Fidelity

Obvious: tv, movies, web, music—these mediums are getting sharper and clearer all the time. So many more pixels, and bandwidth, and delivery efficiencies. We can now see all the little wrinkles and freckles on our favorite actors. 

Also obvious: And our ability to transmit an idea or a feeling through these mediums has only grown more adept. 

Even in something like a tv commercial—an idea, a gimmick, a jingle, and a slogan all neatly fit within 30 seconds. Compared to 50s when tv was new, and commercials were 20-minute long diatribes by Flintstone characters trying to get sell you cigarettes. (Times of innocence)

For me, it’s an intriguing trend across the board. With the underlying framework that at its core—we are improving our collective ability to transmit  the wholeness of an experience. 

Persistent in my cultural consciousness, “Smell-o-vision” is a joke that lingers. I think because it underpins that despite my last statement—we aren’t quite there yet. 

No matter how well shot a field of flowers is, you know you’re still missing the smell of the plants. And the warmth of the sun. And the soil-tinged air in your nostrils. 

But something like the VR technology being the new tech darling hints that we are chipping away at that. You can imagine that if this becomes more commonplace then we start solving are transmitting more of essential experiences. 

The vertigo of a tall mountain, the smallness of entering a large cathedral, the airy growing distance of a character riding off into the sunset. Those things have traditionally gotten lost in 2D mediums. 

But we are adding more and more data (aka fidelity of the experience) to the delivery of our audiences. 

What I think about is when we reach the point where the experience is translated completely. That if I have a smell of red clay dirt in 105 degree Arizona sun, I can send that to you, and know that you smell the exact same red clay dirt and that 105 degree Arizona sun on your skin. 

What will be more overwhelming is that once our internet archives these high-fidelity experiences that we can access distinct nuances of every individuals’ moments. I’m curious that if we record two people standing in the same Arizona desert, we’re able to “play back” each one’s individually. That with one, you smell that red clay dirt the way “Tim” would, and then switch and smell what “Jill” perceived. That we can feel the sun the way it hits Tim’s 6’2” frame versus against Jill’s 5’7” body. 

Would it be different? Would it be the same? Would my personal neurons in perceiving these experiences? I have no idea, but I wanna find out.