simultaneous contrast
Rods and cones
We take color as something tangible, but it's quite subjective. While we can use spectroscopy to determine the distribution of wavelengths in light, we can't objectively tie those measurements to color.
You need a body of perceivers who posses a common language to in order to express the concept of color. Only then can one build a map between spectroscopy and color perception. Those maps, based on statistics from a pool of observers, are the closest thing we have to objective measures of color.
If a tree falls in a forest alone, is brown? No. "Brown" is a result of mind, perception and culture.
The other aspect of subjectivity is that color (as in color perception) is dependent upon context, both in space and time.
The retina of tetrapods performs the most sophisticated neural processing that exists outside of the brain. A key aspect of this processing is differencing -- both spatial and temporal differencing. We can infer a couple of reasons for differencing: extraction of key perceptual cues and data reduction.
Spatial differencing is key for edge detection. In machine vision, edge detection is a primitive function upon which higher level functions are built. This seems to be the case with the human visual system as well. Recognition of objects, for example, relies on edge detection.
Spatial differencing is built right into the back of the eye, where all the relevant information is readily available.
Temporal differencing is key to motion detection. Moving edges are of particular interest to most tetrapods, as moving objects may represent immanent threat or opportunity. Again, the basics of spatio-temporal differencing that enables motion detection occur in neurons at the back of the eye.
Another reason we can infer for this differencing is data reduction. The eye captures far too much information to be conveyed by the optic nerve. Extracting "what is different from before" represents a massive amount of data reduction.
These retinal primitives play a role in optical illusions. The name "retinal illusions" would be more accurate. Perceived brightness and saturation of a particular swatch can be manipulated by what is placed near that swatch. The eye isn't so much perceiving the swatch as "what about this swatch is different from its surroundings."
Similarly, persistent images of complementary color are an artifact of temporal differencing. "What about this is different from what was perceived a short time ago."
The eyes: lying to us since at least the Devonian.
The inherent subjectivity of color perception has been making the rounds on the interwebs.
the fourth cone.
first photograph of light as both particle and wave.
I see thirty nine stripes but swear that dress is white and gold
It's blue and almost black. But I did see white and gold once. And only once.
38. cornflower blue and gold dress.
35. Light light blue (almost white) and definitely gold. Everyone else is wrong.
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- bill 2-13-2015 5:18 pm
Rods and cones
- bill 2-13-2015 5:20 pm [add a comment]
We take color as something tangible, but it's quite subjective. While we can use spectroscopy to determine the distribution of wavelengths in light, we can't objectively tie those measurements to color.
You need a body of perceivers who posses a common language to in order to express the concept of color. Only then can one build a map between spectroscopy and color perception. Those maps, based on statistics from a pool of observers, are the closest thing we have to objective measures of color.
If a tree falls in a forest alone, is brown? No. "Brown" is a result of mind, perception and culture.
- mark 2-15-2015 1:54 am [add a comment]
The other aspect of subjectivity is that color (as in color perception) is dependent upon context, both in space and time.
The retina of tetrapods performs the most sophisticated neural processing that exists outside of the brain. A key aspect of this processing is differencing -- both spatial and temporal differencing. We can infer a couple of reasons for differencing: extraction of key perceptual cues and data reduction.
Spatial differencing is key for edge detection. In machine vision, edge detection is a primitive function upon which higher level functions are built. This seems to be the case with the human visual system as well. Recognition of objects, for example, relies on edge detection.
Spatial differencing is built right into the back of the eye, where all the relevant information is readily available.
Temporal differencing is key to motion detection. Moving edges are of particular interest to most tetrapods, as moving objects may represent immanent threat or opportunity. Again, the basics of spatio-temporal differencing that enables motion detection occur in neurons at the back of the eye.
Another reason we can infer for this differencing is data reduction. The eye captures far too much information to be conveyed by the optic nerve. Extracting "what is different from before" represents a massive amount of data reduction.
These retinal primitives play a role in optical illusions. The name "retinal illusions" would be more accurate. Perceived brightness and saturation of a particular swatch can be manipulated by what is placed near that swatch. The eye isn't so much perceiving the swatch as "what about this swatch is different from its surroundings."
Similarly, persistent images of complementary color are an artifact of temporal differencing. "What about this is different from what was perceived a short time ago."
The eyes: lying to us since at least the Devonian.
- mark 2-15-2015 7:51 pm [add a comment]
The inherent subjectivity of color perception has been making the rounds on the interwebs.
- mark 3-02-2015 3:01 am [add a comment]
the fourth cone.
- bill 3-02-2015 7:08 pm [add a comment]
I saw 36. Weird.
- mark 3-03-2015 5:44 pm [add a comment]
first photograph of light as both particle and wave.
- bill 3-03-2015 1:42 am [add a comment]
I see thirty nine stripes but swear that dress is white and gold
- steve 3-03-2015 5:13 am [add a comment]
It's blue and almost black. But I did see white and gold once. And only once.
- mark 3-03-2015 5:45 pm [add a comment]
38. cornflower blue and gold dress.
- dave 3-03-2015 7:38 pm [add a comment]
35. Light light blue (almost white) and definitely gold. Everyone else is wrong.
- jim 3-03-2015 8:38 pm [add a comment]