Optic Arrays and Celestial Spheres

Abstract

The optic array concept is especially useful for thinking about binocular stereopsis, because the information for stereopsis arises precisely because we have two spatially separated vantage points (due to our spatially separated eyes) and hence the two optic arrays at those vantage points are different. Celestial sphere is a framework which coordinates system for describing eye movements. The optic array differences are logically prior, since, if there were no optic array differences, there could be no retinal disparities. Moreover, when the eye of a visual system is placed at a particular vantage point, it can be said to sample the optic array by making the appropriate eye (or head) movements. As a consequence, the characteristics of images on the celestial sphere are not precisely the same as the characteristics of retinal images. However, the optic array and celestial sphere are both defined in terms of spherical coordinates and both use the device of projecting or, intercepting the visual rays onto a surrounding spherical surface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)