The Ecological Approach to Visual Perception

Understanding how we see is a fascinating topic, yet most of us take it for granted. In this book, you will discover that our perception of the world around us -- from its surfaces, their layout, and their colors and textures; where we are in the environment; whether or not we are moving and, if we are, where we are going; what things are good for; how to do things (to thread a needle or drive an automobile); or why things look as they do -- depends on the eyes in the head on a body supported by the ground. When no constraints are put on the visual system, people look around and move around so as to see something from all sides. This means that natural vision involves looking and walking not just within our field of view, but also outside it at any desired distance away from us. It also means that vision can be done with either one eye or both eyes simultaneously -- looking over an object with one eye while walking around it with both eyes. That's natural vision!