"Ling, " said the Master, "what is:
"I do not know, Morse Code perhaps?"
"No. It is part of the White House in Washington."
"I do not understand."
"Ah, it is to show you how easy it was in the old days of the telegraph to send over the Ocean, a good picture in simply dots and dashes. Imagine a picture of the White House, blown-up to 1.5 meter square. Divide it in a fine grid of 0.25 cm squares, i.e. 600 x 600 = 360, 000 squares. Give each a sign for black/white. Then you can send it over in dots and dashes."
"It is very well possible Master, but I do not see the lesson."
"Don't you see? The receiver can only use it when he uses the same method. Not necessarily the 1.5 meter, but certainly the 600 x 600 principle, the going from left to right, etc. The lesson is that co-operation between humans is only possible by mutual consent over the method, and that implies a 'Standard' AND discipline to stick to it."
"True Master. But given that, one could modulate on it, make more different signals, get therefore, a better picture. Indeed, then, the lesson is: Standardisation and Discipline." [40]