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Last Updated: Wednesday, 10 June 2015 22:23

Written by Dr. Donald H. Mershon

Summary: Percepts (or descriptions) of relative distance – such as farther or twice as far – may be considered as "nonscalar." All they tell us about is a relationship. Percepts or descriptions that use behaviorally meaningful measures (e.g., 2 feet, a mile, close enough to reach without moving) are all "scalar" in nature. They tell us something about our own location with respect to the object; how we can/cannot interact with the object. Although experiences of the three-dimensional environment almost always include a sense of scale, it is important that we understand which factors provide the basis for experiencing such scalar qualities. Many of the traditional cues for depth cannot, by themselves, do so. 

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