JOSEPH PLATEAU Meaning and
Definition
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Joseph Plateau (1801-1883) was a Belgian physicist, mathematician, and inventor, most prominently known for his significant contributions to the study of perception and the development of early motion picture devices. Plateau's studies and experiments primarily focused on optical illusions, particularly those involving motion and the persistence of vision.
In the field of perception, Plateau conducted extensive research on how human eyes perceive motion. His observations led to the formulation of the phenomenological concept known as the "persistence of vision," which suggests that our eyes retain an image for a fraction of a second after it disappears from sight. This principle laid the foundation for the invention and advancement of moving pictures.
Plateau also manufactured various devices to demonstrate the persistence of vision. His most notable creation was the Phenakistiscope, invented in 1832, which was an early form of animation device. It consisted of a spinning disk with a sequence of pictures or drawings placed along its circumference. When viewed through a series of equally spaced slits while the disk spun, the images appeared to move, creating the illusion of animation.
Overall, Joseph Plateau's invaluable contributions to the fields of perception and motion picture technology earned him recognition as a pioneer in early visual media. His work laid the groundwork for the subsequent development of cinema and other forms of moving image projection.
