TouchBranch

TouchBranch is an interactive installation designed to explore how social relationships and physical distance influence interpersonal touch within a technological framework. While interpersonal touch is a fundamental social language, its dynamics in tech-mediated environments remain under-explored. The system features a series of physical branches where users transfer light by connecting their bodies, effectively acting as human conductors. A study with 21 groups—categorized into intimates, acquaintances, and strangers—revealed that social relations have a dominant impact on touch tolerance and behavior patterns, whereas physical distance primarily affects the qualitative experience rather than quantitative tolerance. The project identified three distinct touch types: decalcomania (symmetrical), copied (asymmetrical-same pose), and distinct (differing postures). These findings provide essential design guidelines for creating social interactive systems, suggesting that interface designs should account for varying baseline comfort levels to foster natural and engaging interpersonal interactions.