A one-bit message is a type of communication that has no personalized or specified content, and as such transmits only a single binary

bit The bit is the most basic unit of information in computing and digital communications. The name is a portmanteau of binary digit. The bit represents a logical state with one of two possible values. These values are most commonly represented a ...

of information. It signals an intent and a thought, but does not specify what it is.

Marc Andreessen Marc Lowell Andreessen ( ; born July 9, 1971) is an American entrepreneur, investor, and software engineer. He is the co-author of Mosaic, the first widely used web browser; co-founder of Netscape; and co-founder and general partner of Silicon ...

describes "one-bit communication" as having no content other than that it exists. Examples of one-bit messages in the real world include the sound of a car horn, a police siren, and an "open" sign on a retail store. Telephone calls which are deliberately terminated before being answered are also an example of one-bit communication.

In probability

One-bit messages can be used to communicate the outcome of situations with two potential outcomes, such as a coin toss.

Online messaging

In the

online In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed "on line" o ...

world, one-bit messages solve a set of communication initiative problems: * Fear of initiation: "How should I kick off the conversation? It's a daunting task." * Fear of rejection: "What if the other person replies 'sorry, I'm in the middle of something'?" * Fear of inconveniencing someone: "A messenger shows that the other person is available, but maybe he is actually busy." * Fear of being ignored: "What if I message her, and she doesn't respond or goes offline immediately?" * Topic overload: "So many topics to talk about, which one should I start with?" * Lack of topic: "I simply want to say to my friend that I thought of her, without anything specific to say." * Fear of a conversation of unpredictable length: "I have time for a short chat, but how do I cut it off if the conversation develops?" * Unwillingness to type: "I'm on my mobile, and don't want to type." * Fear of follow-up: "What if the person I message will want to meet? I don't want to meet him." There are several platforms that enable sending one-bit messages including Yo and the Facebook poke.

References

{{Nonverbal communication Units of information