Boomeryearbook: Teasers and Optical Illusions

Showing posts with label Teasers and Optical Illusions. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Bezold Effect in Online Optical Illusion

Psychological Articles Explaining Online Optical Illusions

By Boomeryearbook.com

The Bezold Effect is one of the classical optical illusions which has become the basis of many online optical illusions. Wilhelm von Bezold, a German professor of meteorology, discovered this effect in the nineteenth century. According to this effect, the perception of color brightness changes with respect to adjacent colors. You can find this effect in many online optical illusions that trick observers into believing that a color in the illusion changes.

According to the Bezold Effect, lighter colors look darker and dimmer when placed in adjacent to lighter colors and they look brighter when placed adjacent to darker colors. On the other hand, darker colors become sharper and lighter when placed in adjacent to lighter colors and vice versa. Creators of online optical illusions use this phenomenon to create many great optical illusionary effects.

Bright Color Against Bright and Dull Backgrounds

Figure 1 is a demonstration of one of the online optical illusions based on this effect.

bezold-effect_online-optical-illusion-o1
Figure 1

In this online optical illusion, the red strips with the black background looks brighter than the red strips with the white background. Look again at the red strip at the border between the white and the black background. You will notice that the red strips are actually of same brightness! The trick in this online optical illusion lies in the Bezold Effect due to the differences in background.

There is a wide range of online optical illusions that are based on this effect.

Figure 2 shows another online optical illusion that applies the Bezold Effect.

Dull Color against Bright and Dull Backgrounds
bezold-effect_online-oftical-illusion-o2
Figure 2

In this online optical illusion, the gray line looks dimmer against the dull green background, whereas it looks brighter against the bright purple background. This is because both the green and the gray colors in this online optical illusion are dull colors. On the other hand, the dull gray line becomes brighter due to the bright purple background.

Both the above online optical illusions work on the principle of Bezold Effect, as this amazing effect has enabled the creation of many fascinating online optical illusions presented in previous Boomer Yearbook articles.

Boomer Yearbook is Psychological Articles for Baby Boomers. Connect with old and new friends, or expand your mind and ward off senior moments and elderly problems with dream analysis and online optical illusions and brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join other Baby Boomers to stay informed, receive weekly Newsfeeds, and let your opinions be heard. Baby boomers changed the world. We’re not done yet!

Optical Illusions: Perception, Observation, and Imagination

by BoomerYearbook.com

At some point in our lives, all of us have encountered the phenomenon of optical illusions and many of us have wondered exactly what is it that causes these varying perceptions. In 1992, Matthew Luckiesh in his book “Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications”, illuminated three main causative factors in optical illusions; perception, imagination, and observation. While most of us possess an imagination, some of us are blessed with being able to imagine in intricate multifaceted dimensional ways whereas others are more concrete and conservative imaginers. Aside from the powers of imagination, individuals also are unique in their abilities to observe and perceive. As Luckiesh said, “only part of what is perceived comes through the senses from the object. The remainder always comes from within.”

Thus if an individual were to take a look at the four above pictures, they would “see” these objects from their unique viewpoint of subjective Imagination, Observation and Perception.

It’s a neat little exercise that you can try with your friends. It doesn’t mean you should try and analyze their answers. It’s meant to be a fun exercise just to show that a picture is truly worth a thousand words, and there is a great deal of grey area when we talk about “objective” perception.

Now if these pictures were put in front of me for example and I had to use my imagination; this is what I would have come up with.

In picture one I would imagine this as being a music stand to hold sheet music. The arrow would be just as it seems a simple arrow. Bet you can guess right off the top I don’t have a vivid imagination. With the second picture, I would have to say the writing gives away the picture but you had to admit it looks more like a tree than a bush, while at least to me. I really had to study picture three to determine that it looked like a birds head. Number four was intriguing in that it had no beginning or an end.

Now if we move on to the observation part of this exercise how many can honestly say they noticed the background. If you were to place your hand over the picture do you really think you would recall the background colors? Interestingly some people would whereas others won’t.

From my personal subjective point of view, I found the pictures mundane and unexciting. Can you guess that I am not an artist or architect, and alas, not even a particularly creative imaginer? However, when comparing notes with my co-worker, she was able to create wonderful three dimensional possibilities and could study the pictures for the smallest of clues. Ah, but she is a gestalt psychologist and told me that the reason I could not see a beginning or end to picture number four is that our minds create a “completeness” and fill in perceptual blanks. Personally, I found picture number four to be most interesting…Hmm. Wonder what that says about me?

Carrying out an exercise such as I have outlined here is for entertainment purposes only. It can be fascinating to hear the perceptions from a group of friends than just singly looking at the illusions.

If there were anything to be learned from this exercise of comparing viewpoints on optical illusions it’s to recognize just how differently individuals perceive any situation. It’s always interesting to note how several people can look at one situation yet all take something different from its context.

You could even go a step further with this exercise and ask each person to make up a story about the picture. Then you will be in for some real fun. Or if you are the more scholarly type, you can read more on the psychological study of perception or the philosophical understanding of epistemology (study of human knowledge), or you can join boomer yearbook and hear what others have to say.

Online Optical Illusions

by BoomerYearbook.com

Many people are reluctant to admit that they find optical illusions intriguing. When asked they may say they are no more than silly games. Actually that is not true as there is much psychological and philosophical underpinnings that make people see or not see the optical illusion.

Not all optical illusions create the same response. There are three different types.

1. Literal Optical illusions

These give you the concept that they are images that are different from the objects that make them.

2. Physiological illusions

Create a huge amount of stimulation between the eyes and the brain. For example, color movement brightness or tilt will create this effect.

3. Cognitive Illusions

Where subconscious or unconscious inferences are made regarding the picture or illusion

Ok enough of the technical stuff let’s have some fun with the above four pictures.

Picture 1:

Not so exciting. All I see is a big circle with a diamond in it. Do you see anything else?

Picture 2:

This is my favorite. It’s a very pretty scene. There are some things that are unique about it though. Can you figure out what they are? Jot down your answers before you check out the answers below.

Picture 3.

This one makes me dizzy just looking at it. Once again I don’t find this one all that intriguing. I have my own concept as to what it looks like to me. Now what does it look like to you? See my answer below, but don’t cheat. Answer the question first it’s more fun that way.

Picture 4.

This is my second favorite because it has humor to it. It’s just an average elephant right? Or is it? Check out

my response below.

ANSWERS AND COMMENTS:

Picture 1:

This was not a trick question; I personally do not see anything else in the picture other than what it is.

Picture 2:

As I said this is my favorite. That is a personal choice, as I myself love winter scenes. Which jumped out at you first? The muted gray backgrounds or the cute little deer standing in full color? Actually how many observations did you make about this picture? Here are my observations.

a. The small deer is in full color

b. The sawed off tree trunk is in full color

c. The background is in soft grays and muted whites

d. There is only snow accumulated on the evergreen tree

e. The most exciting is the large outline of the male deer. Look real close and you will see it. Or am I just seeing things?

Picture 3

I visualize this as a disorientated set of stairs that I am really glad I don’t have to walk up or down because they make me dizzy.

Picture 4:

Just how many legs does this old elephant have? My first count was 5, maybe 6, and then look again, it’s really only 4. Had you thinking for a minute though didn’t it

Looking for more Christmas and Holiday season de-stressors? Sign on to Boomer Yearbook and have some fun.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Online Optical Illusion: Café Wall Illusion

Psychological Articles Explaining Online Optical Illusions

By Boomeryearbook.com

Café Wall Illusion is a classical online optical illusion; reported in 1979 by Professor Richard L. Gregory and Priscilla Heard of The University of Bristol, England. They derived this pattern from a pile of white and black ceramic tiles on the front wall of a café at St Michael’s Hill, Bristol. Later, this pattern became a very popular online optical illusion. This online optical illusion is another example of the limitations in the human optical system, leading the brain to form deceptive impressions.

In this optical illusion, your see rows of alternate black and white blocks with gray borders. What do you perceive about the horizontal lines in this online optical illusiononline optical illusion are parallel and straight. Don’t believe us? Measure it yourself by placing a ruler against each line.

Explanation of Café Wall online optical illusion

There are various explanations for the Café Wall online optical illusion. Psychological articles give a neuropsychological explanation suggesting that this online optical illusion results from limitations in the balancing act of the inhibitory and excitatory neurons in the brain. Psychological articles inform us that inhibitory neurons dim down perceived bright areas while excitatory neurons brighten perceived dark areas. Hence, in this online optical illusion, the areas in which white is prominent, become dimmed, and the areas surrounded by dark areas are brightened.

Moreover, the limitation in the reaction between the two neurons projects slopes on the straight line. The slopes are in opposite directions according to the dimmed and brightened areas. Hence, you see the straight lines in this online optical illusion to be wavy.

The Café Wall online optical illusion works on the principle of contrast. Along with numerous other online optical illusions explained in Boomer Yearbook that also result from the effect of contrast on the perception of the visual stimulus.

This Psychological Article on Online Optical Illusions is part of Boomer Yearbook’s continuing series of out of the box suggestions on how to alleviate elderly problems and keep our brains young. We believe knowledge is power. We’d love to hear what you think.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Illusion in Motion: Psychological or Physiological

Spinning Girl Optical Illusion

By BoomerYearbook.com:The Online Social Networking Site Connecting the Baby Boomers Generation

We have likely all been introduced to optical illusions that either appear to be in motion or have varying directions of motion dependent upon the person observing the illusion. Many a psychological article has been written to explain how and why these optical illusions either appear to be moving or appear to be moving in different directions. Regardless of which psychological articles we read and who we listen to, the explanations are in the very least really interesting.

Learn more about the spinning girl and other optical illusions...

Read on..

Whatever the explanation optical illusions are a fascination on multiple levels. While some are easily explained in the simplest psychological articles, others are investigated in-depth with no concrete explanation at all. What is your opinion regarding why we see motion that does not exist or differ in the type of motion we do see? Tell us what you think at BoomerYearbook.com.

www.boomeryearbook.com is a free social networking site connecting the baby boomers generation. Whether you are a member of the baby boomers generation or are related to someone who is, you will find plenty to do here. Free psychological articles on a vast variety of topics such as dream analysis, coaching and self-help, elderly problems, examinations and proposed solutions for types of discrimination and weekly updates on mental and medical health. You can also become a non-member subscriber to our free newsletter to receive these articles directly in your inbox so you don’t miss out on anything.

At Boomer Yearbook you can share your thoughts, upload pictures and find old friends. Use our online optical illusions and brain games, provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner, to expand your mind and help ward off the possibility of depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s. Join now to discover the numerous ways in which this online social networking site for the baby boomers and boomers of all ages can contribute to optimal physical and emotional wellness. The baby boomers generation changed the world. We’re not done yet!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

What is an Optical Illusion?

Not all optical illusions create the same response. There are three different types.

1. Literal Optical illusions

These give you the concept that they are images that are different from the objects that make them.

What are the 2nd and 3rd types of Optical Illusions?

Find Out!

Looking for more Christmas and Holiday season de-stressors? Sign on to Boomer Yearbook and have some fun.

www.boomeryearbook.com is a social networking site connecting the Baby Boomer generation. Share your thoughts, rediscover old friends, or expand your mind with brain games provided by clinical psychologist Dr. Karen Turner. Join today to discover the many ways we are helping Boomers connect for fun and profit.

A Boomers Explanation of Optical Illusions

Well now aren’t these interesting pictures? Some are very nice others are just words or letters. There is more to them than that though. Lets take a good look at them and see if we can see what they are really all about. Seeing is believing, but in this case you won’t believe what you missed. Let’s look at each picture one by one.