Shape recognition and center of mass: How educational background in engineering and art design affects aesthetic and stability evaluation towards a self-supporting shape object

摘要

It has been well discussed about the visual estimation of physical stability and center of mass. However, it remained unclearhow people’s knowledge of engineering and art & design affects that estimation. To address this question, we tested aesthetic andstability evaluation towards inclined triangle shapes for different educational background people in engineering and art & design. Theresults showed that people more preferred objects that appear stable, however, art and design students tended to emphasize the beautyof unstable objects. In the stability evaluation, people estimated stability of objects based on the visual information of center of massand its estimation affected by educational background and geometric-optical illusion. Engineering students severely evaluatedinstability of objects and art and design students have a flexible mind; they evaluate similar trends to engineering people for stimulithat appear unstable, however, for stimuli that appear stable, they evaluate similar trends to general students.