The kinetic depth effect refers to the perception of three-dimensional (3D) depth and solidity in an object that is produced by its motion, relative to the observer.
The effect occurs because the brain uses motion parallax, or the change in an object’s position as it moves, to perceive depth and distance in the environment.
The kinetic depth effect is a powerful tool for creating the illusion of 3D objects on a 2D screen.
From Wikimedia Commons
Table of Contents
- How does Kinetic Depth Effect work?
- Versions of Kinetic Depth Effect
- Illusions like the Kinetic Depth Effect
- Discovery of the Kinetic Depth Effect
- References and Resources
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How does the Kinetic Depth Effect work?
The kinetic depth effect works by using the brain’s interpretation of motion parallax, which is the change in an object’s position relative to the observer as it moves.
The brain uses this information, along with other depth cues such as perspective and accommodation, to perceive depth and distance in the environment.
When an object moves in a way that produces motion parallax, the brain perceives it as having depth and solidity, even if it is presented on a 2D surface.
This creates the illusion of three-dimensional motion and depth, and is the basis for the kinetic depth effect.
Versions of Kinetic Depth Effect
The following are some alternate versions of the Kinetic Depth Effect:
Illusions like Kinetic Depth Effect
The kinetic depth effect is a type of motion illusion.
Motion illusions are visual illusions that involve the perception of motion, when there is none or when the perceived motion is different from the actual motion.
Motion illusions can be created by a number of factors, such as changes in an object’s position over time, the interaction of moving stimuli with the visual field, or by conflicting depth cues.
These illusions demonstrate the brain’s ability to interpret motion and depth based on visual input, and the ways in which these processes can be influenced by the visual environment.
Some related illusions include the following:
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception.
The beta movement illusion is a visual illusion in which a series of static images, such as a filmstrip or flipbook, appears to be in motion when viewed in rapid succession.
In Peripheral Drift illusions, the image or pattern appears to move or drift, even though it is actually stationary. This movement is caused by the brain’s attempt to interpret the image or pattern, which is often complex or ambiguous. The movement can be in any direction, such as horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
The rotating snakes is a peripheral drift illusion that consists of a grid of shapes, with some of them appearing to be rotating or undulating. The illusion is created by the interaction of the shapes with the neural processing of the visual system.
With Illusory motion, static image appears to be moving due to the interaction of color contrasts, shapes, and position
Troxler’s fading, also known as Troxler’s effect, is a phenomenon in which a stationary visual stimulus eventually disappears from perception, even though it is still present in the visual field.
The stroboscopic effect is a visual phenomenon that occurs when a rapidly flashing light is used to illuminate a moving object.
The object appears to be frozen in a single position, even though it is in motion. This is because the flashing light is only on for a brief period of time, and the object is only visible when the light is on.
The Scintillating Grid Illusion, in which a grid of black and white squares appears to pulsate or “breathe” when viewed from the periphery of the image.
The Motion Aftereffect (also known as the Waterfall Illusion) is a visual illusion experienced after viewing a moving visual stimulus, and then fixating on a stationary stimulus. The stationary stimulus appears to move in the opposite direction to the original stimulus.
For example, fixate on the moving image below for several seconds, then shift you gaze to another surface like a plain wall. You should still be able to see the motion on the static surface.
The Café Wall Illusion is a visual illusion that is created by a grid of alternating light and dark horizontal and vertical lines. The lines appear to be bent or tilted, even though they are actually straight.
Discovery of the Kinetic Depth Effect
The discovery of the kinetic depth effect is not credited to a specific person or group.
It is a well-known phenomenon in the field of visual perception, and has been widely studied by psychologists, neuroscientists, and vision scientists.
The concept of the kinetic depth effect has been described and analyzed in many research papers, and is widely recognized as a fundamental aspect of visual perception.
A famous illusion that uses the kinetic depth effect known as the spinning dancer was created by the web designer Nobuyuki Kayahara in 2003 and it quickly went viral on the internet.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.