Saleeta Qadir, a brilliant Artificial Intelligence student at the University of Erlangen in Germany, has earned a place among the top 10 finalists in the prestigious international “Best Illusion of the Year” competition. Her groundbreaking project titled ‘Static Spin’ is an ingenious optical illusion that creates the perception of motion in a motionless image, captivating both the scientific community and general viewers.
Organized annually by the Neural Correlate Society, the competition celebrates innovation in visual perception and challenges participants from around the world to create illusions that highlight how the human brain interprets sensory information. Now in its 20th year, the contest draws entries from leading researchers, designers, and students across the globe.
Saleeta’s illusion features a ballerina whose outlines continuously shift between black and white, creating the illusion that she is spinning, even though the figure itself remains perfectly still. The illusion cleverly manipulates the brain’s visual processing, forcing viewers to question what they are actually seeing. It was designed as part of a project in her Master’s program in Artificial Intelligence, combining advanced computer graphics, mathematical modeling, and creative design.
‘Her work is not only technically impressive but also deeply artistic. It’s a perfect example of how science and creativity intersect,’ said Professor Bernhard Egger, who supervised the project. ‘She has done an outstanding job. Everyone who watches the video experiences the illusion. It’s absolutely fascinating.’
Saleeta’s innovation builds on a 2D concept from the 1990s, which she transformed into an immersive 3D experience. In a commitment to open science, she also released the source code for her illusion, allowing others to recreate the effect with their own images.
Competing alongside top entries from countries including Japan, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Serbia, and the Czech Republic, Saleeta is not only representing her university but also flying the flag for Pakistan’s emerging talent in AI, visual computing, and cognitive science. Voting for the competition is open to the public on the official website, and she is a strong contender for a top-three finish.
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