Interesting visual test

[ursangnome]

So, here's a test:

Go to this link, and watch the movie (requires Java). Count how many times the people in white pass the basketball. Do not count the passes made by the folks in black.

Do not read the comments to this post until after you've done that.

Comments

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Inattention blindness test, I presume?

[umbran.livejournal.com]

Wow, you're quick.

Don't know it by that name - actually, it is more attention blindness. Since your attention is on one thing, you miss the other.

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

It's part of the research that people cite about cell phone use while driving.

I wonder if it relates to the study in PeopleWare first edition, about listening to music and attention while coding.

Did you see the gorilla?

[umbran.livejournal.com]

Now, read this article (http://www.isegoria.net/2004/07/telegraph-connected-did-you-see.htm).

No matter what you folks here claim to see, about half of test subjects don't notice that someone in a gorilla suit wanders in, beats their chest, and wanders out.

I, personally, only caught the gorilla when it stopped and beat its chest. In gaming terms, I only barely made my perception check. This answers the question, "How did I miss the beholder coming into the room during the fight?"

Re: Did you see the gorilla?

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw the gorilla. I also answered before I looked at any of the other answers.

Re: Did you see the gorilla?

[jducoeur]

Okay, that is *seriously* funny, and fascinating. Yes -- I completely missed it until I went back and re-watched...

[wcg.livejournal.com]

14 passes total, including both chest passes and bounce passes.

Interesting guy in a gorilla suit.

[laurion]

Yup. I match both the count and noticed the gorilla as he walked on stage. I think I was triggered by the fact that something new entered the scene. Part of me then watched as he came to the middle, did his thing, exited left.

I also wonder if this sort of awareness is a trainable skill, say, by certain styles of videogames, or good driving instructors.

[citabria]

Yup, same for me.

It was hard not to start chuckling about the gorilla and lose count of the passes, knowing that that was the whole point of the thing.

[calygrey.livejournal.com]

11 passes.

I was very vaguely aware of someone in black walking into the scene, but not of him being a gorilla, beating his chest or of walking out.

I watched it a second time, to pay closer attention and make sure I counted correctly - didn't see the gorilla At ALL!