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MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#26: Mar 26th 2011 at 5:58:45 PM

Meh, Eldritch Abominations that communicate in the visual spectrum aren't likely to be all that eldritch to begin with.

NativeJovian Jupiterian Local from Orlando, FL Since: Mar, 2014 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Jupiterian Local
#27: Mar 28th 2011 at 7:17:08 AM

Still doesn't work at night, or any other time when it's dark.
And verbal communication doesn't work when it's too loud to hear, or you need to keep quiet. Just because it isn't perfect doesn't mean that it's worthless.

Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#28: Mar 28th 2011 at 12:03:34 PM

And verbal communication doesn't work when it's too loud to hear, or you need to keep quiet. Just because it isn't perfect doesn't mean that it's worthless.
It's also slow, and you need to be nearby (and within visual range) to communicate. Besides, if these things are Eldritch Abominations then what's wrong with radio?

Yej (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
#29: Mar 28th 2011 at 12:17:21 PM

Maybe they live on a magnetar? tongue There's probably an in-story reason that the OP wants them to talk with their eyes.

MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#30: Mar 28th 2011 at 1:25:59 PM

Yeah, a lack of imagination.

Ettina Since: Apr, 2009
#31: Apr 9th 2011 at 3:51:57 PM

^ I think it's you that lacks imagination, if you can't think of a way for this communication system to work.

If I'm asking for advice on a story idea, don't tell me it can't be done.
MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#32: Apr 9th 2011 at 9:56:03 PM

I can think of about half-a-dozen systems which would work better than this, and some of which would actually be eldritch and 'starfishy' rather than merely odd.

AtomJames I need a drink Since: Apr, 2010
I need a drink
#33: Apr 9th 2011 at 10:02:31 PM

And yet, none of them are the focus of the thread. The guys just asking for help, you don't have to berate him.

Theres sex and death and human grime in monochrome for one thin dime and at least the trains all run on time but they dont go anywhere.
MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#34: Apr 10th 2011 at 3:15:44 AM

Okay, fine, it could work if the range of colours was big enough and the time between each change was short enough. Still a really limited system though.

Yej (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
#35: Apr 10th 2011 at 3:30:33 AM

It becomes a lot more fun if the resulting color is also polarized. That'd increase the "bandwidth" plenty, and also add in the possibility of being misinterpreted. grin

MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#36: Apr 10th 2011 at 3:46:22 AM

And only works if the eyes themselves generate light I believe.

Yej (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
#37: Apr 10th 2011 at 4:52:30 AM

I think you can also polarize reflections, though I haven't looked into it extensively.

AtomJames I need a drink Since: Apr, 2010
I need a drink
#38: Apr 10th 2011 at 4:56:07 AM

I was just thinking, what if the shape and size of the pupil could change in order to differentiate between one colour?

Theres sex and death and human grime in monochrome for one thin dime and at least the trains all run on time but they dont go anywhere.
LongLiveHumour Since: Feb, 2010
#39: Apr 15th 2011 at 5:26:56 PM

Is it essential that it is a syllabic language? If they communicate from eye colour alone, their language might well be completely alien. So perhaps different tones could convey different situations, emotions, ideas, etc; like a pictographic language? Maybe purple(ish) = no/not/bad/HOW DARE YOU POKE MY TENTACLE YOU SON OF A CUTTLEFISH, and blue(ish with green and just a dash of red) = sea + berLUDDD = dinner is on its way

Forgive me if I've ignored something you said, as I'm really not awake right now. I just get these strange ideas. Good luck.

Acatalepsy The Map To Madness Since: Mar, 2010
The Map To Madness
#40: Apr 25th 2011 at 9:12:20 AM

Important principle to remember: things that are common will take a short time to say, things that are uncommon will take a long time to say. So a human observing them might note a particular twitch/color/flash that indicates a transition between concepts, a pronoun-equivalent (like 'I', or something else that would be referred to often).

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