Are Two Eyes Always Better Than One? Binocular information for determining object-motion and self-motion

Julie Harris

University of Newscastle, Department of Psychology

Abstract:
A great deal is known about how the human visual system processes motion. However, studies of visual motion processing have typically not considered that we have two eyes, and that for many three-dimensional (3-D) object motions, each eye may see motion at a different speed, and possibly in different directions. We know that the visual system is exquisitely sensitive to the small differences between the two eyes’ images (binocular disparity). This information can be used to find the depth and shape of objects. Can we also exploit the motion disparity that occurs when objects move in depth to help us see object moving in 3-D, and to help us navigate through the 3-D environment? Or does having disparate right and left eye motions cause problems for the visual system? I will discuss the recent literature in this area and then describe some of my own work on 3-D object-motion and self-motion. Finally, I will set out what current problems and challenges remain.

The lecture will take place:

in the Lecture Hall, Room 203, 44 Cummington St.
on Wednesday, April 26, 2000
at 1:00 pm