The biological retina as a feature computer
Desktop (Keyboard Shortcuts): Move the mouse and press [S] to place a rock, [F] for a leaf, [P] to slide the snake at cursor height, and [Space] to clear the pond.
Mobile / Click: Click or tap on the pond to spawn a fly, or use the buttons in the menu.
🪰 Fly: Recognized by the Net Convexity Detector (small, dark, fast). Triggers Taddeo's ballistic tongue strike.
🍃 Leaf: Triggers the Moving Edge Detector, but not the Bug Detector (too large/slow for an attack).
🪨 Rock: Once stationary on the bottom, Stationary Background Suppression erases it from retinal vision.
🐍 Snake: Triggers the Net Dimming Detector (sudden drop in light and large silhouette), causing Taddeo to dive underwater.
Based on research by J. Lettvin, H. Maturana, W. McCulloch, and W. Pitts (MIT, 1959).
Curated by Prof. Davide Riboli (Academy of Fine Arts "M. Sironi" of Sassari).