Gestalt psychology (also Gestalt theory of the Berlin School) is a theory of mind and brain that proposes that the operational principle of the brain is holistic, parallel, and analog, with self-organizing tendencies. The classic Gestalt example is a soap bubble, whose spherical shape (its Gestalt) is not defined by a rigid template, or a mathematical formula, but rather it emerges spontaneously by the parallel action of surface tension acting at all points in the surface simultaneously. This is in contrast to the "atomistic" principle of operation of the digital computer, where every computation is broken down into a sequence of simple steps, each of which is computed independently of the problem as a whole. The Gestalt effect refers to the form-forming capability of our senses, particularly with respect to the visual recognition of figures and whole forms instead of just a collection of simple lines and curves.

Emergence

The key properties of Gestalt systems are emergence, reification, multistability, and invariance.

Emergence is demonstrated by the perception of the Dog Picture, which depicts a Dalmatian dog sniffing the ground in the shade of overhanging trees. The dog is not recognized by first identifying its parts (feet, ears, nose, tail, etc.), and then inferring the dog from those component parts. Instead, the dog is perceived as a whole, all at once.

Reification

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UC Davis News: General Interest

Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science Opens
Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Fittingly surrounded by olive trees and an edible garden, hundreds of dignitaries, visitors and members of the university community gathered today to celebrate the grand opening of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at the University of California, Davis. The new 129,600-square-foot complex of three academic buildings, visible from Interstate 80, houses UC Davis' departments of Viticulture and Enology, and Food Science and Technology, as well as the administrative offices for the institute. "How truly great it is that we are able to celebrate the Robert Mondavi Institute's grand opening as part of UC Davis' centennial celebration," said UC Davis Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef. "It is especially fitting because, with the grand opening of this institute, we are also celebrating two of UC Davis' historical strengths." Vanderhoef noted that the University of California played an important role in founding and fueling California's $45 billion a year wine industry and has made significant contributions to the production and processing of California's foods. The grand opening ceremony was held in the institute's expansive courtyard, landscaped as a demonstration garden that includes olive and citrus trees, vegetables, and herbs. The courtyard faces west toward a 12-acre teaching vineyard, which will be planted with grapevines this winter. Special guest for the grand opening was Margrit Biever Mondavi, wife of the late Robert Mondavi. In 2001, Mondavi, a legendary California winemaker, gave $25 million to establish the wine and food science institute within UC Davis' College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The Mondavis also gave an additional $10 million to help launch the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, which opened in 2002 and is now a regional performing arts landmark. Robert Mondavi died May 16 at his Napa Valley home at the age of 94. "It was really Margrit and Bob who, going back 20 years, first talked about the continuum of wine, food and the arts and the importance of understanding the connections in that continuum," Vanderhoef said. "We're sad that Bob Mondavi isn't here with us today to share in this moment, but honored by the presence of Margrit and other members of the Mondavi family whose longstanding friendship is treasured by UC Davis." Also participating in the grand opening were Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa Valley; University of California Interim Provost Robert Grey; Neal Van Alfen, dean of UC Davis' College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; and Robert Mondavi's children, Tim Mondavi and Marcia Mondavi Borger. Emcee for the event was Clare M. Hasler, executive director of the Robert Mondavi Institute. During the ceremony, Rep. Thompson, whose 1st Congressional District encompasses both UC Davis and the Napa Valley, presented Margrit Mondavi with a congressional resolution honoring Robert Mondavi. Ceremonial groundbreaking After ribbons were cut, signifying the official grand opening of the new complex, the audience turned its attention to the arrival of the Budweiser Clydesdales. The 8-horse hitch, pulling a beer wagon, signaled the beginning of a groundbreaking ceremony for the institute's second building phase, which will include design and construction of two connected, one-story buildings totaling 32,000 square feet. One of the buildings will house the small-scale Teaching and Research Winery, and the other will be home to the Anheuser-Busch Brewing and Food Science Laboratory, which will include a brewery and pilot food-processing plant. Construction of the buildings, estimated to cost $16.5 million, is slated to begin in June 2009 with completion anticipated in July 2010. "We are deeply grateful to the more than 150 individuals, alumni, corporate friends and foundations who have contributed to the $16.5 million goal for this phase of construction," said Dean Neal Van Alfen. He noted that the buildings have been designed to meet or exceed environmental specifications necessary for the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED-NC Gold Certification. Ceremonially turning the soil with a giant-sized fork, corkscrew and bottle opener during the groundbreaking were Doug Muhleman, group vice president of brewing operations and technology at Anheuser-Busch Inc. and a UC Davis alumnus; Charles Bamforth, chair of the Department of Food Science and Technology and the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences; Tim Mondavi and Marcia Mondavi Borger; Andrew Waterhouse, chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology and the John E. Kinsella Endowed Chair in Food, Nutrition and Health; Adrianna Gozza, a third-generation winemaker and graduate student in the Department of Viticulture and Enology; and Natasha Stephens, an undergraduate student in the Department of Food Science and Technology. Following the groundbreaking, all of the ceremony attendees were invited to tour the new facilities; participate in beer, wine and olive oil tastings; and attend presentations by UC Davis alumnus, chef and television personality Martin Yan, as well as by UC Davis faculty members Ann Noble and Charles Bamforth. Building background Design and construction of the two phases of the Robert Mondavi Institute complex are estimated to cost a total of $93.5 million. This includes $73 million for the first phase, $16.5 million for design and construction of the second phase, and $4 million for utilities for the second phase. Funding for both phases includes $36.2 million from the state of California; $20.8 million from UC Davis; and $36.5 million in philanthropic support from private companies, foundations and individuals. Among the top private donors were Robert Mondavi and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation. The design and construction team for phase one of the institute included the architectural firm of Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership (ZGF) of Portland. Collaborating on the landscape design for the new complex were design partner Robert Frasca, Laurie Olin of the Olin Partnership and Walker/Macy Associates of Portland. The construction team included Flintco Construction Services of Tulsa, Okla.; Frank Riley; Brian Stevenson; and Craig Smart. Selected to design, build and landscape the phase-two buildings are BNB NorCal of San Mateo and Flad Architects of San Francisco; along with Gayner Engineers, Therma, Red Top Electric, KPW Structural Engineers, Creegan+D'Angelo Civil Engineers and HLA Landscape Architects. About UC Davis For 100 years, UC Davis has engaged in teaching, research and public service that matter to California and transform the world. Located close to the state capital, UC Davis has 31,000 students, an annual research budget that exceeds $500 million, a comprehensive health system and 13 specialized research centers. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges -- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science -- and advanced degrees from five professional schools: Education, Law, Management, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine. The UC Davis School of Medicine and UC Davis Medical Center are located on the Sacramento campus near downtown.
Symposium to Explore Economic Impact of Patent Reform
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Top patent law experts will explore the probable effects of patent law reform on innovation and the economy during a daylong symposium at the UC Davis School of Law. The symposium, titled "The Perfect Storm of Patent Reform?," will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, on the UC Davis campus. All panel discussions will be free and open to the public; the luncheon will be $15 for students and $25 for others. To reserve a seat, register by Oct. 29 at http://www.law.ucdavis.edu/events/fenwickwest/PerfectStormProgram.shtml. Speakers will outline patent law developments under way in Congress, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the courts, and examine potential effects of proposed reforms on both small companies that use patent protection to attract investment and large companies concerned with inappropriate or frivolous assertions of patent rights. Panelists will include: Barbara Caulfield, partner, Dewey & LeBeouf, East Palo Alto Colleen Chien, assistant professor of law, Santa Clara University Mark Lemley, professor of law, Stanford University Doug Luftman, associate general counsel, intellectual property, Palm Inc., Sunnyvale Chip Lutton, chief patent counsel, Apple Inc. Robert Merges, professor of law and technology, UC Berkeley Paul R. Michel, chief judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Lynn Pasahow, partner, Fenwick & West Sanjay Prasad, head, enterprise software licensing, Intellectual Ventures Jerry Selinger, partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP and former director, American Intellectual Property Law Association Andrew Serafini, partner, Fenwick & West Jay Thomas, professor of law, Georgetown University Stratton Sclavos, former CEO, VeriSign Inc., Mountain View (luncheon keynote speaker) "The Perfect Storm of Patent Reform?" is the first in a five-year Technology, Entrepreneurship, Science and Law lecture series co-sponsored by the UC Davis School of Law and Fenwick & West, a law firm serving technology and life sciences clients through offices in Mountain View, San Francisco, Seattle and Boise.
UC Davis Improves Handling of 9-1-1 Calls From Cells
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Emergency help is closer for many cell phone users who make a 9-1-1 call on the University of California, Davis, campus. Cell sites around the Davis campus will now route wireless 9-1-1 calls to the public safety dispatch center at UC Davis, instead of to the California Highway Patrol. The new system -- for those using wireless service providers Verizon, AT&T, Nextel and T-Mobile -- is designed to get emergency police, fire or medical assistance to callers sooner. The wireless 9-1-1 service is among other recent steps to enhance safety, security and emergency response at UC Davis. At one time, most cell phones were mounted in vehicles, so 9-1-1 calls from cell phones throughout California were routed to the CHP's regional call centers -- sometimes miles away -- and callers could experience long delays before their call was answered and help directed to them. "Many students and other members of our campus community use cell phones," said Annette Spicuzza, chief of the UC Davis Police Department, which is responsible for the university's public safety dispatch center. "With this wireless 9-1-1 system, we can better get emergency help to them when they're on campus." The university police department worked with CHP and wireless phone carriers so that wireless 9-1-1 calls are routed according to the cell site receiving and transmitting the signal, and local cell site antennas are directed toward the campus dispatch center. Calls from sites that are aimed at state patrolled highways and roadways are still routed to the California Highway Patrol. Service providers Wireless service providers that have been tested and work with the UC Davis dispatch center are: Verizon, AT&T, Nextel and T-Mobile. Cellular customers who do not have these providers should program (530) 752-1230 into their cell phone and use it for emergency calls on the Davis campus. Wireless call routing has proved effective, Spicuzza said, and many municipalities already have the capability. The city of Davis implemented its wireless 9-1-1 system about a year ago. The university has its own full-service police and fire departments and has a comprehensive emergency management program. The dispatch center at the police department is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by certified public safety dispatchers. It manages police and fire communications for the Davis campus. To learn more about the 9-1-1 wireless program, call the UC Davis Police Department at (530) 752-1727. About UC Davis For 100 years, UC Davis has engaged in teaching, research and public service that matter to California and transform the world. Located close to the state capital, UC Davis has 31,000 students, an annual research budget that exceeds $500 million, a comprehensive health system and 13 specialized research centers. The university offers interdisciplinary graduate study and more than 100 undergraduate majors in four colleges -- Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, and Letters and Science -- and advanced degrees from five professional schools -- Education, Law, Management, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine.

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