Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
7
↓
When you imagine things that are far away, are they "Smaller" (self.Blind)
submitted by Ryestar
Hi there everyone, I hope this is a fair place to ask this question, if not, my apologies.
For those of you who are blind: If you imagine two people, one close to you and one far away, do you imagine them as being the same size? Or is the one that you imagine far away smaller?
For sighted people, most people report imagining the individual who is far away as smaller, but this is potentially because it reflects visual perspective in which the actual light reflecting off a distant object hits fewer photo-receptive cells in the retina.
Thanks!
For those of you who are blind: If you imagine two people, one close to you and one far away, do you imagine them as being the same size? Or is the one that you imagine far away smaller?
For sighted people, most people report imagining the individual who is far away as smaller, but this is potentially because it reflects visual perspective in which the actual light reflecting off a distant object hits fewer photo-receptive cells in the retina.
Thanks!
LPStorytime 6 points 4y ago
If you are asking someone who has been blind since birth, then distance is a concept of travelling to something and not visualising it’s visual representation.
Someone born with vision and then blinded would understand the concept of visualising an object or person at a distance. Plus, some people can still see some light.
Some legally blind would see the person at a distance, but their brain would only register it as a person from its shape, size or movement; as there is not enough detail at distance.
Someone visually impaired would have some detail, but not enough to give a description of a person. They would be able to judge the distance.
I hope that helps to answer, as I’m not entirely sure what you are asking. If you need reference to my vision, I am legally blind.
Someone born with vision and then blinded would understand the concept of visualising an object or person at a distance. Plus, some people can still see some light.
Some legally blind would see the person at a distance, but their brain would only register it as a person from its shape, size or movement; as there is not enough detail at distance.
Someone visually impaired would have some detail, but not enough to give a description of a person. They would be able to judge the distance.
I hope that helps to answer, as I’m not entirely sure what you are asking. If you need reference to my vision, I am legally blind.
Ryestar [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks! This was helpful.
So, as someone who is legally blind, when you perform this task, what is your subjective experience of the size of the two items?
So, as someone who is legally blind, when you perform this task, what is your subjective experience of the size of the two items?
retrolental_morose 4 points 4y ago
As someone who has never had vision, I understand how things further away can "look" smaller, but I don't picture it at all. Talking with someone right in front of me or shouting at someone the other end of a football field, their size, real or apparent, doesn't enter into it.
Interestingly, I subconsciously picture higher-pitched things as smaller. If I am walking down a street and I hear 2 dogs, I will imagine the one which is higher pitched as smaller.
Interestingly, I subconsciously picture higher-pitched things as smaller. If I am walking down a street and I hear 2 dogs, I will imagine the one which is higher pitched as smaller.
Ryestar [OP] 1 points 4y ago
That's fascinating! That's actually what I predicted.
If you'd permit me a follow up question, when you experience the Doppler effect (when a police car with sirens on for example drives past you, and you hear the pitch of the sirens change) do you subjectively picture it changing size as the pitch changes?
If you'd permit me a follow up question, when you experience the Doppler effect (when a police car with sirens on for example drives past you, and you hear the pitch of the sirens change) do you subjectively picture it changing size as the pitch changes?
retrolental_morose 1 points 4y ago
I don't. Ask away, it's a fascinating thought.
LPStorytime 2 points 4y ago
I see things that are closer as larger. If something is far away it becomes too small for me to see.
For example: a coffee cup on the table in front of me is visible, while a coffee cup 20 feet away is too far for me to see. The other issue is contrast. If a white coffee mug sits against a white tile, I will not see it until I am very close, a lot of legally blind and visually impaired people need high contrast to identify items.
The other thing is that even if there is a particularly large item, I still need to be close to determine any detail. An example of this would be a car. If a car is not directly in front of me the only details I could determine would be its colour and possibly the number of wheels, providing it is light out and there is contrast.
I hope that helps to further clarify things. If you had a question about a specific situation or need me to elaborate, please let me know. Also, keep in mind that there are many different conditions that cause blindness and many produce different barriers in terms of visual perception, I answered quite generally.
For example: a coffee cup on the table in front of me is visible, while a coffee cup 20 feet away is too far for me to see. The other issue is contrast. If a white coffee mug sits against a white tile, I will not see it until I am very close, a lot of legally blind and visually impaired people need high contrast to identify items.
The other thing is that even if there is a particularly large item, I still need to be close to determine any detail. An example of this would be a car. If a car is not directly in front of me the only details I could determine would be its colour and possibly the number of wheels, providing it is light out and there is contrast.
I hope that helps to further clarify things. If you had a question about a specific situation or need me to elaborate, please let me know. Also, keep in mind that there are many different conditions that cause blindness and many produce different barriers in terms of visual perception, I answered quite generally.
Ryestar [OP] 1 points 4y ago
This absolutely helps, and I appreciate your time and thoughtfulness answering. I've been thinking about mental representations of information lately, and how experience shapes how we imagine things.
ENTJ351 2 points 4y ago
That’s actually a really interesting of a question and sort of amusing in it’s own right.
Yeah, no I think you’re talking about seeing distances or depth perception. If people haven’t actually seen then depth perception is really not something they know or even distance. It’s an interesting concept that’s for sure. I remember a bit of it because I was able to see a little when I was younger a foot or two in front of me.
Yeah, no I think you’re talking about seeing distances or depth perception. If people haven’t actually seen then depth perception is really not something they know or even distance. It’s an interesting concept that’s for sure. I remember a bit of it because I was able to see a little when I was younger a foot or two in front of me.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.