"It's about timing and depth of communication, " said Toyoda, an understated, trim man who is known for being a racing car buff.

NPR: AP Interview: Toyota Chief Stresses Safe Growth

Since atoms have well understood light absorption properties, predictions can be made about the depth of a shadow cast, improving communication between the individual atoms performing calculations.

ENGADGET: Researchers capture a single atom's shadow, has implications for quantum computers

Today's electronic forms of communication may lack that emotional depth but they do enable us to connect more speedily and efficiently than I at least could manage with pen and ink.

BBC: A Point of View: Mourning the loss of the written word

You can go to seminars and screenings all day, but nothing compares to the depth of knowledge shared this week through face-to-face communication.

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