Discuss the communication among human beings in Machine Dreams, in relation to their difficulties establishing connections.

I think that Phillips' work makes very clear the idea that
communication between human beings can be directly impacted by their social conditions. 
This helps to make difficult conditions in establishing connections between human
beings.  Jean and Mitch are excellent representatives of this.  The social condition of
challenge that is placed upon Jean socially and Mitch economically is a factor that
helps inhibit their own communication and understanding for one another.  Her emergence
into a more independent woman on financial, emotional, and psychological levels causes
Jean to see things differently.  This flies into direct collision with how Mitch
conceives of women's role, primarily as one of submission to men.  Yet, his own
professional reality belies this monolithic view of consciousness.  He struggles to be
economically viable and to be able to voice his own authority, especially with Jean's
increasing success.  It is here where difficulty in communication results in both of
them, influenced in large part to the condition of social reality that immerses them
both.