12 Questions
What is the main focus of the ecological approach?
Analyzing the movement of observers and its impact on perception
What is the primary source of perceptual information in the ecological approach?
The movement of the observer
What is the term for the movement of the environment relative to the observer?
Optic flow
What is the significance of optic flow in the ecological approach?
It indicates the direction and speed of the observer's movement
In the example of driving down the street, what is seen when looking out the side window?
The houses and trees moving past the car
What is the characteristic of optic flow that helps the observer to determine their direction and speed?
The speed and direction of the optic flow
What is the term for the different speed of flow, with faster flow near the observer and slower flow farther away?
Gradient of flow
What is the term for the point towards which the observer is moving, where there is no flow?
Focus of expansion
According to Gibson, what does the gradient of flow provide information about?
How fast the observer is moving
What is the term for the visual movement that occurs when an observer is moving, such as when driving a car?
Optic flow
What is an example of self-produced information in the context of movement?
Driving a car
What is the reciprocal relationship between movement and flow, according to the ecological approach?
Movement causes flow, and flow guides movement
Study Notes
The Ecological Approach
- The ecological approach focuses on studying moving observers and how their movement creates perceptual information that guides further movement and helps observers perceive the environment.
- The movement of an observer creates optic flow, which is the movement of objects past the observer when looking out the side window or at the road ahead.
Optic Flow
- Optic flow has two characteristics:
- The gradient of flow, which is more rapid near the moving observer and slower farther away, providing information about how fast the observer is moving.
- The focus of expansion (FOE), which is the absence of flow at the destination point, indicating the place where the observer is moving towards.
Examples of Optic Flow
- When driving down the street, the movement of the car creates optic flow, with the road and objects on the side of the road appearing to move past the observer.
- When crossing a bridge, the sides and top of the bridge and the road below appear to move towards the car, creating optic flow.
- For an airplane coming in for a landing, the optic flow lines indicate the place where the plane will touch down on the runway if it maintains its present course.
Self-Produced Information
- Self-produced information is the idea that a person's movement creates information, which is then used to guide further movement.
- Examples of self-produced information include:
- When driving, the movement of the car provides flow information, which is used to help steer the car in the right direction.
- When doing a somersault, the movement of the body creates information that is used to guide the body's rotation and orientation.
This quiz explores the ecological approach to perception, focusing on how moving observers create perceptual information to navigate their environment.
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