Is There A Difference Between Software and Communications?


There is clearly at least a nuanced difference, but in the context of the DiggnDeeper Project, I have long since wondered about this. Articulating these concepts in the context of this project is proving to be a real challenge for me.

If it doesn't completely make sense to me, then I certainly can't expect anyone else to know understand what I'm trying to do here.

I built a Wordpress site on subdomains for each "subject" I think is relevant. I spent a ton of time thinking about the structure of this domain so that things could be as inclusive to all things open source and decentralized as possible, but also easily drilled down. Even in the beginning however, I struggled with whether I should separate or combine communications and software.

It all started with software.

Software was the origin story of open source, but now we are realizing the concept can be used for pretty much any human need. We also see that in this era of technology that software is very much at the core of almost everything, largely for communication...

So, here we have a bit of a circular dilemma and a problem of semantics.

But, it matters - at least in how I set up the content this domain. It is important to get this right and not make big changes as I (we) build out the content.

How do I solve this?

How do I separate the two when they are not really a separate subject? Can I combine them without loosing clarity and good logical flow to the subjects?

I'm thinking about this today as I go through the two sites and look at how the content fits now and I'm trying to think about how this will effect future content.



Posted from my blog with Exxp : https://diggndeeper.com/2022/08/06/is-there-a-difference-between-software-and-communications/
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While it may be true that software is a large part of modern communications, especially in information technology... communication per se does not need a software...
like, you don't need a software when you are talking to someone face-to-face.

Very true and good point.

In the case of this project (open source and decentralized tech and principals) it becomes more tech leaning for sure. I can't really think if a mode of communication that we would likely cover under the brand that isn't tech.

Interesting... You might say that communication is a driver of technology itself... You might even go so far as to say communication itself is 'the root' of technology.

Of course, communication protocols have been around for much longer than software... or even computers themselves. From smoke signals, to flags, to flashing lights, tin cans and strings, to analog waves, electrical impulse, radio waves, and then again to flashing lights over fiber optics.

The internet itself comes from ARPANET with the aim of creating resiliant self healing communication infastructure for military use, or national defence.

The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) was the first wide-area packet-switched network with distributed control and one of the first networks to implement the TCP/IP protocol suite. Both technologies became the technical foundation of the Internet. The ARPANET was established by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the United States Department of Defense.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET

So, perhaps this is more of an origin story of software, and the open standards required by communications systems to achieve interoperability... That in a way, gave birth to the idea of 'opening the source code', and what we know today as open source.

🤪 My Saturday night ramblings. Hope it's helpful!

P.s. ty for the delegation and support!!