User:Cj924/Parallel processing (psychology)

When we sense depth, we use both eyes to see three dimensional objects. This sense is present in birth in humans and some animals, such as cats, dogs, owls, and monkeys. Animals with wider-set eyes have a harder time establishing depth, such as horses and cows. A special depth test was used on infants, named The Visual Cliff. This test consisted of a table, half coated in a checkerboard pattern, and the other half a clear plexiglass sheet, revealing a second checkerboard platform about a foot below. Although the plexiglass was safe to climb on, the infants refused to cross over due to the perception of a visual cliff. This test proved that most infants already have a good sense of depth. This phenomenon is similar to how adults perceive heights.

Certain cues help us establish our depth perception. Binocular cues are made by our two eyes, which are subconsciously compared to calculate distance. This idea of two separate images is used by 3-D and VR filmmakers to give two dimensional footage the element of depth. Monocular cues can be used by a single eye with hints from the environment. These hints include relative height, relative size, linear perspective, lights and shadows, and relative motion. Each hint helps us establish small facts about a scene that work together to form a perception of depth. Binocular cues and monocular cues are used constantly and subconsciously to sense depth.