Sensebysense

Sensebysense is a term used in cognitive science and human-computer interaction to describe the deliberate design and study of multisensory information processing. It refers to approaches in which data or stimuli presented in one sensory channel are translated into another, with the aim of enhancing perception, learning, accessibility, or user engagement. The concept encompasses sensory substitution as well as crossmodal augmentation, where the strength of one sense supports or augments another.

The term emerged with advances in augmented reality, assistive technology, and multisensory display research. Researchers and designers use sensebysense to explore how people interpret information when it is conveyed through alternative modalities, such as turning visual data into tactile feedback or auditory cues. It is applied across fields including education, data visualization, accessibility technology, and interactive art.

Common methods include tactile displays with pin arrays, vibrotactile feedback, auditory sonification, and perceptual mappings that align spatial or temporal properties with sensory cues. Effective sensebysense design considers mapping conventions, perceptual salience, latency, and user comfort, aiming for intuitive correspondences rather than random associations. Practical examples include converting geographic or numerical data into touch textures or musical timbres to reveal patterns that may be less obvious in a single modality.

Applications span accessibility for visually impaired users, enhanced data comprehension, and immersive experiences in entertainment and training. Challenges involve cognitive load, variability in individual perception, lack of standard mappings, and the need for rigorous evaluation across tasks.

Related topics include crossmodal perception, sensory substitution, and multisensory integration.