Exampls of EMBEDDED FIGURE GROUND TASKS
in the VISUAL MODALITY

(Please allow a minute for the Demo's to load.)

Example #1-- FIND TOM CRUISE and DOLLY PARTON. In this picture, you need to try and pick out the silhouettes of two persons in ballet tights.




Answer--You are right, of course, I lied. But, college professors can do that. That's how we get promoted. Yes, there was no one in there. But did you notice how the blocks seemed to swirl around? Of course, they weren't really, but as our visual perceptual system automatically struggles to estabish some bases on which to create a figure-ground structure, the image seems to change before our very eyes.
Next
Example
Please

























Example #2-- Overlapping rectangles. At the top are two overlapping triangles. Can you tell which figures in the bottom row contain this configuration?


Answer.--It's the one on the right. That wasn't too difficult, although it probably wasn't an instant find like it would have been if all the other lines were not there. The next one will be a little harder I think


Next
Example
Please

Example #3-- An embedded six sided figure. At the top is a six sided polygon. Find figures in the bottom row which contain this sextagon. You have 30 seconds to do this or the computer will self destruct!.





Answer--It probably took you longer then 30 seconds. Of course nothing happened, but for kids in school, a dose of disapproval might accompany the failure to perform on time. If you answered all of them, you were right. But it wasn't easy. You really have to look very closely at each figure. And as you do, you might be aware that you are engaged in a fairly rigorous figure ground task, deleting from your attention the lines that may not be significant in order to create the figure you seek.


Next
Example
Please

Example #4-- Here is a similar one. At the top is a diamond in a square. How fast does it take you to find which figure in the bottom row contains this figure?



Answer--Yes, it is in the right figure again. Do you notice that with even a little practice it becomes easier? Figure ground perception will improve with practice! The next embedded figure task will include a little motivation stimuli for kids.


Next
Example
Please

Example #5-- Figures hidden in a picture. This is a typical task found in books for kids in which they have to find hidden items in the context of a figure. Can you find the pickle, the pencile, the cup, thepail, the girls faced,strawberry, the bottle, or the letter "V" ?



Answer--They are there, although it takes a while and some effort to see them. Activities like this are a good figure ground practice for kids. In the next picture picture we will see a similar one that came from the daily newspaper.


Next
Example
Please

Example #6-- Figures hidden in a picture. This is a typical task found in newspapers for kids and adults in which they have to find hidden items in the context of a figure. Let's see how you do?



Answer--Its interesting how some are easy, and others pop out at you after a few minutes. When that happens be aware of how perception is a process that takes time! The next one will difintely talke a number of seconds!.


Next
Example
Please

Example #7-- Count the Unicorns. This would be easy if the lines were not intermingled. Now it really takes figure-ground discrimination, and time, to sort it all out. I have seen bulletin boards like this.



Answer--If you answered 4, ha ha we caught you! There were actually five. That was a reat teaser. So is the next one, which is also appropriate for upper elementary kids.


Next
Example
Please

Example #8-- Monsters hidden in trees. You will have to look hard to pick these out. It's hard but if you keep looking, they will begin to pop out at you as your system tinkers with the figure ground structure. Again notice how time plays a role in recognizing the monsters among the ground distractions.



Answer--For the most part the monsters are upside down and look to me like dinosaurs. In the next picture we shall see the embedded figures classic.


Next
Example
Please

Example #9-- Where's Waldo. This is fun for kids and adults and is excellent figure ground practice! There is a whole series of these book on the market.



Answer--Waldo is in the lower middle section to the left of a mud hut. He is wearing a red and white striped shirt and blue pants. I think it is humorous that these books were band by several libraries because in one book on one page, someone found a picture in which a woman was in a bathing suit with no top! I bought every volume and spent hours searching but could never find her. Darn!


Next
Example
Please

Example #10-- Hidden Message. Here is a figure ground task involving words. Granted this is a somewhat risque message that may be better hidden! Notice it will take a bit longer to read than if the message were all by itself. You'll need sharp eyes to see this.



Answer--Alright, the answer was "sharp eyes." In my sheltered existance, that was very exciting. It was pretty easy, although I imagine it took a few seconds to sort it all out. Notice how perceptual time varies with each example. I guarantee you'll go nuts with the next one.


Next
Example
Please

Example #11-- Here is another embedded figure ground task involving letters and words. These type of tasks appear everywhere. I saw one just like this yesterday on childrens Valentines cards. It is excellent figure ground practice.



Answer--If you read the peanuts in every direction you get 15 peanuts. This was the last embedded figure ground example, So we will now return to the lesson. Feel free to hit the back button the the browser or to use the scroll bar if you want to revisit any of these pictures.


Return to
lesson
here