Today I was trying to describe to someone a mathematical concept that I find to be particularly beautiful. I was unable to describe it just with words, so eventually I went to the next room to grab my computer, so I could show some visuals on the screen.
The whole transaction seemed vaguely dissatisfying. I found myself wishing for that day in the near future when I could just gesture in the air to bring up the salient images.
Why shouldn’t we be able to include beautiful visual ideas and geometric forms in our conversational speech? If we can visualize these things in our heads, we should be able to include them in our discussions with each other.
Fortunately, the time is drawing ever nearer when this capability will be an everyday reality. I look forward to a day when children wonder how people ever managed to get along without it.