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Thursday, May 14, 2009

World’s Best Illusion: the curve ball

By Tangotiger, 02:59 PM

(Hat tip: Peter)

This year’s winning illusion, created by Arthur Shapiro of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, may explain this phenomena. His animation shows a spinning ball that, when watched directly, moves in a straight line. When seen out of the corner of the eye, however, the spin of the ball fools the brain into thinking that the ball is curving.

So as a baseball flies towards home plate, the moment when it passes from central to peripheral vision could exaggerate the movement of the ball, causing its gradual curve to be seen as a sudden jerk.

(12) Comments • 2009/05/17 • Sabermetrics • Technology

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May 14, 2009
World’s Best Illusion: the curve ball