Abstract
The advantages and limitations of using computer-animated stimuli in studying motion perception are discussed. Most current programs of motion perception research could not be pursued without the use of computer graphics animation. Computer-generated displays afford latitudes of freedom and control that are almost impossible to attain through conventional methods. There are, however, limitations to this presentational medium. At present, computer-generated displays present simplified approximations of the dynamics in natural events. We know very little about how the differences between natural events and computer simulations influence perceptual processing. In practice, we tend to assume that the differences are irrelevant to the questions under study and that findings with computer-generated stimuli will generalize to natural events.
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This research was supported by Grant NCA2-87 from NASA, Grant HD-16195 from NICHD, and Grant INF-85-014 from the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology. Stephen Ellis. Scott Fisher, David Gilden, Jeffrey Lande, and Susan Whelan provided valuable criticisms on an earlier version of this paper.
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Proffitt, D.R., Kaiser, M.K. The use of computer graphics animation in motion perception research. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 18, 487–492 (1986). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03201420
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03201420