Art and Science in Motion Perception

ECVP Paper

Perception of phase wave motion
G Mather
Psychology Department, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QH, UK
g.mather@susx.ac.uk

R Hamilton
Interaction Design, Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2EU, UK
rory.hamilton@rca.ac.uk

J Rogers
School of Design, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, University of Dundee, Perth Road, Dundee DD1 4HT, UK
j.rogers@dundee.ac.uk

We shall describe a new class of motion stimulus, containing phase wave motion. The stimulus consists of a 2-D array of pattern elements. Each element oscillates in position over the same distance. When all elements oscillate in-phase, the pattern moves rigidly back and forth. When the relative phase of oscillation varies progressively across the pattern, a travelling wave of oscillation can be created that has the appearance of a fabric blowing in a breeze. Observers readily perceive the direction and speed of the phase wave, even though it contains no motion energy that can be detected by low-level motion processes, other than the local element oscillation. The paper will present some initial psychophysical data and review possible explanatory models based on texture processing and second-order motion processing.

 

ECVP Poster

Motion perception in art and design research
J Rogers
School of Design, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, University of Dundee, Perth Road, Dundee DD1 4HT, UK
j.rogers@dundee.ac.uk

R Hamilton
Interaction Design, Royal College of Art, London SW7 2EU, UK


G Mather
Psychology Department, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK

What happens when visual perception theory and practice become a tool for art and design? How can the science of vision be interpreted in such as way as to provide new techniques for drawing and animation? We will present the outcome of research from an art and design perspective that uses science as both inspiration and problem solver. From exhibitions in the UK, Europe and Korea, we will show biological motion used to create an illusory army of figures marching around a quarry wall; path guided apparent motion to provide a means of providing low-bandwidth mobile phone media; and how depth and motion can be used to create a new way of drawing. In addition we will introduce a new research program where we are investigating how new physical forms can be created using visual motion perception.