Translated with DeepL
The current issue of Technoscope is dedicated to the senses and what technology can do for and with the senses.
Complete edition (in German)
Seen with your own eyes (PDF for download)
Scale up or down? And how many notes are played, two or three?
The seemingly never-ending scale
A collection of other optical illusions
People who cannot hear well often benefit from a conventional hearing aid, which amplifies the sound waves and thus makes them audible. For people whose inner ear cannot receive any acoustic information at all, the auditory nerve is stimulated directly via a cochlear implant. Sound waves are picked up by the external component of the implant and converted into electrical signals. These are decoded in the implant and transmitted to the brain via the cochlea and the auditory nerve. In the brain, the signals are translated into an auditory impression. As with other technical aids designed to replace missing senses, training is required to learn how to use them correctly and to be able to use them as efficiently as possible.
When you smell a rose and enjoy the sweet odour, a lot happens in your nose and your brain. When you breathe in through your nose, the approximately 10 million olfactory cells in your olfactory mucosa absorb hundreds of different odour molecules. You have around 350 different types of olfactory cells and each type specialises in very specific molecules. All olfactory cells that are activated by an odour molecule send a signal to a specific region in the brain.
The interaction of the signals from the different types of olfactory sensory cells results in the overall perception of the scent of the flower. This scent is not only perceived in the brain, but also stored and linked to feelings. Floral fragrances tend to be pleasant and are therefore associated with positive feelings such as joy. But this is not the case with all fragrances. There are foul-smelling ones that can cause nausea. And it goes so far that we may or may not find other people likeable because of their body odour. This plays a role when choosing a partner.
Technoscope is the SATW's technology magazine for young people. It reports competently and entertainingly on technology and technical professions. Technoscope is published three times a year in German, French and Italian. It can be subscribed to free of charge. Existing issues can be downloaded as PDF files.
Erik Weihenmayer
Beatrice Huber
Christine D'Anna-Huber, Alexandra Rosakis
