Dr. Ellen Langer

Well, do you know our vision study? This is kind of fun. So I'm in the doctor's office, and like everybody else, I'm given the Snellen eye chart.

Well, do you know our vision study? This is kind of fun. So I'm in the doctor's office, and like everybody else, I'm given the Snellen eye chart.

Well, do you know our vision study? This is kind of fun. So I'm in the doctor's office, and like everybody else, I'm given the Snellen eye chart.

But I'm different from most people. And I resent that the letters are getting smaller and smaller because it's creating an expectation that soon I won't be able to see. So I ask, what would happen if the letters got larger and larger? Which would be to change the expectation that soon I will be able to see. So when we do that, people are able to see what they weren't able to see before.

But I'm different from most people. And I resent that the letters are getting smaller and smaller because it's creating an expectation that soon I won't be able to see. So I ask, what would happen if the letters got larger and larger? Which would be to change the expectation that soon I will be able to see. So when we do that, people are able to see what they weren't able to see before.

But I'm different from most people. And I resent that the letters are getting smaller and smaller because it's creating an expectation that soon I won't be able to see. So I ask, what would happen if the letters got larger and larger? Which would be to change the expectation that soon I will be able to see. So when we do that, people are able to see what they weren't able to see before.

Now, most of us have trouble around two-thirds of the way down the chart. So what we did was start the chart a third of the way down. So the letters are smaller than on top. So now two-thirds of the way down, that starting point, the letters are really small. And what happens is, again, people can see what they couldn't see before. Awesome. Yeah.

Now, most of us have trouble around two-thirds of the way down the chart. So what we did was start the chart a third of the way down. So the letters are smaller than on top. So now two-thirds of the way down, that starting point, the letters are really small. And what happens is, again, people can see what they couldn't see before. Awesome. Yeah.

Now, most of us have trouble around two-thirds of the way down the chart. So what we did was start the chart a third of the way down. So the letters are smaller than on top. So now two-thirds of the way down, that starting point, the letters are really small. And what happens is, again, people can see what they couldn't see before. Awesome. Yeah.

So the idea that your vision has to get worse, I think there are many, many instances where that's not the case. But also, the whole test of vision is bizarre. How often in your life are you looking at letters that make no sense? If I don't want to see you, I'm going to see you a lot sooner and be able to run away from you.

So the idea that your vision has to get worse, I think there are many, many instances where that's not the case. But also, the whole test of vision is bizarre. How often in your life are you looking at letters that make no sense? If I don't want to see you, I'm going to see you a lot sooner and be able to run away from you.

So the idea that your vision has to get worse, I think there are many, many instances where that's not the case. But also, the whole test of vision is bizarre. How often in your life are you looking at letters that make no sense? If I don't want to see you, I'm going to see you a lot sooner and be able to run away from you.

If I'm hungry, I can see the restaurant sign much quicker than if I'm not hungry. I see things in color that are different in black and white, so on and so forth. And to lose all of that with a two-dimensional eye test seems to me – And again, we haven't touched on this, but it's probably important with respect to vision. It's true with everything. In fact, I tell people, you're wearing glasses.

If I'm hungry, I can see the restaurant sign much quicker than if I'm not hungry. I see things in color that are different in black and white, so on and so forth. And to lose all of that with a two-dimensional eye test seems to me – And again, we haven't touched on this, but it's probably important with respect to vision. It's true with everything. In fact, I tell people, you're wearing glasses.

If I'm hungry, I can see the restaurant sign much quicker than if I'm not hungry. I see things in color that are different in black and white, so on and so forth. And to lose all of that with a two-dimensional eye test seems to me – And again, we haven't touched on this, but it's probably important with respect to vision. It's true with everything. In fact, I tell people, you're wearing glasses.

Try it without glasses. You want to see when you can see and when you can't see. With almost everything, we again – Hold things still when they're varying. Now, what I mean by this is that, let's say with vision. My guess is that 11 o'clock in the morning, my vision is better than at 7 o'clock at night. The data, yes. Okay. I mean, it'd be hard for it. So what does this say?

Try it without glasses. You want to see when you can see and when you can't see. With almost everything, we again – Hold things still when they're varying. Now, what I mean by this is that, let's say with vision. My guess is that 11 o'clock in the morning, my vision is better than at 7 o'clock at night. The data, yes. Okay. I mean, it'd be hard for it. So what does this say?

Try it without glasses. You want to see when you can see and when you can't see. With almost everything, we again – Hold things still when they're varying. Now, what I mean by this is that, let's say with vision. My guess is that 11 o'clock in the morning, my vision is better than at 7 o'clock at night. The data, yes. Okay. I mean, it'd be hard for it. So what does this say?

This says maybe I should either have a nap or... I don't nap, so I should have an energy bar. And even an energy bar is cute. It's just a candy bar. But you call it an energy bar, you're allowed to eat it. It's like you take a piece of cake, put it in a muffin tin. It's called a muffin. It's healthier than the piece of cake. Anyway, be that as it may.

This says maybe I should either have a nap or... I don't nap, so I should have an energy bar. And even an energy bar is cute. It's just a candy bar. But you call it an energy bar, you're allowed to eat it. It's like you take a piece of cake, put it in a muffin tin. It's called a muffin. It's healthier than the piece of cake. Anyway, be that as it may.