What If Devices Talked Like Dolphins?

Have you ever wondered what goes on underwater when dolphins communicate with each other in the ocean? Dolphins don't have the luxury of cell phones with Internet access, yet they manage to convey some information to each other when they are far away.

They emit whistles, clicks and other sounds in order to communicate with each other.

What would happen if our cell phones, or other devices talked like dolphins do? What would happen if our devices could talk like dolphins do in the ocean? Well, here's your answer.

Let's start off understanding how dolphins communicate.

Dolphins are very intelligent creatures that use various means of communicating with each other. They emit a variety of sounds including whistles and clicks.

Even more interesting is how dolphins use echolocation.

By emitting clicks and then listening to the echoes in order to figure out what objects are around them.

By using echolocation they can form images of their surroundings in their brain.

Communication is an important aspect of dolphin life. While they have rather unique ways of communicating, we can still learn a great deal by understanding how dolphins communicate.

Now, what would happen if our smartphones talked like dolphins?

Imagine having multiple smartphones in a room and instead of using the Internet over a WiFi connection, they somehow communicated with each other like dolphins communicate in the ocean.

One phone would be able to send a message, while another one would receive it. They would be able to communicate and exchange information just like dolphins do.

In fact it's not as far fetched as it seems. Certain technologies exist today like the Bluetooth and WiFi Direct that allows our smartphones and other devices to communicate directly to each other without the need for an Internet connection. However, the signals used by devices are nothing close to the beautiful sounds produced by dolphins.

Nevertheless, the concept is actually quite similar.

How could we use echolocation to discover devices?

Echolocation is an amazing ability that dolphins possess. By emitting clicks and then listening to their echoes, dolphins are able to sense what objects are around them.

Imagine if our smartphones had echolocation capabilities.

Your phone would be able to discover local devices just like dolphins discover objects underwater. Your phone would send out some type of signal, and when another device sends a reply, your phone realizes there is a local device that is compatible with it.

In fact, some existing technologies use similar methods of discovering devices.

However, it usually involves sending radio signals rather than sound waves.

While some people use the idea of echolocation to discover devices, it's usually done with the help of radio signals and other related communication technologies.

What would happen if too many dolphins communicated with each other?

Imagine there are hundreds of dolphins swimming underwater all making sounds at the same time.

It may be really hard to tell apart each dolphin's sound from each other.

The same thing could happen with our electronic devices.

If too many devices communicate with each other over WiFi or other wireless means, it can cause interference resulting in a poor connection. You may have experienced this first hand when using the Internet at a busy place like an office or a shopping mall. Your Internet connection may be slow or inconsistent because there are too many people using it at the same time. This is a pretty common problem with WiFi networks, and there are other technologies to help reduce this issue.

Could dolphins teach us a new lesson in networking?

Nature has provided us with all kinds of inspiration, and it seems like dolphins are doing it again.

The unique ways dolphins communicate can open our minds to different ideas of how our devices should communicate with each other.

Imagine a world where our devices can discover each other, send information to each other, and much more.

Your smart lights would be able to communicate with your motion sensor to make sure they only turn on when someone walks into the room. Your thermostat would be able to communicate with other devices to keep your perfect temperature at all times. These ideas aren't as far fetched as they seem considering how far IoT (Internet of Things) has progressed. The dolphin analogy gives us a clear view of how devices can communicate with each other and how they could be made more efficient.

So, do you think there's a reason why we need secure communications?

Unfortunately, there are some aspects of communication that can't be avoided.

For example, when two devices communicate with each other, how can they be assured that the other device is safe and not trying to steal information?

That's where secure communications like authentication come in handy. It's important that devices are secured when transmitting data especially when it comes to personal information. Some devices like smartphones use Bluetooth to discover other devices, and in order to establish a secure connection, they may use Bluetooth authentication to make sure they are connecting to the right device. Unlike dolphins, electronic devices have to worry about personal information going into the wrong hands. As a result, devices have to have more considerations when it comes to communication.

Final thoughts

Dolphins may be very intelligent creatures, but there is no doubt that they have a really interesting way of communicating with each other.

While our smartphones and computers aren't going to be emitting whistles and using echolocation anytime soon, the basic similarities of transmitting data, discovering other devices, and establishing a connection are actually fascinating to think about.

From Bluetooth to smart devices, communications has made our devices much more connected than ever before. The next time your cell phone connects to another device, you can imagine how dolphins would do the same underwater!