Question

________ depth cues require the use of both eyes. a. monocular b. binocular c. linear perspective d. accommodating

Short answer

The correct answer is (b) binocular

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Terms

First, to solve the problem, one must understand the term 'depth cues'. Depth cues are elements that help the brain to perceive depth or distance in a two-dimensional image. Knowing this, we consider the answer options.

Define Answer Choices

We need to define each choice: (a) Monocular cues are depth cues that can be realized with one eye; (b) Binocular cues are depth cues that require the use of both eyes; (c) Linear perspective is a monocular cue that size perception is related to distance; (d) Accommodating is a monocular cue where the lens of the eye adjusts to focus on objects at different distances.

Find the Correct Answer

The question asks for cues that require both eyes. Therefore, the correct answer is (b) binocular, as it explicitly states that binocular cues require the use of both eyes.

Key concepts

Perception

Perception is the process by which our brain interprets the information received from our senses to understand and interact with our environment.
It enables us to interpret two-dimensional images from our eyes and perceive them as three-dimensional scenes.
Without perception, our ability to gauge depth, form, and distance would be severely limited. Our brains use various depth cues to aid perception, such as monocular and binocular cues.
These cues provide essential context, allowing us to perceive the world more accurately.
For instance, when we see a two-dimensional drawing portraying a road leading into the horizon, our perception helps us interpret it as an extension of our visual field extending into the distance.

Monocular Cues

Monocular cues are depth cues that are available to each eye separately.
These cues help us judge depth and distance using a single eye, crucial for creating a three-dimensional understanding from a two-dimensional image. Some important types of monocular cues include:

• Linear Perspective - This refers to how parallel lines appear to converge as they move away from us, suggesting depth. Such as train tracks going into the distance.
• Interposition - When one object overlaps another, the overlapping object appears closer, helping us determine their relative distance.
• Texture Gradient - As an object recedes into the distance, its texture becomes less detailed, giving us depth information.

These cues are fundamental in our daily activities and essential for things like driving or appreciating art.

Depth Perception

Depth perception is our ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and judge the distance of objects.
This ability hinges on processing various depth cues, including both monocular and binocular cues.
It’s crucial for tasks that require coordination and movement, like catching a ball or crossing the street. Binocular cues are particularly important for depth perception, requiring both eyes to function correctly.
They allow us to perceive depth through a mechanism called stereopsis, where the eyes send slightly different images to the brain due to their positioning, which the brain then merges into one cohesive view with depth.
Without depth perception, our interactions with everyday objects and our ability to navigate our environment would be greatly impaired.

Two-Dimensional Image

A two-dimensional image is flat and lacks depth, providing only height and width dimensions.
Our brain interprets these images, using various depth cues, to perceive them as part of a more complex three-dimensional scene. When viewing a photograph or a painting, for instance, the image itself is two-dimensional.
However, through cues like shading, perspective, and relative size, our brain can reconstruct a representation that gives the illusion of depth and solidity. This process is vital not only in art and photography but also in our everyday life as we constantly transition between two-dimensional representations, like those on screens, and our three-dimensional reality.