Human Input-Output Channels

Input-Output Channels Interaction with world –Occurs through information Interaction with computer –Input and output Human Input –Through Senses Human Output –Through Effectors

Input via Senses Vision Hearing Touch Taste Smell

Output via Effectors (Responders) Fingers Eyes Head Vocal system

Interaction with PC Using Input-Output Channels Using a GUI-based computer Information received by sight Beeps received by ear Feel keyboard and mouse with fingers

Vision Highly complex activity Physical and perceptual limitations 2 stages of visual perception: –Physical reception of the stimulus –Interpretation/processing of stimulus Processing allows construction of images from incomplete information

Human Eye

Image Formation Cornea and lens –Focuses light into a sharp image on retina –An upside down image is formed on the retina.

Photoreceptors Rods Cones

Rods Situated towards the edges of retina –Dominate peripheral vision Sensitive to light –Allow us to see under low level of illumination Unable to resolve fine detail and are subject to light saturation –Cause of temporary blindness when moving from dark areas to very bright ones 120 million rods per eye

Cones Less sensitive to light –Can tolerate more light than Rods Basic function is color vision Situated in Fovea –Small area on retina where image is fixated Three types –Each sensitive to a different wavelength

Blind Spot Area where optic nerve enters No rods or cones in this area Visual system compensates for lack of rods and cones

Nerve Cells A.k.a. Ganglion Cells Specialized Nerve Cells Types –X-cells concentrated in fovea detection of patterns –Y-cells widely distributed in retina early detection of movement can not detect change in patterns

Visual Perception Size Depth Brightness Color

Notions of Size and Distance You are standing on a hill Rocks, sheep and small tree on summit Farmhouse on hillside Person walking on track Small market town in valley

Perceiving Size and Depth Size specified by visual angle Affected by both –Size of object –Distance from eye

Perceiving Size and Depth Visual angle –Indicates how much of the field of view is taken by the object –Measured in degree or minutes of arc

Visual Angle and Perception Visual Acuity –Visual Acuity is the ability of a person to perceive fine detail –Objects with visual angles smaller than 0.5 seconds of an arc are not visible. –Spaces between lines visible at 30s-1min of arc visible Law of size constancy –Perception of the object size remains constant even if its visual angle changes –Perception depends on factors other than visual angle

Factors Affecting Visual Perception Perception of depth –Cues to determine relative positions of objects Objects overlapping Size and height of object –Provides cue for distance Familiarity –Certain size helps to judge the distance accordingly

Example A B C D E F. H I J K

Perceiving Brightness Brightness –subjective reaction to levels of light –affected by luminance of object Luminance –Depends on Amount of light falling on object Reflective properties of object –Measured by photometer Contrast –Function of the luminance of an object and the luminance of its background

Perceiving Brightness Measured by just noticeable difference caused by luminance Rods (periphery) predominate in dim lighting Enables better periphery vision Cones (center) not dominate in dim lighting –Cannot fixate on images Visual acuity increases with luminance –Case for using high luminance displays –Flicker also increases with luminance (>50Hz) –Larger the display, the more it will appear to flicker

Perceiving Color 3 components –Hue Determined by the spectral wavelength –Blue (short) –Green (medium) –Red (long) 150 hues determined by eye –Intensity Brightness of color –Saturation Amount of whiteness in the color 7 million colors can be perceived

Perceiving Color Color perception best in fovea, worst at periphery 3-4% cones in fovea sensitive to blue light –Blue acuity lower Color blindness –Cannot differentiate between green and red –8% males –1% females

Human Visual Perception The visual system compensates for: –movement –changes in luminance. Context is used to resolve ambiguity

Capabilities and Limitations of Visual Processing Visual processing allows transformation and interpretation of a complete image Visual processing compensates image movement –Image moves on retina, but we see it stable Color and brightness perceived constant (hue, intensity, saturation)

Context Illusions

Over Compensation Illusions Optical illusions sometimes occur due to over compensation –Our perception of size is not reliable the Muller Lyer illusion the Ponzo illusion concave convex

Proof-Reading Illusion

Lines & Optical Center Illusion We do not perceive geometric objects exactly as they are drawn Lines –Horizontal: Magnified –Vertical: Reduced –Solution: To display square, increase height Perceive actual center of page as a little lower –Solution: place objects higher

Reading Stages 1.visual pattern perceived 2.decoded using internal representation of language 3.interpreted using knowledge of syntax, semantics, pragmatics Reading involves saccades and fixations (perception here: 94%) Perception occurs during fixations Regressions: eye move backwards and forwards Word shape is important to recognition Negative contrast improves reading from computer screen Average Reading Speed: 250 words per minute –Word shape important Reading speed is a measure of legibility Legibility can be increased using negative contrast