How Do We Recognize the Same Object From Different Angles?

Abstract

Visual constancy is the crucial mental ability by which we recognize an object as the same even when it may look different. If we did not have visual constancy, we would not recognize the objects around us if we saw them from a different angle, in different lighting, or from a distance. Because of visual constancy, we know an animal is an elephant whether we see it from the front or from the side. Do you think a computer could do the same? Many types of smart computers, such as smartphones and self-driving cars, also use a version of visual constancy to function in the real world. Many cybersecurity tools, like CAPTCHA, take advantage of the fact that humans are much better than robots are at tasks requiring visual constancy. Visual constancy is a learned skill, and understanding it better helps us create smarter machines, including cell phones.