Visual Thinking Research

 For my first puzzle I chose the over lapping circles. I attempted to solve it through the understanding that all the missing pieces were the same size. I then calculated how many missing pieces there were from each individual circle. From this (as seen below on the right side of the note pad) I found that by completing the circles and then realizing that there are constant areas missing I could simply calculate by addition the number similar areas.
    My friend attempted to calculate the areas by addition as well by finding a ratio for the amount missing in each circle and adding them together. This however did not prove to be conclusive.
B- 6
G- 6
Y- 5
R- 7

 For my second puzzle I choose a problem that involved circles that overlap however are different lengths. I completed the puzzle by dividing the circle into 4ths. Sense it appears that the circles change direction every quarter turn this seemed fitting. I found that by adding the number of quarter turns were in each line I could find the correct answer. In other words I would complete each piece of the line as a circle (gestalt) then subtracted the remaining segments that.
    As for my friend he attempted to find the answer by simply looking at the circles to find the correct answer. As a result he chose the Green Line. I believe this to be true because it is the most isolated of the lines. While the other strings move and take up the a fair distance the green remains in the lower left hand corner.

Results.

    The Blue and green circles for #1
&
    The Red String for #2

Top-Down Visual Processing

    Top down Visual Processing in this design for the movie Dirty Harry works as a challenge to the reviver of the visual image. First the eyes scans the darkest and most contrasted object. Here it is the object shaped as a gun. Soon after however, your eyes may catch a glimpse of what appears to be a graphic element of a eye and eyebrow. This is where your cognitive elements begin to take place. Upon seeing the eye your eye will scan downward along the right outline of the gun to see that perhaps there is a secondary element to the poster. The image of Clint Eastwood's profile begins to take form as the brain fills in the excluded elements of the face. The gun now turns into the negative space of the main character of the film.
    This duality of imagery in this reinterpretation of the poster for Dirty Harry presents a challenge for the viewer to complete. Upon first scan the object appears as a gun. As the eye tracks other elements of the picture a graphic brow and eye catch and the second object hidden in negative space, the face of Clint Eastwood.