Abstract
This study aims at examining the relationship between visual changing phenomenon and the distance cognition using cognition experiment in computer simulation environment, based on J.J.Gibson's spatial perception theory. By examining the cognition situation of 26 subjects, it showed that there were possibilities that people might cognize a distance that could not be identified directly by observing the visual changing phenomenon generated from body moving. It is also noticed that the cognition situation was affected significantly by the subjects' criteria used in distance cognition process. There are totally five kinds of cognition criteria which can be seen in this experiment when classifying by their characteristics. “Relative sinking amount” criteria, “Relative sinking speed” criteria,” Stepping analysis” criteria, “Multiple observing elements” criteria, “Direct perception” criteria. There are significant effects which could be seen in the cognition results by different criteria, especially in longer distance. For the accuracy of the cognition distance, “direct perception” criteria could be the most effective one in the cognition of longer distance.
