Cathy Barnes and colleagues at the University of Leeds, UK, are building [a] life-size silicone rubber finger. To get the measure of how rough or smooth a material is, they place a sample on a pressure-sensitive platform and allow an attached motor to "stroke" the finger across it. Software then compares the sideways pressure that the platform feels with the sideways force applied to the finger. This gives a reading for friction or roughness.
At the same time, the software gauges how much downwards force the material absorbs by comparing the force applied by the finger with the force felt by the platform. Softer materials absorb more force. Meanwhile, a sensor at the finger's tip measures temperature...
...The team plans to use these to design packaging materials. "Industry knows a lot about the importance of the visual design of packaging but there's a lack of understanding about the feel appeal," says Barnes, who is also a manager at the Faraday Packaging Partnership in Leeds. "Imagine a carton of fruit juice that's as soft as peach skin."
While many of us may not want to admit it, we often judge a product by its cover. Crisply designed labels and aesthetically pleasing shapes have made companies like Method and Caldrea pleasant alternatives for eyesores like 409 and Mr. Clean.
