• by Wayne Friedman , Staff Writer, January 15, 2015

Some time ago a business associate I needed to be in touch with said this: “Do we have to talk on the phone? Can’t we just do this via e-mail!”

I get it. People need to be very efficient these days. Still, email can’t accomplish everything. Sarcasm can be tough to convey, for example. A wink, a nod, a raised eyebrow: also difficult.

You want to comment on a TV show? Text your friends, post on Twitter or Facebook; do something electronic -- but don’t speak to anyone.

For TV shows, “word of mouth” -- now an expression that encompasses all forms of digital communications -- is increasingly valuable. For many, it’s a big reason why a TV show can do well.

From the recent Consumer Electronics Show comes a more subtle technology of communication. Feeltact is a band/bracelet from a French company featuring four big black buttons that respond to information by “vibrating” in a variety of patterns.  There are no words.  The bracelet connects to the phone; the message receiver can use an app to define what those different vibrations mean.

These days the closest I can come without using real words when responding to a TV show might be “hmmm” or “ugh” or “oooh.”  Sometimes I rustle in my seat.

I’m guessing TV networks will have to read the new digital tea leaves -- which could include stuff like these vibration signals to monitor positive or negative responses.

All this make sense considering the edgy, neuromarketing media research that uses brain waves, facial expressions, and heart-rate monitoring. 

Pretty soon we won’t need to say much when it comes to communicating how we really feel.  All I can say about this is: “-...__--...---..-__”.