You might add to your explanation of a touch lamp.
The touch lamp oscillator is like the oscillator in a radio- - tuned slightly off station. Everyone has experienced “body tuning” of a radio. Stand near a radio antenna, the signal gains strength- move away, it tunes back to noise. The touch lamp uses a very similar effect to detect your presence - - where the lamp itself is the antenna.
Welcome to the Straight Dope! It’s customary here to provide a link to the column you’re commenting on so everyone knows (sometimes it’s not so obvious).
Yes, welcome, gregeb, we’re glad to have you with us. A very interesting comment.
As noted, when you start a thread, it’s helpful to others to provide a link. Not necessarily that it’s confusing, but it does take time to search, so the link helps keep us all on the same page. And helps avoid people repeating stuff that’s already in the column.
No biggie, you’ll know for next time. And welcome!