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RailsConf 2019 - Hacking Verbal Communication Systems by Ryan Alexander
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Our native systems of conversational flow control might work fine for talking face to face, but they start to have problems when put into many of the conversational scenarios that arise as part of working on a modern development team. Other groups have faced similar challenges and come up with ways to facilitate and improve communication. I'm going to focus on a simple system of hand signals used by the Occupy movement who adapted them from the Quakers. These hand signals mitigate a number of problems with group discussions, including problems of communication over a laggy connection, and working with remotees.

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In the talk "Hacking Verbal Communication Systems" at RailsConf 2019, Ryan Alexander explores the challenges of verbal communication within modern development teams. He emphasizes that conventional conversational flow often leads to ineffective communication, especially in group settings and remote interactions. To address these issues, Alexander introduces a simple system of hand signals inspired by the Occupy movement and adapted from Quaker traditions. These signals aim to improve conversation dynamics by enhancing flow control and consensus modeling.

### Key Points:  
- **Importance of Conversation**: Conversations are exchange processes where ideas must interact, not merely be presented in a one-way manner.  
- **Flow Control Mechanisms**: The speaker discusses how conversational flow is subconsciously managed by all participants but can become confusing with cultural differences and personal communication styles.  
- **Occupy Movement Hand Signals**:  
  - Alexander explains eight hand symbols used for effective communication.  
  - Four symbols are for flow control (e.g., wanting to speak next, contributing to the current topic, seeking clarification, and signaling that someone is meandering).  
  - Four symbols pertain to consensus modeling (e.g., express agreement, disagreement, the need for a break).  
- **Race Conditions**: Interruptions and pauses create race conditions that can hinder communication. By utilizing symbols, participants can express their desire to speak without interrupting the ongoing dialogue. This helps to prevent misunderstandings and promotes inclusivity.  
- **Inclusion of Marginalized Voices**: Alexander introduces the 'progressive stack' concept, which prioritizes the voices of those who haven’t spoken, ensuring everyone contributes to the conversation.  
- **Neurodiversity Considerations**: The hand signals can help neurodiverse individuals engage more effectively in conversations, as they often find body language difficult to interpret in real-time.  
- **Implementation Tips**: Alexander suggests using facilitators to guide discussions while also adopting these hand signals. Ensuring everyone understands the system is crucial for its success and accessibility.

### Conclusion:  
Ryan Alexander concludes by reiterating the adaptability of conversational algorithms. By integrating these hand signals into conversations, teams can cultivate better communication habits that eventually render the formal system unnecessary, allowing for smoother interactions. He stresses the importance of making these systems inclusive, as everyone brings value to the conversation.

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