May 30, 2007 4:00 AM PDT
Alphabet changes color of communication
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To be sure, Freedman doesn't have any expectations of Kromofons becoming the standard alphabet anytime soon. In fact, he has said that it could take 100 years. But he clearly believes that the language presents nearly endless applications.
To begin with, he thinks that the potential to embed messages in color images means that animation is a natural medium for Kromofons.
For example, he foresees things like video lyrics designed to play on video iPods, so that as the lyrics come through the earphones, colors simultaneously flash across the screen, spelling out the words.
Or dancers in a ballet could wear outfits that change color in different lighting to represent different messages depending on the storyline.
Or the colors could be used in nail polishes so that kids could spell out secret messages that they hope their parents and teachers can't read.
Of course, Bennett says, if that comes to pass, don't look for the adults to stay in the dark for too long.
"If kids start reading and producing this code," Bennett said, "the adults will want to pick it up pretty quick to figure out what (is being) said."
Still, Janson thinks Kromofons have much more application for children than for adults.
"Since (Kromofons are) just a color system, they can be used to design almost anything," Janson said. "You find kids writing messages to each other in different designs. And some of the designs that I've seen reproductions of are dazzling. They're not like any children's designs I've ever seen. Most children's designs tend to follow certain patterns for their age group. You can almost tell by the way a drawing or a picture looks how old the kid is."
But, Janson added, when he's looked at children's designs using Kromofons, "I've not been able to tell how old any of these kids were. And it turns out they were much younger than I thought."
That's why Janson came up with the term, "a new operating system for the mind," that Freedman has adopted for Kromofons. Janson said he hasn't received any money for any advice or consultation, however.
"The more I've used it, the more I find myself thinking in completely different thought patterns than I normally do," Janson said.
Janson said he has long suffered from attention deficit disorder and dyslexia, but the way he reads Kromofons doesn't seem to be affected.
"Because Kromofons are essentially abstract shapes with colors, and they have no inherent meaning, someone who has ADD or is dyslexic finds that it is much easier to use Kromofons than letters because letters are always very literal," Janson said. "And though each color has a letter attached to it, when one is reading in Kromofons, one actually completes the meaning of the word intuitively without having to spell it out."
For now, Kromofons will grow slowly, with a small number of adults interacting with the system via Kmail, as well as a Microsoft Word plug-in that allows users to type Kromofons in Word.
But the biggest hope for it being a transformative technology, Janson said, is for more and more kids to enjoy using Kromofons and to keep on doing so.
"I think it is going to take a generation," Janson said, "but I do think it will happen, because it is fundamentally a really good idea."
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27 comments
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I see this being of use to help teach kids to learn the regular alphabet somehow, but there are so many reasons that our current, simple letters are more useful and versatile.
As someone with an art degree and is well-versed in colors I can verify that most of the people I know don't make a ton of distinction between the colors they view. Most people lump all shades and varients of color into the basic color palette you'd find in a box of 12 crayons.
And even if you actually know both systems, is reading colors faster? Are there any real advantages?
And what about to colors for Russian? And Japanese? Sorry folks, this is a solution looking for a problem. Remember Esperanto?
The comment about dropping acid might have a bit of truth to it. While synesthesia is a bona fide neurological condition, it can also occur with LSD usage.
I just think he's someone who thought up a fun idea while in an altered state and, as with most brownie eaters, thinks the idea was much more clever than it is.
Dropped a little acid, did we? That explains a lot....
As this is a problem why? Unless the only way you "write" is with a color-coded keyboard on a computer, there is no workable application for this that people would adopt enmasse. Why on earth does he think this will someday become prevalent?
:)
26 UPPER case letters
30 special characters !@#$%^&*()_+-={}[]\|:";'?,./
You would need 82 different colours. You may be able to reduce that by making the capitals a different size. Then you could reduce it further by adding a shape to the colours. square for the first half of the alphabet and round for the second half. Indeed, if you made all the letters different shapes, you could reduce that to just one colour.
Oh yeah, we did that already.
We (KromoSapiens) have been using it in stain glass, art, jewelry, fashion, signs, rugs, furniture, even body painting at Mardi Gras, Fantasy Fest, and on Ozzfest for years.
And spreading it by word of mouth.
We just weren't ready to tell the world,
until there were easy tools for its use.
I am also very colorblind myself.
That is why it works.
It needed a colorblind eye.
So, the next time you look at a comic book,
check out the backgrounds,
when you see a billboard with large blocks of color, in the design,
or even the 4 color squares at the bottom of
some very popular TV shows,
you have to now wonder,
am I missing something ?
Something that may have been there
for a long time already.
May I suggest a few more uses for those that think it such a lame idea. There are places that letters just don't seem to fit right and colors are already being used.
Automotive Pinstriping, for that matter NASCAR car-ads are hard to read in letters at 200+ miles but colors ? Balloons for your next party, Floral Pattern Landscaping, Hot Air Balloons, Light Shows for concerts, Laser painting of the clouds, and my all time favorite - Read my Lips(tick) !
I am sure if you look around you at this very moment you will see Kromofons in use, you just did not notice it before.
So before you dismiss an idea, that in 5 minutes you could not have given much thought to. Try opening your mind just a little. After all, that is the purpose of the exercise to begin with.
Oh, and as far as the punctuation goes, we are not getting rid of any thing, we are adding to the possibilities. Use the current punctuation as you see fit, or create new forms of punctuation, or expression, by shaping the words, sentences and even the entire page.
The standard alphabet as we know it had no punctuation for about the first 400 years of its use. In fact, there were times when it was written in a continuus flow - right to left, then left to right, then right to left.
And we have not even begun the discussion of its impact on Comic Books, Graphic Novels, Cartoons, and Animation in general, let alone the new mediums of expression that KF can spring firth by combining it with these other mediums.
Open your mind. Try actually reading it, and you will find it WILL CHANGE the way that you think, not what you think about, but the WAY that you think.
And wait until your first dream, in it.
LOOKOUT !
I guess that is it for now.
Thanks for listening,
Lee@kfons.com
Interesting Stuff Kromofons.
Unknown as a group, as it is so uniquely individualized. No two people report the same synth effects.
For the individuals we have encountered so far, they had little trouble making the dimensional shift from shape to color.
After almost every University Lecture on Kromofons, at different schools, and in different disciplines, I am always amazed at the number of students who report the most amazing combination of sensual perceptions. In Med School, we are taught that it is extremely rare, if it is mentioned at all.
But I can tell you from anectdotal evidence that it is running about 1 in 30. That is not rare at all !
There is a wonderful book by the Russian Psychologist Dr Luria, called The Mnemenist (sp??)
The effect KROMOFONS will have on your daughter ? That is yet to be determined, but you are encouraged to contact me directly here at the Kromofons Interdimensional Research Institute, we would be happy to follow up and send you what ever materials you may need that we can develop to help her reading skills, or just for entertainment and personal use.
BUT, it is clear that it WILL have a most definite effect !
Her age and reading level would be good to know as well.
Sorry I can't give you a better answer. One thing we can theorize, it will do her no harm, and in fact may aid in concentration skills.
But, let's explore together.
Thanks,
Lee
kromofons@gmail.com