Discussion Topics

Chapter 2: The Human Geographic Information System

• Why is it important to examine the human processing of spatial information?

• Why is there a splitting of image and descriptor data?

• Why would there be both functional and structural similarities between the human and computer GIS?

• What are the structural similarities between the human and computer GIS?

• What are the differences between the two and why do they exist?

• Give an example of how spatial information is encoded without attention or conscious awareness?

• Why is spatial information so easily grasped by humans and so difficult to input into the computer?

• What are the shortcomings of the stage model as regards to pattern recognition?

• Describe a possible use of the VSSP?

• What is the association between STVS and LTVM?"

• How is LTVM used in pattern recognition?

• Do you think that LTVM is permanent?

• Describe the propositional encoding of spatial information?

• Do you think that propositional encoding is plausible?

• How is Marr's theory of multiple representations similar to map construction?

• Do mental images exist?

• Why does imagery help in remembering?

• What is the significance of Kosslyn's image scaling experiment with the rabbit, elephant and fly?

• How is imagery used in thinking?

• Is the use of imagery ignored in our more linguistically-based culture?

• How does the use of mental imagery and linguistic symbolism relate to how information is processed in GIS? Provide an example.

• How does Gibson's theory relate to motion perception?

• What evidence is there for the idea that motion processing is done in a different part of the brain than the processing of images?

• In what sense does cartographic communication occur even while the map is not in view?