"Linda" <.@.> wrote in message news:2pth0lFonvukU1@uni-berlin.de...
What's SETI looking for? Life forms able to communicate with us? Life
intelligent enough to communicate with other similar life forms? Life that
can communicate with my dog?
How are the various SETI projects defining what they are searching for?

It has to be another technological civilization "similar" to ours, capable
of interstellar communication. The degree or level of technology and
intelligence required is not well defined. Too far below our current level
(say 100 years even!!) and forget it as there is no technology capable of
interstellar communication. Too far above our level and we probably couldn't
understand or be able to detect their technology and forms of communication.
For example, a very highly advanced technological civilization could use
"worm holes" in space to travel and communicate and we'd never know a thing
about it (see no evidence of it) ... Stargate 1 :-) ...
The key words are: technology, intelligence, and interstellar communication.
Well, some would add "they also have to want to communicate" ... interesting
topic for discussion  ...
Al