and so I’m going to talk to you today about colors but before I do that I want
about colors but before I do that I want
about colors but before I do that I want to get some audience participation going
to get some audience participation going
to get some audience participation going I’m going to show you some pictures and
I’m going to show you some pictures and
I’m going to show you some pictures and they’ll be an arrow pointing to an area
they’ll be an arrow pointing to an area
they’ll be an arrow pointing to an area of the picture and I just want you to
of the picture and I just want you to
of the picture and I just want you to tell me what color you can see it’s not
tell me what color you can see it’s not
tell me what color you can see it’s not a trick okay so the very first one what
a trick okay so the very first one what
a trick okay so the very first one what color is this red very good and the next
color is this red very good and the next
color is this red very good and the next one what color is this orange very good
one what color is this orange very good
one what color is this orange very good so you can see complicated scenes
so you can see complicated scenes
so you can see complicated scenes perfect and then this one what color is
perfect and then this one what color is
perfect and then this one what color is this okay sounds like blue is just
this okay sounds like blue is just
this okay sounds like blue is just edging out but for any of you who
edging out but for any of you who
edging out but for any of you who haven’t seen this before if you’re the
haven’t seen this before if you’re the
haven’t seen this before if you’re the one person in the world some people
one person in the world some people
one person in the world some people perceive this color is this dress is
perceive this color is this dress is
perceive this color is this dress is being blue and black and other people
being blue and black and other people
being blue and black and other people perceive it as being white and gold and
perceive it as being white and gold and
perceive it as being white and gold and when this picture appeared on the
when this picture appeared on the
when this picture appeared on the internet several years ago color
internet several years ago color
internet several years ago color scientists were thrilled beyond belief
scientists were thrilled beyond belief
scientists were thrilled beyond belief and because it’s a really good example
and because it’s a really good example
and because it’s a really good example of how complicated it is to see color at
of how complicated it is to see color at
of how complicated it is to see color at all you’re all getting the same sensory
all you’re all getting the same sensory
all you’re all getting the same sensory input into your eyes but what you do
input into your eyes but what you do
input into your eyes but what you do with that information afterwards it’s
with that information afterwards it’s
with that information afterwards it’s very very different and it can
very very different and it can
very very different and it can completely change the way that you see
completely change the way that you see
completely change the way that you see the world around you so color really
the world around you so color really
the world around you so color really enriches our daily experience seeing in
enriches our daily experience seeing in
enriches our daily experience seeing in color helps you individual objects so
color helps you individual objects so
color helps you individual objects so it’s much easier to find your tent in
it’s much easier to find your tent in
it’s much easier to find your tent in the field for example if you can see in
the field for example if you can see in
the field for example if you can see in color or find your car in a car park it
color or find your car in a car park it
color or find your car in a car park it also helps us work out what things are
also helps us work out what things are
also helps us work out what things are so this very suspect gray blog down
so this very suspect gray blog down
so this very suspect gray blog down there is actually a lovely piece of
there is actually a lovely piece of
there is actually a lovely piece of melon I think and it gives us
melon I think and it gives us
melon I think and it gives us information about the things we’re
information about the things we’re
information about the things we’re looking at so we can tell how ripe those
looking at so we can tell how ripe those
looking at so we can tell how ripe those strawberries are and whether or not we
strawberries are and whether or not we
strawberries are and whether or not we should eat them as well color is also
should eat them as well color is also
should eat them as well color is also incredibly salient to us so map makers
incredibly salient to us so map makers
incredibly salient to us so map makers like Helen can use it to pinpoint
like Helen can use it to pinpoint
like Helen can use it to pinpoint particular areas of interest to draw our
particular areas of interest to draw our
particular areas of interest to draw our attention in this case two nice smells
attention in this case two nice smells
attention in this case two nice smells around Brighton which is where I work
around Brighton which is where I work
around Brighton which is where I work and you often see it in things like
and you often see it in things like
and you often see it in things like underground transport maps that the does
underground transport maps that the does
underground transport maps that the does designers will use color to highlight
designers will use color to highlight
designers will use color to highlight particular routes and things like that
particular routes and things like that
particular routes and things like that but more than that color is something we
but more than that color is something we
but more than that color is something we really really like so this scene is
really really like so this scene is
really really like so this scene is not really very much to look at but
not really very much to look at but
not really very much to look at but seeing it in color we have a really
seeing it in color we have a really
seeing it in color we have a really strong affective response to it and we
strong affective response to it and we
strong affective response to it and we think of this as being aesthetically
think of this as being aesthetically
think of this as being aesthetically pleasing and something we want to look
pleasing and something we want to look
pleasing and something we want to look at and we can see color as humans
at and we can see color as humans
at and we can see color as humans because we’re trichromats and that means
because we’re trichromats and that means
because we’re trichromats and that means that we have three color receptors in
that we have three color receptors in
that we have three color receptors in our eyes you may have heard them
our eyes you may have heard them
our eyes you may have heard them colloquially as being temporarily
colloquially as being temporarily
colloquially as being temporarily forgotten a green red and blue color
forgotten a green red and blue color
forgotten a green red and blue color receptors they’re actually sensitive to
receptors they’re actually sensitive to
receptors they’re actually sensitive to specific wavelengths of light rather
specific wavelengths of light rather
specific wavelengths of light rather than specific colors and our brain takes
than specific colors and our brain takes
than specific colors and our brain takes combinations from these different
combinations from these different
combinations from these different signals to work out what exactly it’s
signals to work out what exactly it’s
signals to work out what exactly it’s looking at so it’ll say okay this thing
looking at so it’ll say okay this thing
looking at so it’ll say okay this thing is exciting my long green wavelength
is exciting my long green wavelength
is exciting my long green wavelength cone this much of my red wavelength cone
cone this much of my red wavelength cone
cone this much of my red wavelength cone this much this thing must be orange for
this much this thing must be orange for
this much this thing must be orange for example we can represent the way that we
example we can represent the way that we
example we can represent the way that we see color in these mechanisms with a
see color in these mechanisms with a
see color in these mechanisms with a diagram like this so what you see on the
diagram like this so what you see on the
diagram like this so what you see on the horizontal axis here L means long
horizontal axis here L means long
horizontal axis here L means long wavelengths of light which is reddish
wavelengths of light which is reddish
wavelengths of light which is reddish and means green wavelengths of light
and means green wavelengths of light
and means green wavelengths of light which are medium wavelengths and this
which are medium wavelengths and this
which are medium wavelengths and this kind of this combination of signals
kind of this combination of signals
kind of this combination of signals tells the brain how red or green
tells the brain how red or green
tells the brain how red or green something is and on the vertical axis s
something is and on the vertical axis s
something is and on the vertical axis s means short wavelengths of light which
means short wavelengths of light which
means short wavelengths of light which is blue wavelengths of light and so that
is blue wavelengths of light and so that
is blue wavelengths of light and so that axis tells us how blue or yellow
axis tells us how blue or yellow
axis tells us how blue or yellow something is you don’t need to remember
something is you don’t need to remember
something is you don’t need to remember all that what you basically need to know
all that what you basically need to know
all that what you basically need to know is that this diagram represents the
is that this diagram represents the
is that this diagram represents the biological mechanisms behind how we see
biological mechanisms behind how we see
biological mechanisms behind how we see color and the color is a combination of
color and the color is a combination of
color and the color is a combination of information from these signals and once
information from these signals and once
information from these signals and once this signal reaches the brain we begin
this signal reaches the brain we begin
this signal reaches the brain we begin to do very strange things with it so
to do very strange things with it so
to do very strange things with it so every day things that you don’t even
every day things that you don’t even
every day things that you don’t even think about so some of you probably have
think about so some of you probably have
think about so some of you probably have a favorite color and that’s really weird
a favorite color and that’s really weird
a favorite color and that’s really weird having a favorite wavelength of light is
having a favorite wavelength of light is
having a favorite wavelength of light is bizarre no matter how you look at it we
bizarre no matter how you look at it we
bizarre no matter how you look at it we do stuff like we see color illusions as
do stuff like we see color illusions as
do stuff like we see color illusions as well like the dress for example but
well like the dress for example but
well like the dress for example but something incredibly everyday day that
something incredibly everyday day that
something incredibly everyday day that we do is that we talk about color so
we do is that we talk about color so
we do is that we talk about color so color is a continuum when you look at
color is a continuum when you look at
color is a continuum when you look at the circle there’s no obvious place that
the circle there’s no obvious place that
the circle there’s no obvious place that you’d say okay well I’m going to put
you’d say okay well I’m going to put
you’d say okay well I’m going to put this in one group and I’m going to put
this in one group and I’m going to put
this in one group and I’m going to put that in another group there’s no obvious
that in another group there’s no obvious
that in another group there’s no obvious place to make these categories we can
place to make these categories we can
place to make these categories we can discriminate millions of colors but we
discriminate millions of colors but we
discriminate millions of colors but we have a limited number of categories that
have a limited number of categories that
have a limited number of categories that we put these colors into so for example
we put these colors into so for example
we put these colors into so for example all of these shades more or less
all of these shades more or less
all of these shades more or less depending on what project you’re looking
depending on what project you’re looking
depending on what project you’re looking at them you will greet them together
at them you will greet them together
at them you will greet them together say these things are all the same they
say these things are all the same they
say these things are all the same they are green and the exact word you use in
are green and the exact word you use in
are green and the exact word you use in your language might be slightly
your language might be slightly
your language might be slightly different but you get the idea you kind
different but you get the idea you kind
different but you get the idea you kind of put them all together in one group
of put them all together in one group
of put them all together in one group and in English this is roughly how we
and in English this is roughly how we
and in English this is roughly how we would divide up the color spectrum again
would divide up the color spectrum again
would divide up the color spectrum again it’s like your depends on what project
it’s like your depends on what project
it’s like your depends on what project you’re looking at B you get the idea
you’re looking at B you get the idea
you’re looking at B you get the idea there might be some disagreement around
there might be some disagreement around
there might be some disagreement around the boundaries but this is more or less
the boundaries but this is more or less
the boundaries but this is more or less how it’s done so we have eleven basic
how it’s done so we have eleven basic
how it’s done so we have eleven basic color categories we’ve got these ones
color categories we’ve got these ones
color categories we’ve got these ones that you can see on-screen and then we
that you can see on-screen and then we
that you can see on-screen and then we also have black white and grey and some
also have black white and grey and some
also have black white and grey and some people suggest that by categorizing we
people suggest that by categorizing we
people suggest that by categorizing we then change the way that we see the
then change the way that we see the
then change the way that we see the world
world
world it can change our perception of what’s
it can change our perception of what’s
it can change our perception of what’s going on around us and we’re going to
going on around us and we’re going to
going on around us and we’re going to illustrate that for you now
illustrate that for you now
illustrate that for you now so I’m going to show you a screen of
so I’m going to show you a screen of
so I’m going to show you a screen of dots and one of the movie and odwin out
dots and one of the movie and odwin out
dots and one of the movie and odwin out and I just want you to look for the odd
and I just want you to look for the odd
and I just want you to look for the odd one out it’s the first one has everyone
one out it’s the first one has everyone
one out it’s the first one has everyone seen it yes okay just good and this one
seen it yes okay just good and this one
seen it yes okay just good and this one can everyone see this one as well very
can everyone see this one as well very
can everyone see this one as well very good and then this one where’s the odd
good and then this one where’s the odd
good and then this one where’s the odd one out here so I I can’t see it which
one out here so I I can’t see it which
one out here so I I can’t see it which is a bit worried but it’s it’s that one
is a bit worried but it’s it’s that one
is a bit worried but it’s it’s that one just the top right corner it’s very
just the top right corner it’s very
just the top right corner it’s very slightly different so when things are
slightly different so when things are
slightly different so when things are within category they’re harder to spot
within category they’re harder to spot
within category they’re harder to spot it will take you a longer time to find
it will take you a longer time to find
it will take you a longer time to find it because perceptually the difference
it because perceptually the difference
it because perceptually the difference between colors become smaller compared
between colors become smaller compared
between colors become smaller compared to if I showed you a blue dot and a
to if I showed you a blue dot and a
to if I showed you a blue dot and a grade in a green surround the perceptual
grade in a green surround the perceptual
grade in a green surround the perceptual difference will seem much much larger
difference will seem much much larger
difference will seem much much larger just because it’s a different category
just because it’s a different category
just because it’s a different category so it’s possible that the way you
so it’s possible that the way you
so it’s possible that the way you categorize colors can influence the way
categorize colors can influence the way
categorize colors can influence the way you see colors in the world around you
you see colors in the world around you
you see colors in the world around you but that’s just the beginning of it
but that’s just the beginning of it
but that’s just the beginning of it because I was slightly misleading
because I was slightly misleading
because I was slightly misleading earlier when I said we put all of these
earlier when I said we put all of these
earlier when I said we put all of these in the same group because there are some
in the same group because there are some
in the same group because there are some languages that would say these colors
languages that would say these colors
languages that would say these colors are not all the same they’re not all
are not all the same they’re not all
are not all the same they’re not all green so the himbo who are ascending the
green so the himbo who are ascending the
green so the himbo who are ascending the magic group who live in northern Namibia
magic group who live in northern Namibia
magic group who live in northern Namibia would see three color groups here they
would see three color groups here they
would see three color groups here they would call this light colored ambu this
would call this light colored ambu this
would call this light colored ambu this mid dark green zhuzi and then this mid
mid dark green zhuzi and then this mid
mid dark green zhuzi and then this mid green very and they would also put in
green very and they would also put in
green very and they would also put in this borough category a color that we
this borough category a color that we
this borough category a color that we would call blue something completely
would call blue something completely
would call blue something completely different and some researchers suggest
different and some researchers suggest
different and some researchers suggest that this would mean on that task where
that this would mean on that task where
that this would mean on that task where you’re looking for the odd green out
you’re looking for the odd green out
you’re looking for the odd green out they would be a little bit faster by a
they would be a little bit faster by a
they would be a little bit faster by a matter of milliseconds but faster and in
matter of milliseconds but faster and in
matter of milliseconds but faster and in the one way you see the blue dot in the
the one way you see the blue dot in the
the one way you see the blue dot in the green surround they’d be very slightly
green surround they’d be very slightly
green surround they’d be very slightly slower than us to find it because it’s
slower than us to find it because it’s
slower than us to find it because it’s in a different category that binding is
in a different category that binding is
in a different category that binding is actually a little bit controversial is
actually a little bit controversial is
actually a little bit controversial is something that researchers are still
something that researchers are still
something that researchers are still looking at at the moment but it’s a very
looking at at the moment but it’s a very
looking at at the moment but it’s a very interesting idea that the way you talk
interesting idea that the way you talk
interesting idea that the way you talk about the world might change the way you
about the world might change the way you
about the world might change the way you see it so this is how the himbo divide
see it so this is how the himbo divide
see it so this is how the himbo divide up the color spectrum so they have five
up the color spectrum so they have five
up the color spectrum so they have five color groups and they’re one of many
color groups and they’re one of many
color groups and they’re one of many languages which have a really big grew
languages which have a really big grew
languages which have a really big grew category so rather than a green and a
category so rather than a green and a
category so rather than a green and a blue category they have one large
blue category they have one large
blue category they have one large category in the middle and so we have
category in the middle and so we have
category in the middle and so we have this data from something called the
this data from something called the
this data from something called the world color survey which was the survey
world color survey which was the survey
world color survey which was the survey of a hundred and ten languages where
of a hundred and ten languages where
of a hundred and ten languages where they went round and they showed little
they went round and they showed little
they went round and they showed little patches of color and they asked what
patches of color and they asked what
patches of color and they asked what color is this and they got people to
color is this and they got people to
color is this and they got people to categorize them and they found that it
categorize them and they found that it
categorize them and they found that it looked on the surface of it like
looked on the surface of it like
looked on the surface of it like different languages are talking about
different languages are talking about
different languages are talking about color completely differently so you can
color completely differently so you can
color completely differently so you can have languages they’ve got five color
have languages they’ve got five color
have languages they’ve got five color terms six color terms seven kind of
terms six color terms seven kind of
terms six color terms seven kind of terms and so on and so on and actually
terms and so on and so on and actually
terms and so on and so on and actually although it looks like what’s happening
although it looks like what’s happening
although it looks like what’s happening is totally arbitrary if you take all
is totally arbitrary if you take all
is totally arbitrary if you take all these languages to and average them
these languages to and average them
these languages to and average them together you see consistent patterns so
together you see consistent patterns so
together you see consistent patterns so if you know a language has six color
if you know a language has six color
if you know a language has six color terms for example you can more or less
terms for example you can more or less
terms for example you can more or less guess how they might divide up the color
guess how they might divide up the color
guess how they might divide up the color spectrum so this suggests that there’s
spectrum so this suggests that there’s
spectrum so this suggests that there’s something underlying the way we talk
something underlying the way we talk
something underlying the way we talk about color that we haven’t even
about color that we haven’t even
about color that we haven’t even realized is going on and there’s more
realized is going on and there’s more
realized is going on and there’s more evidence about this from the people that
evidence about this from the people that
evidence about this from the people that I spend most of my day with who were
I spend most of my day with who were
I spend most of my day with who were babies so I work at the Sussex baby lab
babies so I work at the Sussex baby lab
babies so I work at the Sussex baby lab at the University of Sussex and I spend
at the University of Sussex and I spend
at the University of Sussex and I spend a lot of time with people who are below
a lot of time with people who are below
a lot of time with people who are below six months old and babies are a really
six months old and babies are a really
six months old and babies are a really really good way of finding out how we
really good way of finding out how we
really good way of finding out how we come prepackaged into the world and how
come prepackaged into the world and how
come prepackaged into the world and how we learn to understand the things around
we learn to understand the things around
we learn to understand the things around us and it can go a great way to
us and it can go a great way to
us and it can go a great way to explaining how I’d why adults that the
explaining how I’d why adults that the
explaining how I’d why adults that the way they do they’re also really fun to
way they do they’re also really fun to
way they do they’re also really fun to work with on a day-to-day basis much
work with on a day-to-day basis much
work with on a day-to-day basis much more interesting than anyone else
more interesting than anyone else
more interesting than anyone else so interestingly contrary to popular
so interestingly contrary to popular
so interestingly contrary to popular belief babies can’t babies can see in
belief babies can’t babies can see in
belief babies can’t babies can see in color a lot of people think that babies
color a lot of people think that babies
color a lot of people think that babies can only see in black and white this
can only see in black and white this
can only see in black and white this isn’t true they can see in some color
isn’t true they can see in some color
isn’t true they can see in some color from birth and then by the time they’re
from birth and then by the time they’re
from birth and then by the time they’re between 3 & 4 months old their color
between 3 & 4 months old their color
between 3 & 4 months old their color mechanisms like the ones that I showed
mechanisms like the ones that I showed
mechanisms like the ones that I showed you in the diagram earlier a roughly
you in the diagram earlier a roughly
you in the diagram earlier a roughly equivalent to those of adults is just
equivalent to those of adults is just
equivalent to those of adults is just like the saturation dial has been turned
like the saturation dial has been turned
like the saturation dial has been turned down a little bit on the world and even
down a little bit on the world and even
down a little bit on the world and even though they don’t have any language they
though they don’t have any language they
though they don’t have any language they also categorize color and they seem to
also categorize color and they seem to
also categorize color and they seem to do it in a quite a similar way to adults
do it in a quite a similar way to adults
do it in a quite a similar way to adults and when why the leader of my lab and
and when why the leader of my lab and
and when why the leader of my lab and the Franklin told me about this I
the Franklin told me about this I
the Franklin told me about this I thought this is kind of amazing the idea
thought this is kind of amazing the idea
thought this is kind of amazing the idea that you could categorize colors without
that you could categorize colors without
that you could categorize colors without having any language seemed utterly
having any language seemed utterly
having any language seemed utterly bizarre and a little bit mind-blowing
bizarre and a little bit mind-blowing
bizarre and a little bit mind-blowing but exactly how they did it was a little
but exactly how they did it was a little
but exactly how they did it was a little bit unclear and we wanted to better
bit unclear and we wanted to better
bit unclear and we wanted to better understand well where do babies make
understand well where do babies make
understand well where do babies make their kind of categories and what are
their kind of categories and what are
their kind of categories and what are they doing it with if they don’t know
they doing it with if they don’t know
they doing it with if they don’t know any words so that’s what we wanted to
any words so that’s what we wanted to
any words so that’s what we wanted to find out when I tell people I work with
find out when I tell people I work with
find out when I tell people I work with babies they’re often a little bit
babies they’re often a little bit
babies they’re often a little bit surprised that you can find out anything
surprised that you can find out anything
surprised that you can find out anything at all about what a baby is thinking but
at all about what a baby is thinking but
at all about what a baby is thinking but one thing that babies do do all the time
one thing that babies do do all the time
one thing that babies do do all the time is they look at stuff and the way they
is they look at stuff and the way they
is they look at stuff and the way they look at stuff is actually very
look at stuff is actually very
look at stuff is actually very predictable so if you show them a face
predictable so if you show them a face
predictable so if you show them a face for example paired with a geometric
for example paired with a geometric
for example paired with a geometric figure they would always rather look at
figure they would always rather look at
figure they would always rather look at the face and whatever else you’re
the face and whatever else you’re
the face and whatever else you’re showing them so we can use looking time
showing them so we can use looking time
showing them so we can use looking time measures to tell us more about what a
measures to tell us more about what a
measures to tell us more about what a baby is thinking and one of those
baby is thinking and one of those
baby is thinking and one of those methods we use is called a novelty
methods we use is called a novelty
methods we use is called a novelty preference and this is based on the idea
preference and this is based on the idea
preference and this is based on the idea that babies would rather look at
that babies would rather look at
that babies would rather look at something new than over them something
something new than over them something
something new than over them something they’ve seen loads of times before so if
they’ve seen loads of times before so if
they’ve seen loads of times before so if for example I showed a baby this cat
for example I showed a baby this cat
for example I showed a baby this cat over and over again and then I showed
over and over again and then I showed
over and over again and then I showed them this other cat they can tell it’s a
them this other cat they can tell it’s a
them this other cat they can tell it’s a different cat but they just don’t care
different cat but they just don’t care
different cat but they just don’t care they just don’t they don’t want to know
they just don’t they don’t want to know
they just don’t they don’t want to know because they’ve already seen loads of
because they’ve already seen loads of
because they’ve already seen loads of cats it’s very boring compared to if I
cats it’s very boring compared to if I
cats it’s very boring compared to if I show them this cat again
show them this cat again
show them this cat again and I pair it with this incredibly happy
and I pair it with this incredibly happy
and I pair it with this incredibly happy dog they’re gonna look for a longer at
dog they’re gonna look for a longer at
dog they’re gonna look for a longer at this dog because not only is it
this dog because not only is it
this dog because not only is it physically different it’s also
physically different it’s also
physically different it’s also conceptually different to them and so
conceptually different to them and so
conceptually different to them and so that’s what we do with colors we show
that’s what we do with colors we show
that’s what we do with colors we show babies one color over and over again and
babies one color over and over again and
babies one color over and over again and then we pair it with a new color the
then we pair it with a new color the
then we pair it with a new color the next one along in the spectrum and we
next one along in the spectrum and we
next one along in the spectrum and we look to see do they look longer at this
look to see do they look longer at this
look to see do they look longer at this new color than at the old color they’re
new color than at the old color they’re
new color than at the old color they’re already familiar with so this is what it
already familiar with so this is what it
already familiar with so this is what it looks like in my testing booth it’s very
looks like in my testing booth it’s very
looks like in my testing booth it’s very retro looking but it works
retro looking but it works
retro looking but it works my supervisor optimist because a baby
my supervisor optimist because a baby
my supervisor optimist because a baby cinema but it only ever shows the same
cinema but it only ever shows the same
cinema but it only ever shows the same thing and not that many babies like it
thing and not that many babies like it
thing and not that many babies like it and see the baby see the color and then
and see the baby see the color and then
and see the baby see the color and then there’s that little circle in the middle
there’s that little circle in the middle
there’s that little circle in the middle where the researchers who were me and a
where the researchers who were me and a
where the researchers who were me and a researcher called Gemma Catchpole can
researcher called Gemma Catchpole can
researcher called Gemma Catchpole can sit behind and watch how long babies are
sit behind and watch how long babies are
sit behind and watch how long babies are looking at colors and there’s a little
looking at colors and there’s a little
looking at colors and there’s a little monitor in the middle that plays little
monitor in the middle that plays little
monitor in the middle that plays little cartoons to keep babies on board in in
cartoons to keep babies on board in in
cartoons to keep babies on board in in developmental science we expect about a
developmental science we expect about a
developmental science we expect about a quarter of our participants to not want
quarter of our participants to not want
quarter of our participants to not want to do it at all and so I tested several
to do it at all and so I tested several
to do it at all and so I tested several hundreds of babies and then there’s kind
hundreds of babies and then there’s kind
hundreds of babies and then there’s kind of an extra quarter he just said no and
of an extra quarter he just said no and
of an extra quarter he just said no and a lot of people say to me oh isn’t that
a lot of people say to me oh isn’t that
a lot of people say to me oh isn’t that really hard and if your participant just
really hard and if your participant just
really hard and if your participant just starts crying and I quite like it
starts crying and I quite like it
starts crying and I quite like it because at least you know they’re just
because at least you know they’re just
because at least you know they’re just not going to do it it’s quite useful and
not going to do it it’s quite useful and
not going to do it it’s quite useful and so I have a little example of what it
so I have a little example of what it
so I have a little example of what it looks like for a baby doing the test and
looks like for a baby doing the test and
looks like for a baby doing the test and but basically what you can see is that
but basically what you can see is that
but basically what you can see is that babies do really clearly look at things
babies do really clearly look at things
babies do really clearly look at things so the colors come in two shots and the
so the colors come in two shots and the
so the colors come in two shots and the baby just isn’t passively kind of
baby just isn’t passively kind of
baby just isn’t passively kind of rolling around it does properly look at
rolling around it does properly look at
rolling around it does properly look at the things it wants to know what it is
the things it wants to know what it is
the things it wants to know what it is babies are constantly trying to under
babies are constantly trying to under
babies are constantly trying to under understand their their environment
understand their their environment
understand their their environment they’re constantly taking statistics in
they’re constantly taking statistics in
they’re constantly taking statistics in the world that they can see and babies
the world that they can see and babies
the world that they can see and babies have a little bit of a bad rep of being
have a little bit of a bad rep of being
have a little bit of a bad rep of being a little bit hopeless in a lot of ways
a little bit hopeless in a lot of ways
a little bit hopeless in a lot of ways but you learn more in the first few
but you learn more in the first few
but you learn more in the first few years of your life than you do in the
years of your life than you do in the
years of your life than you do in the rest of your life so I think we should
rest of your life so I think we should
rest of your life so I think we should probably cut them a little bit of slack
probably cut them a little bit of slack
probably cut them a little bit of slack so I showed several hundreds of babies
so I showed several hundreds of babies
so I showed several hundreds of babies and colors and this is what my colours
and colors and this is what my colours
and colors and this is what my colours look like in that diagram I showed you
look like in that diagram I showed you
look like in that diagram I showed you earlier
earlier
earlier so this basically shows you the the way
so this basically shows you the the way
so this basically shows you the the way that my colors work in relation to the
that my colors work in relation to the
that my colors work in relation to the biological mechanisms of color vision in
biological mechanisms of color vision in
biological mechanisms of color vision in case you wanted to know and if we look
case you wanted to know and if we look
case you wanted to know and if we look at how babies group them together they
at how babies group them together they
at how babies group them together they group them like this so babies have got
group them like this so babies have got
group them like this so babies have got five color groups that we would call
five color groups that we would call
five color groups that we would call blue green yellow red and purple and
blue green yellow red and purple and
blue green yellow red and purple and what’s really interesting about this is
what’s really interesting about this is
what’s really interesting about this is that the underlying mechanisms of colour
that the underlying mechanisms of colour
that the underlying mechanisms of colour of color vision provide a natural fold
of color vision provide a natural fold
of color vision provide a natural fold line for babies to divide up their
line for babies to divide up their
line for babies to divide up their colour categories so when you don’t have
colour categories so when you don’t have
colour categories so when you don’t have language you rely on low level sensory
language you rely on low level sensory
language you rely on low level sensory input in order to make sense of the
input in order to make sense of the
input in order to make sense of the world around you but as well as that
world around you but as well as that
world around you but as well as that when we compared the way that our baby’s
when we compared the way that our baby’s
when we compared the way that our baby’s cat
cat
cat your eyes color to the way that adults
your eyes color to the way that adults
your eyes color to the way that adults speak about Keller we find that the
speak about Keller we find that the
speak about Keller we find that the places were babies of making their
places were babies of making their
places were babies of making their category boundaries to the point where
category boundaries to the point where
category boundaries to the point where they’re saying this belongs to a
they’re saying this belongs to a
they’re saying this belongs to a different group to something else
different group to something else
different group to something else coincide to where adults do it so it
coincide to where adults do it so it
coincide to where adults do it so it looks like we’re all working from the
looks like we’re all working from the
looks like we’re all working from the same low-level template that we then use
same low-level template that we then use
same low-level template that we then use as we learn language and culture we
as we learn language and culture we
as we learn language and culture we build upon so if you are in a language
build upon so if you are in a language
build upon so if you are in a language that doesn’t make a categorical
that doesn’t make a categorical
that doesn’t make a categorical distinction between green and blue for
distinction between green and blue for
distinction between green and blue for example then you’ll just learn to not do
example then you’ll just learn to not do
example then you’ll just learn to not do that as well even though you’ve got a
that as well even though you’ve got a
that as well even though you’ve got a bias to do that when you’re very very
bias to do that when you’re very very
bias to do that when you’re very very young because color talking about color
young because color talking about color
young because color talking about color is after all about communication it’s
is after all about communication it’s
is after all about communication it’s all about explaining to other people
all about explaining to other people
all about explaining to other people what’s going on in your world around you
what’s going on in your world around you
what’s going on in your world around you and how to make sense of it so the next
and how to make sense of it so the next
and how to make sense of it so the next things that researchers would like to do
things that researchers would like to do
things that researchers would like to do would be to properly understand well how
would be to properly understand well how
would be to properly understand well how does learning language interact with
does learning language interact with
does learning language interact with with the way you talk about Keller and
with the way you talk about Keller and
with the way you talk about Keller and how does it change the way that you see
how does it change the way that you see
how does it change the way that you see the world is that the case that these
the world is that the case that these
the world is that the case that these babies who are younger see the world in
babies who are younger see the world in
babies who are younger see the world in a different way – they do as they start
a different way – they do as they start
a different way – they do as they start to learn language and also we’d
to learn language and also we’d
to learn language and also we’d obviously we’ve only tested babies who
obviously we’ve only tested babies who
obviously we’ve only tested babies who live in Brighton obviously it’d be very
live in Brighton obviously it’d be very
live in Brighton obviously it’d be very good to test babies from around the
good to test babies from around the
good to test babies from around the world and lots of different cultures to
world and lots of different cultures to
world and lots of different cultures to make sure that it is the case that is
make sure that it is the case that is
make sure that it is the case that is these low level sensory biases that a
these low level sensory biases that a
these low level sensory biases that a dividing of the world for us but what
dividing of the world for us but what
dividing of the world for us but what about for you so I realized this is a
about for you so I realized this is a
about for you so I realized this is a lot of information that I’ve just told
lot of information that I’ve just told
lot of information that I’ve just told you about the way we talk about Keller
you about the way we talk about Keller
you about the way we talk about Keller and I have to kind of main take-home
and I have to kind of main take-home
and I have to kind of main take-home messages for you so one of them is that
messages for you so one of them is that
messages for you so one of them is that color is is more than just a pretty
color is is more than just a pretty
color is is more than just a pretty thing that we find aesthetically
thing that we find aesthetically
thing that we find aesthetically pleasing the way that you see color is
pleasing the way that you see color is
pleasing the way that you see color is shaped by your environment around you by
shaped by your environment around you by
shaped by your environment around you by the language that you learn and by your
the language that you learn and by your
the language that you learn and by your experiences of the world but also babies
experiences of the world but also babies
experiences of the world but also babies are not as bad as you think they are
are not as bad as you think they are
are not as bad as you think they are because a lot of people think that
because a lot of people think that
because a lot of people think that babies are really really hopeless and
babies are really really hopeless and
babies are really really hopeless and they can actually tell us a great deal
they can actually tell us a great deal
they can actually tell us a great deal about our world and how we see the world
about our world and how we see the world
about our world and how we see the world that we do so they’re better than we
that we do so they’re better than we
that we do so they’re better than we give them credit for essentially thank
give them credit for essentially thank
give them credit for essentially thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment