Human Perception

Haptic perception of space

Co-ordinator: A.M.L. Kappers, J.J. Koenderink
Investigator: A.M.L. Kappers, A.F.J. Sanders
Period: 06-1996 / -
Collaboration: A. Postma (UU), S. Zuidhoek (UU), R. Meulenbroek (KUN) C. Dijkerman (UU) en H. van Mier (UM)
Funding: UU, NWO
Description:  

Haptic space like visual space is not Euclidean (e.g., Blumenfeld, 1937). In a series of experiments, we investigated the haptic perception of spatial relations in a systematic way. Blindfolded subjects were asked to perform several tasks related to parallelity in space. Examples include pointing to targets, judging colinearity, matching orientation, etc. Experiments could be performed either unimanually (right or left hand) or bimanually. In all experiments large systematic errors (up to 90 degrees) were made. These results provide strong evidence that haptic space is non-Euclidean. In this research project, the aim is to collect a coherent set of data.