Optical Illusions

 

http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/index-e.html

Akiyoshi's illusion pages

http://dogfeathers.com/java/spirals.html

Counter-Rotating Spirals Illusion

Perception

The most remarkable thing in a remarkable universe is so commonplace that it is accepted without wonder or understanding. This is the appearance of reality and solidity that surrounds us when our eyes are open, which we call simply vision. Intellectual effort is required to realize that this seeming reality is within us, distinct for each individual, but so concordant with reality and with each other, and so stable, that it is accepted without question. The explanation for this wonderful aspect of consciousness is completely unknown.

The information that allows the mind to create and maintain this appearance is collected entirely by the visual system. When the eyes are closed, the appearance vanishes. At least, it does for me. Some people may be able to create realistic pictures with their mind's eye, but I cannot. I can still imagine my environment more or less accurately, but the vivid picture is gone.

The ability to make an accurate visual model of the external world is learned, not innate. The necessary materials are there at birth, of course, but they must be trained, or programmed, before the skill is perfected. This seems to be done in the first instance by comparing the chaotic impressions of light with the solid evidence of touch, which gives the perception depth and form. The visual sense ever after shows subtle indications of its origin in touch, though it becomes completely independent of touch after perfection. The ability to acquire this skill vanishes early in mental development. A person totally blind from birth whose vision may become normal at a later age can never make sense of the visual information and arrange it in a consistent manner.

http://www.du.edu/~jcalvert/optics/illusion.htm

http://www.planetperplex.com/en/motion_illusions.html

Motion Optical Illusions

http://www.sapdesignguild.org/resources/optical_illusions/motion.html

Motion Perception

http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/

53 Optical Illusions & Visual Phenomena

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/graphics/

Illusions and Paradoxes: Seeing is believing?

http://www.psy.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/saishin2e.html

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/opticalillusions.htm

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS:

 A collection of images that fool the eye and mind.