Experiencing detection of movement with quick touch vs. holding the touch
In Part 3, we see a video showing how important it is for people with acuity loss to hold their gaze.
George then experiences the same phenonemon using touch, starting here. Below are instructions to set up the same experience for yourself, using a friend or colleague.
Materials:
- 3 boards or slabs each approximately the same thickness, and one of them no wider than your hand. George used 3 braille slates, about 12 inches long and 2 inches wide.
Set-up
Lay the 3 boards or slabs on a flat surface, side by side lengthwise.
Experience
Ask your colleague to move the middle board / slab parallel to the others (sliding it forward and back between the other boards) while you bring your hand down onto the boards and immediately pull your hand away, and see if you can feel the movement.
Then bring your hand down again and see how long it takes for you to feel the movement.
Then ask your colleague to either leave the boards alone, or slide the middle board between the other boards, without telling you whether it's being moved or not.
Bring your hand down just long enough to see if it's moving or not.