Okay, here is an explanation. BTW, I went back and tried the 8 fold and used more pressure and the result was it worked. I needed to further compress the paper towels for the finger to come close enough. Stylus... which actually better explains the process... What is body capacitance... Nice read on Wiki. I'm still not using a paper towel to operate the microwave, stove, etc. I'm going to use them the way God intended.
That's some explanation @Harry Havens. Thanks for finding the answer for those of who really wanted to know that. And even those of us who didn't. Most of the time I don't care how something works...as long as it does work.
And so @Harry Havens is all that explanation basically saying something like our fingers are sending little "shock waves to our touch pads and microwave touch controls and making them work? And the paper towels and in my case sticky or damp fingers blocked those little shock waves?
Yes. I would also say that if you compressed the paper towels, while rubbing your sock feet on the carpet... it might work as well.
Very good, @Harry Havens. I looked for an answer to this one, so that I could pretend to have known it all along, but didn't find anything that made sense to me.
I played with electronics in the past and some special IC chips they recommend you do not touch them as you can destroy them. I played with piezo speakers these are found in many electronic devices but they can also be used as a microphone and are extremely sensitive. I would place one on the door knob inside the house and if anyone touched the outside door handle I would know. Using a piezo speaker and an amplifier you can turn a switch on or off we used for lamps and many other things.