42: Seeing in 3D
Tuesday, Full Day, 8:30 am - 5 pm
a cube on its corner. What is the shape of a horizontal
cross-section taken at half the height of this object?"
About four percent of human beings can reason about 3D
space well enough to answer this question easily and confidently.
For most of us, 3D problems lead to confusion or even
panic. This course offers a series of exercises for thinking
in 3D. The result: attendees can develop 3D thinking skills
Familiarity with some basic geometric ideas, such as "two
planes meet in a straight line." No serious math
Why we don't think in 3D. Optical illusions. Principles
and examples of 3D thinking. Problems that are simpler
in 3D. Applications: road safety. The consequences of
University of Otago