Chapter 3

The Invisible Surface that Glows

Construction

• D. Hoffman suggest that we construct everything that we see– Normal People vs. Mr. S.

• Evidence ??– Subjective contours and surfaces

Borders vs. Brightness• The Illusions below demonstrate constructing a border without distorting

the brightness.

Possible Rule

• There is a large correlation between symmetry and our ability to construct subjective surfaces.

Support

Disproof

Rule 11

• Construct subjective figures that occlude only if there are convex cusps.

Parallel Lines

• Our mind tends to notice parallel lines and assume them to have some sort of relation.

Rule 12

• If two visual structures have nonaccidental relation, group them and assign them to a common origin.

Rule 13

• If three or more curves intersect at a common point in an image, interpret as them at a common point in space.– This is why the magic square begins to disappear !!

Constructing lines

• Rods and Cones

• Simple and complex cells focus on the orientation of lines.

3D Constuction

• We are actually able to construct objects.

• But this is not limited to illusions printed in this book. We construct everything we see!!

Arguments…

• Since we all see the same thing we must not construct it.

Arguments…

• If I construct it, why doesn’t it comply with what I want ??

Conclusion

• We construct everything we see based on a set of specific rules that allow us all to construct the same objects.

• Our visual intelligence is not limited to reality.– Mrs. B