The World’s Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!
A Different Kind of "Trick of the Eye"
Jaume's discussion elsewhere reminded me of something I stumbled onto some time back. If this isn't a for-real "trick of the eye," I'm not certain what is!
No, that's NOT an animated GIF; it is indeed a JPEG ... and I'm sure someone somewhere has an explanation for what and how it does what it does.
Meantime, stare and go crazy or not, as you prefer!
No, that's NOT an animated GIF; it is indeed a JPEG ... and I'm sure someone somewhere has an explanation for what and how it does what it does.
Meantime, stare and go crazy or not, as you prefer!
Tags: Optical Illusion
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Sandra Stott on -
It's because of the way they are shaped, (and the colours, I suspect) makes the eyes think that it's in motion if you're not looking directly at it. When you look directly at one, then it stops the trick.
-
Permalink Reply by Howard S. Dunn on -
Close - it has to do with the way motion is 'reported.' This pattern gives a number of 'clues' that motion is occurring that can only be dispelled by direct focus. Ever look at a fan blade - first clue of circular motion is lack of focus - which occurs here in all circles except the one you focus on.
BTW - there is a secondary illusion in each 'wheel' - though the patterns are concentric circles - they appear to be continuous spirals.
Second, fan blades can often look like they're going the wrong way or change direction. This effect relates to how animation works - your eye reports only about 16 images a second to your brain - so the 'direction' of the blade is based on what makes most sense in that regard. Since your lights (in US) blink 60 times a second (50 in Europe) there are 60 frames of which your eye will pick out approximately 16 - and this often results in incorrect or even variable interpretation of rotation.
Another clue is logical - notice the wheels are aligned to agree with the way gears would turn - given yet another clue; the little bumps in the pattern.
So - all wheels that are out of focus trigger the other indicators of motion and, rather than simply 'decide' the circles are stationary but out of focus, your brain 'decides' they are in motion.
-
Permalink Reply by Howard S. Dunn on
-
Secondary illusion in every wheel - the black, white and dark green 'objects' are arranged in a pattern of concentric circles. However, they appear to form continuous spirals.
-
Permalink Reply by JayBarti on -
I used to have that as my wall paper on my desktop and a few people asked me to remove it because it made them dizzy to look at it when they walked past.
It is a lovely optical illusion.
-
Permalink Reply by sacha on -
Neave Strobe
also, if you are interested in optical illusions, you must find out about Dr. Richard Wiseman
He finds things like this on a regular basis and posts them on his blog. He's quite interesting.
-
Permalink Reply by JayBarti on
-
Thank I just added it to my RSS feed, as if i don't have enough distractions already.
-
Permalink Reply by JayBarti on
-
No worries, it is my own fault, I am terrible at pruning down my information feeds.
-
Permalink Reply by Dallas the Phallus on -
Damn you sacha! Damn you straight to hell!
-
Permalink Reply by Black Magick Woman on -
Omg eff you sacha..now I have another stoner activity that involves screwing up my eyes more!
-
Permalink Reply by sacha on
-
Yeah, Neave Strobe is better than heroin.
-
Permalink Reply by Sandra Stott on
-
majorly trippy! kept my kids quiet for a long period of time! LOL
Support Nexus
Click to Buy Amazon items and help A|N
Advertisements
Latest Activity
- Top News
- Everything
Steph S. replied to Ruth Anthony-Gardner's discussion 11 year old climate activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez in the group Climate Concerns
Debra Stevenson replied to James M. Martin's discussion Breitbart Group Claims "New Evidence" Hitler Was Gay in the group LGBTQI Nexus / Gay Atheists© 2013 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: Brother Richard.
