Are Futuristic Designs Healthy For Our Nervous System?
There's an aesthetic mix in the air and the choice is ours.
In recent past daily lessons, I have covered scientifically backed information that can help us design our collective aesthetic experience optimally (See Neuroaesthetics).
Practically all our tech devices are created with non-renewable sources, such as silver, gold, plastic from crude oil, cobalt, and many others. These materials are beautiful, strong, energy-conductive, and at their very essence, totally natural. (See “Where do computers come from?)
By now, we need and love our gadgets to death (quite literally), but does the incoming robotics design trend make us feel all that great, safe, even? Let’s take a look at what science says:
We’ve learned that renewable sources such as greenery, wood, and natural components like bamboo activate our parasympathetic nervous system, helping us relax and focus (See “What is biophilic architecture?).
Even sounds such as chirping birds and flowing water soothe our nervous systems and reduce blood pressure. Having warm sources of fire, such as fireplaces, candles, or smudging plants, benefits our brain and activates feel-good bodily responses…
There’s no doubt (from a scientific viewpoint) that biophilic, nice green surfaces with wood or bamboo, for example, are ideal for humans to thrive healthily and creatively.
So, why enable populous humanoid robots that contrast starkly with what makes us feel at ease?
