Design of Altered Cognition with Reshaped Bodies

Abstract

In this research, we aimed to expand humans' physical ability by reshaping natural physicalities that allow body transformation. By modifying the existing body parts, we proposed a system that changed humans' cognition of reality and their environment, and presented its use case. We conducted a study that explored the use of actions: (1) opening and closing of the pinnas (ears) and (2) pulling of the nose to change humans' body schema and humans' cognition of the environment. The results showed that people were able to perceive changes in the position of the pinnas in three different conditions (100% Open, 50% Open, 0% Open) with high accuracy. We also observed that opening and closing the pinnas could alter the cognition of the sound field, as opposed to the normal ears. Furthermore, we found that the feeling of a nose is extending was felt more by using the system. This finding implied that the modified body schema improved our recognition of the odor source and its position.