Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ogicse!milton!a1174@mindlink.UUCP
From: a1174@mindlink.UUCP (Peter MacDougall)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Sensory Modalities
Message-ID: <4009@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 2 Dec 90 01:00:11 GMT
Sender: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 28
Approved: hitl@hardy.u.washington.edu



There are a number of arguments pro and con for which sensory modality is most
important in our perception of the world.  I would not underestimate the
information gathering abilities of the senses other than sight.  The nose is
responsive to more than simply 7 basic compounds, we are able to identify
responses to 7 so far perhaps, but we do respond to more than 7 types of
aerosolized compounds and chemicals.

With hearing, it is not as "conscious" as sight, and therefore we tend
to dismiss it as less important than sight.  I believe in most cases,
people who could once hear and are now deaf, would prefer to be blind rather
than deaf.  Much of the sound coming into our ears is processed unconsciously,
and we respond to it.  Without the vital atmosphere of noise in virtual
reality, it will seem like a closed space.  Also, sound
is vital for voice communication (probably the main reason a person
might prefer being blind to being deaf) which can provide far more information
quicker than visual text reading, and perhaps even straight graphics--if a
picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a sound?

Probably though, the most important sensing system in the body is simple Touch.
It has the most input, the most brain devoted to its reception, organization,
and interpretation, and is more vital than either sight or hearing.  Loss of
touch can kill you quicker than deafness or blindness.

All in my humble opinion of course.

Peter_MacDougall@Mindlink.uucp


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com