Unit 4 Design and Perception: How can I influence the way a design is perceived?

1. Gestalt Principles of Perception
There are 6 Gestalt Principles.

1.The Gestalt Figure/Ground Relationship

This principle states that the eye differentiates an object from its background. An object, a form or a shape is naturally perceived as a figure (object) , while the area is perceived as a ground( background).

As seen in the pictures above, we are able to perceive the alphabets SFI because we could differentiate the shapes of the alphabets from the green background.

2.Similarity

When objects looks similar to one another, they are usually perceived as a group or pattern.

In the picture above, we could see that there are different sizes of coins being traced on a paper. Due to the similar shape, we could perceive them as a group which forms a pattern of a flower.

3. Continuation

When the the eye perceive one object and continues to move through to another object, it is known as continuation.

On the word SEASONS, we could see the application of principle of continuation whereby our eyes are directed to see the leaf around the letter "O" as we read the word SEASON.

4. Closure

When a space is not completely enclosed or when an object is incomplete, people will still be able to perceive the whole by filling in  the missing information. 

Although the horse is not completely outlined, we could still figure out that it is a horse by filling in the missing information.

5. Proximity

When objects are placed close together, they will be seen as belonging together.

We could see that there are two category of shampoo here due to the gap in between them. Those that are placed closer together are seen to be in one group.

6. Law of Common Fate

Grouping of objects that shares a common motion or have a common destination. 

The law of common fate enables us to distinguish that the center box is different from the others as all the others has a common characteristic.

2. Orientation Sensitivity
Orientation sensitivity refers to visual processing of line orientations. There are certain orientations that is more quickly and easily processed than others.

With that, it also explains why our standard analogue clock can be quickly interpreted. The numbers positioned at 30 degree increments around analogue clocks corresponds to minimum recommendation for easy detection. Differences which are less than 30 degrees are can be much more difficult to detect and interpret.

Orientation sensitivity is affected by two specific phenomena which are oblique effects and pop-out effects.

a)Oblique effects

Occurs when we find it much easier to perceive and interpret line orientations that are close to vertical or horizontal than ones that are oblique.

b)Pop-out effect

Occur when some elements of a display 'pop out' and are easily and quickly detected.

3. Consistency

Consistency means the usability of a system is improved when similar parts are expressed in similar ways. Consistency enables people to transfer their prior knowledge to new contexts so that they can learn new things quickly. 

Example: player button symbol

People are familiar to these buttons because these buttons are now used in MP3, MP4, remote control and others video or music software. As a result, they will know the function of each button.

Window Media Player

4. Proximity 

Proximity means elements that are related should be grouped together while elements that are unrelated to each other should be placed further apart.

Example: numeric keypad USB
The number is grouped together because they are related. This design enables the user to key in the data easily.

5. Threat Detection

All human are born with the innate ability to detect possible harm towards us. We are able to identify the threats around us and avoid danger to ensure we are in a safe environment.

For example,this forest gives a out a feeling of threat because we can sense the unforeseen harm that may come to us.

However, in this picture of forest, it has a clearer path where our threat stimuli will receive a lower sense of threat. The trail in the forest gives people a safer feeling.

In objects and things we encounter everyday, we can always sense the possible or potential harm that the object could give us. These objects may be in various size either small or big, some objects may not came across our mind that it will be a threat for us. For example this pen knife, it is usually used as a stationery item. However, it is also a possible weapon to harm people. People could injure themselves or harm other people with this item. 

Another example we could see threat detection from our daily life is a cup. A cup as above could possibly be a threat to us if we break it. The cup is made up of glass and it is fragile. A broken glass cup could injured us. To avoid these threats, we could replace the material of the glass into non-fragile material such as plastics, paper, and more.

6. Interference Effect

Interference effect are normally related to our memory. Throughout our learning process, we will encounter a lot of new information. However, there are some information we acquired previously and it interfere with the new information we learned. This known as interference effect. There are two types of interference effect, retroactive interference and proactive interference.

When we learn to drive a car, the tutor will use the manual car to teach. So, when people drive the auto car, it creates potentially dangerous interference because the auto car does not has clutch pedal like the manual car and thus create conflicting mental processes.