From: ABlainey@aol.com
Date: Wed Oct 30 2002 - 02:44:03 MST
In a message dated 30/10/02 07:59:44 GMT Standard Time, Anders Sandberg
asa@nada.kth.se writes:
>And a
>shadowed checker square looks bright due to the contrast from
>surrounding squares and adjusted for the effect of the shadow.
As the same part of the brain is used for seeing contrast and judging speed
(cant remember the name of said squishy part, but I know its damn small) It
makes me wonder whether an optical illusion using this principle can be used
for slowing down speeding drivers?
I have seen research that says people speed in bad weather due to a
distorted sense of speed caused by the lack of contrast created by fog, etc.
I'm thinking along the lines of somehow gradually increasing the contrast of
road markings, the road surface or something in order to instil a false sense
of excess speed in a driver in normal conditions. maybe a trick with false
shadows on the road surface?
The obvious would be lines across the road that get closer together.
I'm not sure this would a be great idea though, most drivers would be stopped
at the roadside every couple of miles to throw up, or it may even induce
epilepsy.
Alex
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