LIMIT (Absolute) discrimination
Charles François (2004). LIMIT (Absolute) discrimination, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 1915.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1915 ▶ |
| Object type | Epistemology, ontology or semantics |
The impossibility to differentiate sounds, colors, brightness and generally any percept under some minimum value.
According to K. KRIPPENDORFF, there is “…an information processing limit for absolute judgements by humans of about 3 bits” (1986, p.45).
Under this limit, confusion and errors increase rapidly. Discrimination limits are an important constraint in the construction of models.
It seems however that, through adequate training, discrimination limits can be somewhat extended. Examples are the use of 1/9th of tones in Indian music, or the enhanced color shades discrimination capacity of trained painters.
See also
Perception (Physiological limits to)