Object Permanence: Using Graphics and Robotics to Explore Visual Cognition

Object permanence and persistence have been explored philosophically by the likes of Plato, Locke and Leibniz; and psychologically by Piaget and others. The way in which we perceive the existence of objects over time is fundamental to how we experience the world and our place in it. Robotically-controlled sculptural works will be presented which exploit this phenomenon. The pieces employ on-screen “virtual” objects that appear to manifest in the real world, exhibiting behavior in and impacting physical space. This work will be discussed, as well as future directions to explore this space.