Of Stories and Technology and Synesthesia

I have heard that the key to innovating, solving problems, and pushing our boundaries lies in asking worthy questions. 

However, at the conception of some “worthy” questions, I often wonder if they are flights of fantasy or if human curiosity will enable their birth in the future.

I present one such scenario, for your reading pleasure…

“Each time there’s a leap in technology, it gives us a new way to package stories,” I said.

My wife put her book down and smiled. “Tell me more.”

She loves stories, and any mention of “stories” is an instant lure.

“About six centuries ago, the printing press was invented and that allowed words to be printed on paper. And those words on paper were packaged as a book.”

She nodded.

“And then, recently, computers and the internet allowed us to create e-books, which can be read on mobiles — another leap of technology and a new story package was born.”

“Ah, it’s the same with movies,” she said. “First you could watch them only on the big screen, then came the TV. And now movies are streamed over the internet.”

“New technologies create new packages, eh?” I said, glad that our trains of thought were in harmony.

“Now here’s something for you to chew upon… We think of books and stories as being synonymous to one another. But a book is merely a package that carries a story inside it.”

“Okayyy!” She knit her pretty brows, her eyes tinged with curiosity.

“So, if we think of stories and books (the package) as separate, can we invent new packages?” I said.

“Other than a book, you mean?”

“Yeah.”

“Like multimedia storytelling?” she said, after a pause. “As AI develops, we may be able to create our own movies, graphic novels, and even video games.”

“Let’s focus on word-based storytelling for now,” I explained.

“Well, there is online writing.”

“Oh, most people expect online information to be free.” And that’s ok. “I’m talking about a new package that is not a book (either paper book or e-book), and writers get compensated by readers.”

“Audiobooks?” she said triumphantly. “That’s word-based storytelling, heard rather than read, and listeners have to compensate the writer.”

It was my turn to pause, allowing the truth and clarity of her statement to sink in.

“Wow, why didn’t I think of that? A story experienced through hearing, indeed. And then there are Braille books — touch. I wonder … why can’t we consume stories through taste and smell?”

Wifey gave me a big grin. “What you are trying to figure out reminds me of a neurological condition called synesthesia.”

“Tell me more.”

Leaning on her neurosurgical knowledge, she delved into a long exposition about synesthesia. And I did my best to keep up with the barrage of medical jargon, all the while making gestures and exclamations of comprehension and solidarity — after two decades of marriage, I pride myself on being a well-trained husband.

The long and short of this one-way discussion was: synesthesia is a condition in which one experiences a sensation through an unrelated (and unexpected) sensation, e.g. a person with synesthesia may see colors while listening to music, or develop tastes when reading words, or even see shapes while smelling a scent.

After digesting this information I said, “If I were to filter my “packages” question through the lens of synesthesia, that creates more questions — Like, can we invent a package to smell a story?”

“Oooh, a story in a perfume! I like that. But there is no technology for that.”

“Not yet. And how about a story in a food or a story in a drink?”

“Flights of fantasy.”

“Well, if you can hear stories by audiobooks, and touch them in Braille books, one day you just might smell a story and taste a story. Excited?”

Wifey giggled. I like it when she giggles.

Thanks for reading & have a great day,

A. David Singh

Author and Dog-dad

P.S.  In Magical Rome Universe, there is a man with a condition that resembles synesthesia. He examines gladii (short swords) by using all five senses: he sees them, smells them, touches them, hears their vibrations, and even licks them.

If this sounds interesting to you, please click here to read this story.