I don't expect this thread to last long, but I'm hoping to get some thoughtful replies.

See, my officemate just came in here and stated something interesting.  (Would it be too mean to say "for once"?)  She told me that some lady was coughing outside in the hallway and then added:  "I think it's Mrs. so-and-so".  It just astonished me a little because thinking on it I wondered... is it really possible to recognize someone by their cough?

I mean, it is AMAZING what little details our brains pick up on and store... without us ever realizing it.  When we get to know someone, we can identify them by their handwriting, or even as they walk away from us at a great distance.  What other characteristics can we identify people by?  

One way is how they sneeze, right?

So if you had to blindly identify someone by comparing details between people, what are some characteristics that could help?  (For the sake of this conversation, let's assume you can't identify them by appearance)

Also, I'm looking for non-obvious answers. We all know we can identify people by their voices.  

I use a couple different methods, I guess. I can generally identify people by their footsteps, especially in a building I'm familiar with. That can also include the pattern of how they walk, since some people have identifying patterns or such. I also listen for something like a cough, heavy breathing (depending on the distance), or little habits they have (such as clapping to the beat of a song they're listening to, humming, or similar things.

When I was younger I used to be able to tell who was who in my house by the way their footsteps sounded, especially when walking up stairs and all. I could also tell them apart by the way they closed doors, it was pretty useful information at the time to me. However I'm sure a lot of people could and still can do the same for their household just at the time it helped me out so it's something I grew to observe. I don't really do it anymore since I have no need for it.
Edit: Case in point, mrfe! Haha, posted while I was still typing. Sorry for such an unoriginal answer but I can't think of any other thing I've picked up on.

styrofoamboots :  Actually, I never would have thought about listening to the way they close doors, but you're absolutely right! I used to know exactly who was approaching me (my mom or my dad), by how the door behind them closed. lol

I sometimes recognize people by their laughs, or the way they sniff. Some people also walk in a certain way, when I'm bed for example I know who I hear on the stairs. A normal walking rhythm is often my sister. My brother and mother usually go up very quick, although my mom goes a bit faster and has heavier steps. My dad walks slowly on the stairs and has the heaviest steps. I myself usually sprint up the stairs, so it sounds like my footsteps only hit half of the stairs as I skip steps.

A lot of things.
In A.I, the robots distinguish a dog, if it has 4 legs, ears, a tail, fur etc. They are designed to look for other common features and add those to their definition.
A..I is based on the human brain.
Subconsciously you tend to store all sorts of information on people. Height, tone pitch, the rhythme you walk (I can tell whos walking toward me if I know them usually), smell, speed etc.

Another example is directions. You walk down a road and you come back again later. You havent made any real effort to remember, but your brain has stored details, the shapes and sizes of the streets, placement of lampposts, buildings etc.

And sometimes the brain is in fact, so smart its stupid.



You should watch that full screen. I never get tired of it, its pretty amassing.

I don't use one solid method. I try to identify people through their breathing, their footsteps, and sneezing. Many people around me breathe very uniquely and without pattern, but each with their own "pattern". Many people also walk very quickly or slowly, and that often becomes one of their trademarks in our social circle. Finally, peoples accents i found have managed to get into their accents, allowing me to identify them quickly.

There are other methods i use, but there are far too many for me to list here.

I guess I was not very clear when I created this thread. Although I do not mind the answers that have been given, my intent was slightly different. I did not to mean in what ways do you personally identify people, but what are some unusual ways in which you can.I just thought it would be interesting food for thought.

Normally, I don't.

I don't really like people, and make every attempt to avoid them if at all possible.

When forced to interact though, usually with a friend or a family member, I have a sixth sense of their presence, even if I don't see them. I'm just so used to the intricacies of how they act that I can tell when my brother is walking behind me when I'm at my mom's house, or when my best friend is knocking on my door.

I just know my friends and family really well, is all.

It's possible to have little traits that make people recognizable. For example, in my home I can recognize who coming up the stairs just by their footsteps. Other ways you can recognize people include, scent, physical features, etc.

thenumberone : I am going to watch that as soon as I get a decent connection tomorrow. I forgot to respond to you in my last post. I have always found it exceptionally interesting how our brain works as you have mentioned. It is amazing to me that once we know a route, we do not even have to think about it. It becomes second nature. Sometimes I will get to work and do not remember consciously taking a single turn, just because my brain does the work for me. It truly is amazing.

I recognize people many different ways but separately. Whenever I hear a voice that I am familiar with, I tend to look crazy as I try to find the person who matches that voice. Whenever I see someone familiar physically, I tend to focus more on that person to see if it is the person that I know.
Most of the time, I am just hallucinating and my mind is playing games with me because I can get very adapted to people who I know and then there are other people who either look or sound the same as my friends which really makes me feel awkward and sometimes crazy by confusing strangers with my friends.

Well as I see it, the longer you're around someone then the more you'll pick up on their tone/voice and any other little things that define them, I personally remember people by their faces and voices, and every now and then by their actions. But everyone is different in how they recognize others. ^^

Hm. This is a complex subject. My work is specialized, and like most secret clubs, we sort of have our own secret handshake. Let me try to explain in my:

BEGINNER'S POCKET GUIDE BOOK TO KAY-RAH-TAY

I recognize people by Kay-rah-tay chop. As you will usually get chopped from behind, you won't see it coming. But fortunately there are many subtle nuances to pick up, and I am here to instruct you briefly in those. 

1. The size of the chop. Is it a big hand, like Larry the lobster? It can be hard to differentiate the size when your neck is pulsating in pain. But with years of practice, you can do begin to familiarize yourself with that Kay-rah-tay masters in your area.
   
   
2. The cleanliness of the hand chopping you. Is it sticky? Do you detect burger smells from it? Maybe it has foot long fingernails that dig into your skin. All of these will help you reduce the number of likely candidates.
   
   
3.  The yell. Do they give a correct shout before striking you? Are you familiar with the scream of combat from any of your recent duels or battles? Most likely suspects are those whom you have just recently challenged and beaten in Kay-rah-tay. But the infliction of tone is key. Pick up on the incorrect "Hee yuh" shout of novices and those pretending to be masters. If they are joking, then its OK to laugh along. But if they think they are a serious Kay-rah-tay player - it is your duty to duel them with proper foam safety gear, even if they are 5.
   
   
4. Form and function. Is the chop tough and powerful? Or as soft as getting tickled by butterflies? Perhaps it was done within a second. If they are too fast, you won't be able to tell who they are, or maybe they had to go to the bathroom - if so, you definitely do not want to counter-attack. it is best to let the fast chops go by, and discount them.
   
   Was the hit spread evenly over the surface area? Perhaps it could be an entire forearm - or perhaps a tentacle. Squids are known for having a very solid chop, and there is no fingers so its hard to tell if its manicured. However if you are struck and feel the toes(you will know) then you have been given a foul leg attack. In chopping greetings thats right out, and they should be informed of their incorrect behavior to avoid further embarrassment.

Now that you know some of the ways you can detect karate greetings, perhaps you'd like to give one of your own. But wait! You must have proper gear on. If you have a giant foam finger, this is the time to put it on. A foam helmet in a matching color would look striking and fashionable. Make sure and get them before proceeding, as safety first is good. Try to sneak up on the person you're trying to introduce yourself to. Ninja reflexes are preferred, but not required. Extend your arm, and give a good, clean chop. Don't forget to yell HII-YAH! to give it power. If you mess up, its ok, but just try it again in a few seconds. 

The best kay-rah-tay hand greetings are done in one clean strike, at moderate force, and left in place for a good three seconds for your opponent to know its a hello.

Finally, to close - I will bring up a problematic situation you might run into. Now that you can greet masters and novices, and know the proper procedure to identify sneaky attackers. What do you do when the kay-rah-tay master is in front of you? You make eye contact, but still are not sure who this is. After all, there has been no chop, no yell. He could look like Fred from accounting, but he could also be anyone.

It might seem irregular, but there is hope to also detect whom this might be.  Let them chop first. Now, look for hand size, the yell, and the state of the hand in contact with your head/neck/etc. Still stumped? Can you see around the arm to their face? Look at their face. Do you know them now? 

It is Fred from accounting! Hello, Fred! Give him a hearty chop in return. 

I hope this instructional how-to has been informative, in case you ever visit my office. Be sure to give a HII-YAH! hello!

I don't really like so associate with large groups of people, or crowds because they just exhaust me, but when it comes own to it, I remember people by faces and by personality. I'm a pretty visual person, so I can pretty much remember a person's face if I am exposed to it enough. I don't think I would really be able to recognize people except maybe my family in any other way. Maybe by voice, but even then, that would still be difficult if I don't know the person all that well. 

Nonetheless, I am pretty observant, so I will pick up on some way to remember someone should I have to. 

I reconize people by how they open and close doors, there foot steps. Or in a weird way i guess that is similer to what the first post said is how my x gf sneezes, she sounds like a little cat which is so kawii