DIRACT VOICE

About the importance of the voice

Sigrun Holzer (psychologist) in interview 

Sigrun, what happens in an extremely stressful situation, like an avalanche?  
Stress or the “fight-or-flight” response leads to improved physical performance, but at the same time reduces our cognitive capacity. Thus, our bodies begin producing hormones such as cortisol and noradrenaline. Blood sugar increases and cells are given a boost of energy. At this moment we do need strength, but our brains need to work, too. But our cognitive skills are put on the back burner and targeted action becomes difficult. 

So how can we now counteract this and prepare for a similar situation?
If the brain is not working properly due to negative stress, it falls back on habitual patterns of action. So in order to prepare for an avalanche it is advisable to practice actions until they become automatic. If you regularly practice the sequence, you can naturally recall it more easily and fall back on a structured course of action. I would also advise groups to decide who will play which role in such cases while still in the parking lot. This not only saves time, it also improves our ability to make quick, rational decisions under the influence of stress. Therefore: Don’t rush into action, even if you are under pressure to act immediately. First, take a few deep breaths. Thinking takes a bit more time. In general, the following rule applies: Do as much as you can in advance to simplify the complexity of the situation. 

What role would an easy-to-use device play?
Intuitive operation is the same as automatic action: The less you have to think, the better – there’s no question about it. The voice navigation alone is a great help, because you can keep your eyes focused on the situation and not on the device. Visual information needs to be processed first and then translated into an action. When this is done for us by a voice and the instructions are direct, we save ourselves one step in the processing sequence. Thus, clear instructions mean we need less cognitive capacity, which is already limited in such a situation. In addition, we are first and foremost social beings with a need to belong. In stressful situations, a voice is always good. This is also something you learn during first aid. You feel less alone and calmer. Thus, in an optimal situation, stress levels will fall and cognitive ability improve.