If you’ve ever played the game Senses Census you would probably agree that it’s a great way to kill time in boring situations, or to have a bit of fun with your friends at the pub. The main point of the game is to figure out which is the greatest of the five senses at our disposal. In my extensive experience of the game (usually at the pub) there is always someone at the table who will nominate taste as the best sense, and will usually back up their statement with examples of beer, peanuts or other assorted pub condiments. Another favourite seems to be the sense of sight, which is usually backed up by references to the opposite sex.
All of the above have some merit however whenever I play the game I am usually the standard bearer for the wonderful sense of touch. Think about it- through the sense of touch we can embrace our loved ones, scratch annoying itches (sometimes simultaneously) and find our way around a dark room. In my opinion, however, the sense of touch really comes into its own when it comes to the latest touch-based technology.
With the proliferation of smartphones and mp3 players, whether it’s messing around with our favourite apps or downloading music, we have almost “developed an instinct” to want to touch and feel media. The ipod Touch is named as such because it allows you to interact with the functions on your screen without any physical barriers in between. It’s the same concept if you’re lucky enough to have an ipod shuffle or a cool new tablet . No hassles, just you and your media.
All I’m saying is, next time you play Senses Census, think about how much more important the sense of touch has become in your daily life.