufficient in many cases, but it’s only one slice of the rich multi-dimensional spectrum that can be utilized to convey ideas to another person.
Dimensional Communications leverages the whole spectrum of available mediums to get points across in the way most appropriate for the person’s current state of mind, context, ability to focus, and understanding.
We cannot assume that we as designers and conveyers of messages know the best way to reach someone at a particular point in time. So, we need to develop flexible constructs that encourage deep exploration and analysis, and leverage fluid delivery vehicles to assist in getting the point across in the way the receiver can deal with best.
But, where do we start? How do you pick that initial form of the message?
In many cases, the receiver’s context will dictate the appropriate entry point. Are we talking face to face? Are they in transit? Did they ignore the body of a mail and just open the attachment? Do they never watch videos?
This need to understand current context and preference is partially addressed by AI and ML, and specifically through reinforcement learning techniques. We’ll be able to dial in the right representations more often than not.
The key point here is that we’re at the end of just producing one form of our communication and thinking it’s going to be equally effective for everyone.
What’s next?
We stand at the edge of a new age of communications, where these Dimensional Communications techniques allow us to leverage multiple channels simultaneously to get people to the moment of clarity quickly and memorably. It’s on all of us to keep experimenting to find those great examples where this approach is clearly a better way to convey what’s most important to other people.
See you out there designing for curiosity and delivering impact.
About the Author
Bold, insightful and uncompromising, M. Pell is recognized as a thought leader in the field of Holographic Visualization and Smart Information. Checkout his book “Envisioning Holograms”.
Learn more about M. Pell at http://www.futuristic.com
Related posts by M. Pell:
“HoloScenes” — envisioning holographic experiences
“Datascrapers” — a data art series
“Fast Design” — the art of moving your ideas forward
“Designers: Adapt or Die” — learn to code or be irrelevant
