The use of physical property data to predict the touch perception of materials

This paper examines whether the physical properties of materials can be useful predictors of psychophysical properties of materials. In this study psychophysical methods were employed to study the link between the measured surface roughness, elastic modulus and thermal effusivity and the perceptual qualities of roughness, hardness and coldness, for a diverse set of materials (woods, polymers and metals). A strong positive correlation was found between the physical and the psychophysical properties of materials that determine touch perception. Furthermore, by analysing the data in which vision of the sample was controlled, it was found that in some cases there is a shift in touch perception between the sighted and unsighted condition that affects polymer samples most strongly.

► Materials selection for touch perception and sensory experience. ► Using physical material property databases as predictor of psychophysical properties. ► Strong correlation between the physical and perceptual properties. ► Sight does not affect touch perception except for polymers.