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Community => Break Room => Topic started by: BridgeTroll on October 16, 2008, 02:17:48 PM

Title: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: BridgeTroll on October 16, 2008, 02:17:48 PM
(http://blog.ted.com/spinningwoman.gif)

Can you reverse her direction of rotation?

Cognitive Daily at ScienceBlogs took a reader poll and found that two-thirds saw the silhouetted woman rotating clockwise. About the same number were able to reverse her direction.

Those who initially saw the woman rotating counter-clockwise found it easier to reverse her direction -- much as the Necker cube's orientation can be reversed at will. How did you fare? (Check out more illusions in TEDTalks by Al Seckel and Dan Dennett.)

Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: uptowngirl on October 16, 2008, 03:18:41 PM
At first I didn't think it would happen, but then sure enough she switched! I did see her counter clockwise first... I wonder why that makes a difference, and why someone would see her going counter clockwise vs. clockwise? I just scrolled down a looked again and could do it in reverse. huh...
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: BridgeTroll on October 16, 2008, 03:31:00 PM
Very odd... the first time I saw this she was clearly CCW... after a few minutes she changed to CW and I could not get her to go back.  Since posting her here she is CCW again...
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: BridgeTroll on October 16, 2008, 03:32:22 PM
Ah Ha!  stare at the shadow at the bottom to change her direction... :)
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Jason on October 16, 2008, 04:04:39 PM
I figured it out!  Started counter clockwise.

Really neat stuff!


New here is a trick for ya... see my avatar?  Can you make the running man run the other way??  ;)
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Driven1 on October 16, 2008, 05:45:57 PM
i think it is a timed animated GIF. 
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: BridgeTroll on October 17, 2008, 07:14:45 AM
Quote from: Driven1 on October 16, 2008, 05:45:57 PM
i think it is a timed animated GIF. 

It isnt... it has to do with right brain vs left brain.
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Lunican on October 17, 2008, 08:45:31 AM
The rotation just depends on whether you perceive the arms / leg to be crossing in front or behind the body. This would not work if it was not a silhouette.
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: BridgeTroll on October 17, 2008, 09:03:42 AM
Quote from: Lunican on October 17, 2008, 08:45:31 AM
The rotation just depends on whether you perceive the arms / leg to be crossing in front or behind the body. This would not work if it was not a silhouette.

But can you change your perception at will?  Does it require active concentration to do so?  The first time you saw it what way was it rotating?

QuoteThose who initially saw the woman rotating counter-clockwise found it easier to reverse her direction
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: pwhitford on October 17, 2008, 09:11:27 AM
But can you change your perception at will?  Does it require active concentration to do so?  The first time you saw it what way was it rotating?

I can change her direction at will.  I focus about 1-2 inches below the picture and move my eyes from about 4 o'clock to about 8 o'clock and she changes direction whenever my eyes sweep from side to side.  It must be a peripheral vision thing.  It took some practice, but I can move her back and forth now.  Cool effect.
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Driven1 on October 17, 2008, 09:19:13 AM
she needs to put some clothes on.
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Lunican on October 17, 2008, 09:23:34 AM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on October 17, 2008, 09:03:42 AM
But can you change your perception at will?  Does it require active concentration to do so?  The first time you saw it what way was it rotating?

Yes, but not instantly. I always see it rotating clockwise first.
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Doctor_K on October 17, 2008, 04:36:41 PM
Quote from: Driven1 on October 17, 2008, 09:19:13 AM
she needs to put some clothes on.
Neagtive. 
:D
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: BridgeTroll on October 17, 2008, 07:47:01 PM
  :D I am quite happy with the rotating nipples... CW or CCW... :D
Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Bostech on October 29, 2008, 02:37:12 AM
Cheap trick,image is designed to rotate in different directions after time.


Title: Re: Optical Illusion... Check it.
Post by: Driven1 on November 03, 2008, 11:57:21 PM
ok...weird...now i find on Wednesdays and Mondays that the image rotates clockwise.

counter-clockwise on the other days.