A Conversation for Ask h2g2

I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 1

The Groob

Who do I contact, and that?


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 2

Icy North

Hawking?


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 3

Xanatic

It's not an optical illusion, those really are small cows.


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 4

paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant

What does an ophthalmologist on an island off the coast of Alaska have to do with it? smiley - winkeyesmiley - whistle


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 5

coelacanth

Assuming this is a sensible question (and who can tell here!) I'd suggest Bristol University Vision Institute:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/vision-institute/

The world authority on illusions and visual perception, Professor Richard Gregory, worked there for many years.
smiley - bluefish


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 6

Xanatic

Are you sure you can't instead use this illusion to somehow rob a bank?


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 7

ITIWBS

Do you ever wonder why the reflection in a mirror reverses left to right (or vice versa) rather than from top to bottom?

Once you figure out why, its not hard to make the illusion do that.


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 8

Icy North

I love that mirror paradox - it fascinated Lewis Carroll. The answer is simple, but very few people can explain it. Gnomon was writing a guide entry on it a few months ago.


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 9

coelacanth

Professor Gregory wrote a whole book about it. "Mirrors in Mind".

Here's a review of the book from American Scientist magazine: http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/pub/mirror-mirror
smiley - bluefish


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 10

ITIWBS

I got a tremendous kick out of one of Lewis Carroll's illustrations, of a maze in a park, where by means of inserting one bridge over the path, where the maze crossed itself in a brief excursion through the third dimension, Carroll made it impossible to solve the maze by the 'keep one hand on a wall' method, which always works with a strictly two dimensional maze.


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 11

The Groob

Coelacanth, it's a perfectly serious question, and I thank you for your perfectly serious response. I will contact Bristol uni, and report back.


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 12

paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant

smiley - drumroll


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 13

Rod

Well now, Groob, I do hope - and no doubt some others are hoping - that you'll let us know about it -

- when the time is right, of course.


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 14

Mr. Dreadful - But really I'm not actually your friend, but I am...

How can you be sure it's a *new* optical illusion? I think it's somewhat self-aggrandising to declare it new just because you haven't seen it before...


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 15

Teasswill

I was wondering that - like 'discovering' gravity?
Devising a new illusion is possible perhaps, although how would you check no-one had previously noted it? I don't imagine they are patented.


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 16

paulh, vaccinated against the Omigod Variant

Maybe the idea that you've discovered something new is itself an illusion. smiley - winkeyesmiley - whistle


I've discovered a new optical illusion

Post 17

Teasswill

http://illusionoftheyear.com. A competition for optical illusions!
http://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/story/20150130-how-your-eyes-trick-your-mind/index.html
Good summary of the subject.


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