Theoretical+Concepts

Gestalt Laws – Perception, Organization · First attempt to understand pattern perception · 1912, “Gestalt school of psychology” · Gestalt = pattern/form (in German) · Perceptual organizing principles · Robust “laws”: o Figure and Ground § What is the foreground, what is the background? o Spatial Proximity § principle: Things close (physically) are grouped together ú One of the most powerful perceptual organizing principles o Similarity § Principle: Things that are similar grouped by criteria (ie. Font sizes, colours; on the Google page example) § Colour or shape similarly groups by row § Separable dimensions enable alternate perception o Connectedness § Principle: Connectedness (association, grouping) can be shown explicitly ú Stronger than a) proximity, b) colour, c) size, d) shape ú Assumed in continuity § Principle: Continuity ú More likely to construct visual entities out of visual elements that are smooth and continuous, rather than ones that contain abrupt changes of direction o Symmetry: § Principle: creates visual whole ú Bilateral separation of two halves o Closure § Principle: A closed contour is seen as an object § Principle: Contour separates world into “inside” and “outside” ú E.g. Venn diagrams in the scientific world (electron graph visualization) o Relative Size § Principle: Smaller components of a pattern tend to be perceived as the object (ie. Example of the circle with black bars as the propeller of an airplane)

Contours: A perceived continuous boundary between regions Can be defined by: · Line · Boundary between regions of two colours · Stereoscopic depth · Patterns of motion · And many more