http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions/ Comments on Ask MetaFilter post What is the name of the flickering light used to create visual illusions? Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:37:38 -0800 Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:37:38 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions What is the name of the flickering light used to create visual illusions? <br /><br /> There is a kind of optical illusion caused by watching light flickering at the correct frequencies with eyes closed. IIRC the inventor initially discovered it walking down a tree covered path with eyes closed. Something that appears to be what I am thinking of appears prominantly in the music video for "papercuts" by Broadcast.<br> Thanks in advance. post:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802 Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:29:42 -0800 scodger illusion light flickering broadcast http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#526939 A <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strobe_light">strobe light</a>? comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-526939 Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:37:38 -0800 knave http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#526940 strobe? comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-526940 Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:37:40 -0800 zadcat http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#526948 With your eyes closed? I've never heard of anything like that. A strobe light can flicker extremely quickly, and was invented to research moving objects, basically being used as a camera flash for high-speed photography comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-526948 Sun, 05 Mar 2006 23:48:37 -0800 delmoi http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#526956 No, it's not a strobe. The device consists of a cardboard tube with patterns cut out of it, rotating with a light in the centre.<br> Will post a screen cap in 30 mins or so. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-526956 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:34 -0800 scodger http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#526961 Ok, DVD was easier to find than i thought. Try <a href="http://intelligent-evolution.org/crud/broadcast.jpg">here</a>. The cardboard cover is rotating reasonably quickly in the video. Sorry for the crap initial description. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-526961 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:09:58 -0800 scodger http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#526962 <a href="http://www.legendsmagazine.net/105/brion.htm">dream machine</a>? comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-526962 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:11:53 -0800 juv3nal http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#526965 That's exactly it. I had remembered something a little less &quot;new age&quot; if you will, but it is definitely what I was meaning. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-526965 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:19:47 -0800 scodger http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#527218 I don't get it. How can you see anything with your eyes closed? comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-527218 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 09:15:27 -0800 Rash http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#527291 Rash: Your eyelids aren't completely opaque. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-527291 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 10:38:59 -0800 mendel http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#527392 Sure -- but one could hardly &quot;see&quot; an image like that scodger's jpeg with eyes shut. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-527392 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 11:28:03 -0800 Rash http://ask.metafilter.com/33802/What-is-the-name-of-the-flickering-light-used-to-create-visual-illusions#527440 Zoetrope? comment:ask.metafilter.com,2008:site.33802-527440 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:08:13 -0800 catkins