Ron Rensink, "Visual Perception" - Information Esthetics Lecture Series June 30, 2005

Information Esthetics Lecture Series
http://informationesthetics.org/

Ron Rensink ? Visual perception
Dr. Rensink is one of the world?s experts on ?Change Blindness? a feature of the human visual system that allows major changes to happen unnoticed right in front of one?s eyes, allowing (among other things) magic performances to work. He studies human perception, discovering and sharing principles useful in design.

http://www.psych.ubc.ca/~rensink

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Making data meaningful?this phrase could describe what dozens of professions strive for: Wall Street systems designers, fine artists, advertising creatives, computer interface researchers, and many others. Occasionally something important happens in these practices: a data representation is created that reveals the subject?s nature with such clarity and grace that it both informs and moves the viewer. We both understand and care. This is the focus of Information Esthetics.

Information Esthetics, a recently formed not-for-profit organization, has put together a lecture series dedicated to helping this happen more often. World leaders in seven different aspects of sense-making have been invited to speak on topics from typography to visual perception, from charting to electro-mechanical engineering. The goal: to help expose the beauty experts see in their databases, better engaging their whole minds in interpretation; to help inspire art that?s not just decorated with data but makes the data readable, satisfying viewers? minds as much as their eyes and hearts.

The format of the talks lets us explore more deeply than a typical panel or academic paper presentation. Each speaker will talk for a full hour, we?ll break for a half hour of fine spirits and snacks, then sit down again for an interview/chat led by series organizer and interaction designer W. Bradford Paley. The intent throughout is to delve into the implications these profound ideas have for human communication in general?but also to share some simple techniques that people can immediately put to use in their own projects.

The lectures will take place Thursday evenings in the Chelsea Art Museum at 556 West 22nd street in Manhattan. They are free with the discounted $3 museum admission