In this paper we describe a form of communication that could be used for lifelong learning as contribution to cultural computing. We call it Kansei Mediation. It is a multimedia communication concept that can cope with nonverbal, emotional and Kansei information. We introduce the distinction between the concepts of Kansei Communication and Kansei Media. We then develop a theory of communication (i.e. Kansei Mediation) as a combination of both. Based on recent results from brain research the proposed concept of Kansei Mediation is developed and discussed. The biased preference towards consciousness in established communication theories is critically reviewed and the relationship to pre-and unconscious brain processes explored. There are two tenets of the Kansei Mediation communication theory: (1) communication based on connected unconciousness, and (2) Satori as the ultimate form of experience.

Collaborative Virtual Environments (CVEs) were designed as an expansion of the text-based chat room, rather than a novel application, exploiting the possibilities of online three dimensional graphical space. This initial design direction is observable at the interface level. We put forward the case that to achieve an efficient CVE system, one will have to design and implement a multi modal User Interface based on expressive Avatars as a representation of the different participants, also as an embodiment of software agents. We emphasise the expressiveness of the avatar as a crucial improvement to the efficiency of their communication capabilities, and we describe a vocabulary of expressions to be implemented. We put forward the case that to be more efficient, particularly during a dialogue, an avatar is required to play a role in the communication using nonverbal channels such as body postures, facial expressions and hand gestures. We also suggest conversation circles to facilitate the gathering of participants in a discussion. These circles will address navigation difficulties in CVEs and encourage social exchanges.

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