PERCEPTION IS NOT ALWAYS REALITY:

DEPTH PERCEPTION, RULES OF PERCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION

& THE INFLUENCE OF EXPERIENCE, CONTEXT, & SET

MONOCULAR DEPTH CLUES

Texture Gradient: As a surface with a distinct texture extends into
the distance,
the details gradually become less clearly defined.
The texture of the surface seems to undergo a gradient, or
continuous pattern of change, from crisp and distinct when close
to fuzzy and blended when far away.
Interposition/Occlusion: When one object partially blocks or
occludes the view of another object, the partially blocked object is
perceived as being farther away.
Linear Perspective: Parallel lines seem to meet in the distance. If
you stand in the middle of a railroad track and look down the rails,
youll notice that the parallel rails seem to meet in the distance.
Aerial Perspective/Clarity: Distant objects are usually less clear
than nearby objects. This cue is especially apparent outdoors,
where water vapor and pollution in the air scatter light waves,
giving distant objects a bluish, hazy appearance compared with
nearby objects.
Shadows & Shade: When we know the location of a light source
and see objects casting shadows on other objects, we learn that

MONOCULAR DEPTH CUES

Height in Vertical Plane/Vertical Position: Near objects are low in
the visual field; more distant objects are higher up in the visual
field. However, for objects in the air, the farther they appear to be
above the horizon, the closer they appear to us.
Relative Size: If two or more objects are assumed to be similar in
size, the object that appears larger is perceived as being closer.
Familiar Size: If you are very familiar with the size of an object
and it appears to be very small, it must be far. If this same
familiar object appears very large, it must be closer than normal.
Motion Parallax: When you are moving, you use the speed of
passing objects to estimate the distance of the objects. Nearby
objects seem to zip by faster than do distant objects.
Accommodation: When you focus on a distant object, the lens is
flat,
but focusing on a nearby object causes the lens to
thicken. To some degree,
we use information provided by the
muscles controlling the shape of the lens to judge depth.

PERCEIVING A 3D WORLD WITH 2D

EQUIPMENT:
Binocular
Cues FOR DEPTH & DISTANCE
CUES
Retinal Disparity
Convergence
Oculomotor Cues
Convergence
Accommodation
Monocular Cues (a.k.a., Pictorial Cues)
Texture Gradient
Linear Perspective
Light & Shadow
Occlusion/Interposition
Relative Height/Vertical Position/Elevation
Relative Size
Familiar Size
Aerial Perspective/Atmospheric Perspective
Accommodation
Motion Parallax

The Whole > The Sum Of Its

Parts
In the early 1900s Max
Wertheimer founded Gestalt
Psychology.
Gestalt psychologists
emphasized that we perceive
whole objects (gestalts) rather
than isolated bits and pieces of
sensory information.
Roughly translated, the word
Gestalt means a unified whole,
form, or shape.
Although the Gestalt school of
psychology no longer exists
formally, five gestalt principles
of perceptual organization still
remain popular.

The Law of Pragnanz states that we try to experience things in

as good a gestalt way as possible. In this sense, good can
mean several things, such as regular, orderly, simple, or
simplistic.

Gestalt Principle of Organization

#1:
The Law of Figure-Ground

When we perceive a visual

stimulus, part of what we
see is the center of our
attention, the figure, and the
rest is in the indistinct
background, the ground.
The famous Rubin Vase seen
below shows that this way of
seeing can reorganize the
nature of reality.
The
figure and ground of this
photo can be reversed to
perceive either a vase or two
opposing faces.

Gestalt Principle of Organization #2:

The Law of Continuity
The law of good continuation states that objects arranged in
either a straight line or a smooth curve tend to be seen as a
unit.

Gestalt Principle of Organization

#3
The
Law
of
Proximity
Things that are proximal (close together) are usually
perceived as belonging together. In the pictures below, we
see three vertical columns of blocks on the left side and
three horizontal rows on the right side, due to proximity.

Gestalt Principle of Organization

#4:
The Law of Similarity
In picture A below, we perceive two vertical columns of
apples and two vertical columns of pears, even though they
are evenly spaced.
In picture B below, in contrast, a different arrangement
results in the perception of two horizontal rows of each fruit.
Similar things are perceived as being related.

Gestalt Principle of Organization #5:

The Law of Symmetry
The law of symmetry states that the mind perceives
objects as being symmetrical and forming around a
center point. It is perceptually pleasing to be able to
divide objects into an even number of symmetrical
parts.
When two symmetrical elements are unconnected the
mind perceptually connects them to form a coherent
shape. Similarities between symmetrical objects
increase the likelihood that objects will be grouped to
form a combined symmetrical object.

Gestalt Principle of Organization

#5:
The Law of Closure

Incomplete figures, such as the two below, tend to be

perceived as complete wholes. Again, we fill in missing
sensory information to create complete and whole
perceptions.

Gestalt Principle of Organization #6:

The Law of Common Fate
The law of common fate states that when objects move in
the same direction, we tend to see them as a unit.

This sentence is very easy to read, but it is not just

because you can see all of the letters in each word.
This sxntence is missixg a few letxers, but it can be read
wxth little extra exfort.
In txis sxntexce, exery xourxh lexter xas bxen rxplaxed
wxth ax x, bux you xan sxill xead xt.
Cax yox rexd txis xenxenxe, ix whxch xvexy txirx lextex is
xisxinx?
Hxw xbxux txix oxe, ix wxixh xvxrx oxhxr xextxr xs xoxe?

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I

was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid.
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,
it deson't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are,
the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the frist and lsat ltteer be in
the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can
sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the
huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the
wrod as a wlohe.

So, you think youre a pretty

pretty good reader. Then I bet you
you see the problem in the
the words that you are
are reading right now
now. If you dont, then
then you better rethink your
your ability.