3D Shape
Its Unique Place in Visual Perception

A new account of how we perceive the 3D shapes of objects and how to design machines that can see shapes the way we do.

Pizlo argues that once shape is understood to be unique among visual attributes and the perceptual mechanisms underlying shape are seen to be different from other perceptual mechanisms, the research on shape becomes coherent and experimental findings no longer seem to contradict each other. A single theory of shape perception is thus possible, and Pizlo offers a theoretical treatment that explains how a three-dimensional shape percept is produced from a two-dimensional retinal image, assuming only that the image has been organized into two-dimensional shapes. Pizlo focuses on discussion of the main concepts, telling the story of shape without interruption. Appendixes provide the basic mathematical and computational information necessary for a technical understanding of the argument. References point the way to more in-depth reading in geometry and computational vision. Zygmunt Pizlo is Professor of Psychological Sciences and Electrical and Computer Engineering (by courtesy) at Purdue University.