The first sense we rely on as adults is typically sight. But the first sense that God (or nature, or insert other terminology consistent with your belief or nonbelief here) gave us was the sense of touch. The first sense that children trust is their sense of touch (followed closely by their sense of taste, it seems). So why do we lose sight of that as we get older?
Or does it? We tend to believe things that we see, but I don’t think we take into account how touching something shapes our thoughts. This is true with people we encounter – there is research showing that supportive, nonsexual touching makes people more productive, comfortable, and secure with their teams (in a workplace context). From Peter Bregman:
When I think about it, this should affect the design choices in the project that I’m currently leading. My new device has to interact with both a nurse (for placement and removal), and a patient (as it dwells on their skin for days at a time). We have to choose materials that convey strength to a nurse, but comfort to a patient... two very conflicting emotions. It’s nontrivial, even for medical devices. Although the push is for evidence-based medicine and clinical research, nurse and patient perception are hugely important elements of quality of care. Our perceptions impact us more than our realities.
| (a little time in PowerPoint and a few stock images later... ) |
Or does it? We tend to believe things that we see, but I don’t think we take into account how touching something shapes our thoughts. This is true with people we encounter – there is research showing that supportive, nonsexual touching makes people more productive, comfortable, and secure with their teams (in a workplace context). From Peter Bregman:
In a study led by Mathew Herstein, an associate professor of psychology at DePauw University, pairs of students who didn't know each other took turns using touch to try to convey a specific emotion like gratitude or sympathy. The person touched was blindfolded and yet accurately identified which emotion the touch intended to communicate between 50 and 78 percent of the time.With objects, things that we touch can change our internal response - people who hold hot beverages feel more generous than those who hold cold ones. People who sit in hard chairs drive a harder bargain than those in soft chairs. And the more you touch something, the more valuable it becomes in your eyes.
When I think about it, this should affect the design choices in the project that I’m currently leading. My new device has to interact with both a nurse (for placement and removal), and a patient (as it dwells on their skin for days at a time). We have to choose materials that convey strength to a nurse, but comfort to a patient... two very conflicting emotions. It’s nontrivial, even for medical devices. Although the push is for evidence-based medicine and clinical research, nurse and patient perception are hugely important elements of quality of care. Our perceptions impact us more than our realities.
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