Abstract

A rotating vector, generated on a high resolution monitor, can appear to break into multiple images away from the point of fixation. This phenomenon was studied by measuring the highest angular velocity that was accompanied by the perception of a single, rotating line. The main findings were that higher angular velocities could be tolerated with higher luminance levels, shorter vectors, and higher frame rates (that served to allow motion to be sampled more often). Fixating the center of rotation or smooth tracking the end of the vector produced equivalent results. The effect is principally a function of local retinal velocities and the resolution with which continuous motion is sampled in the visual display. Higher apparent velocities away from the point of fixation are associated with larger distances between retinal points being stimulated. As long as these distances can be resolved, the magnitude of neural persistence determines the number of images that will be seen smoothly rotating about the screen. This phenomen is related to problems encountered when generating a dynamic visual display during an aircraft simulation.

© 1985 Optical Society of America