Tuesday, May 31, 2005

This is a crazy optical illusion. The graphic is not actually moving.

7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is the wierdest thing. What makes that happen? Tell me my wise husband.

9:29 AM  
Blogger Levi Nunnink said...

My lovely wife: I don't have the slightest idea why that happens. I just saw this link on another website and was impressed.

9:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you focus on just one almond around the center they all stop moving. That must have something to do with something.

10:23 AM  
Blogger Sadie Lou said...

If you let your eyes do that thing when they glaze over and lose focus, everything stops swimming.

2:40 PM  
Blogger Udarnik said...

My brain hurts.

8:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like your scientific observation of the illusion Roz. Something to do with something. I knew exactly what you are talking about. Not to be rude, I just thought it was cute. Really clears things up for me. Thanks

3:24 PM  
Blogger Chloe said...

Hi, I stumbled upon your blog and I hope I'm not squatting by posting a comment.

One possible explanation is irradiation: the spreading of light from a lighter area into an adjacent darker one. There is as yet no satisfactory explanation for the mechanisms behind irradiation and it remains a somewhat vague idea.

Even so, I think this is what's happening with the almonds. Here's why: when a regular white square is bordered by four plain black squares, the shape of the former will appear undistorted, though it may appear larger in size. But when a white square is adjacent to a black square containing a small white square near the border with it, irradiation from the small bit of white cancels out part of the large bit of white, but not all of it. I was reminded of this by the white slivers on the almonds - I think they contribute to the irradiation that makes it look as though everything's moving.

I've never blabbed on for this long on a stranger's blog before. My apologies!

2:50 PM  

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