8th August 2006, 2:00 AM
Again, I would have to disagree.
If we're dealing with a species with an intelligence that is roughly similar to our own, chances are, there is going to be some kind of artistic symmetry, and as we all know, people tend to find artistic value in practically everything.
So, I say, send a message in basic binary and also one that can be interpreted as a purely visual cue. An image of a contemporary painting of, say, the constellations visible from Earth would be something that a space-conscious alien society would likely recognize. Maybe so, and maybe not, but there's no guarantee said civilization would recognize binary code, either.
If we're dealing with a species with an intelligence that is roughly similar to our own, chances are, there is going to be some kind of artistic symmetry, and as we all know, people tend to find artistic value in practically everything.
So, I say, send a message in basic binary and also one that can be interpreted as a purely visual cue. An image of a contemporary painting of, say, the constellations visible from Earth would be something that a space-conscious alien society would likely recognize. Maybe so, and maybe not, but there's no guarantee said civilization would recognize binary code, either.
YOU CANNOT HIDE FOREVER
WE STAND AT THE DOOR
WE STAND AT THE DOOR