# look (visual)

the process of perceiving a visual entity from a position with directional orientation

- Computed level: L15 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: emergence  ·  Arena: definition

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [see](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-see.visual), [points](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-points.location), [orientation](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-orientation.spatial), [entities](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-entities.object), [location](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-location.spatial), [process](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-process.general), [visual](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-visual.perceptual), [position](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-position.spatial)

**Through:** when a location with directional orientation enables perception of a visual entity, seeing occurs

**Novel properties:**
- directed visual access
- position-based perception
- spatial observational stance

## Examples
- The Hubble Space Telescope locks its gaze on distant galaxies by precisely aligning its position and orientation in orbit. *(astronomy)*
- A sentry at the Pentagon entrance scans the approach road, facing north with binoculars trained on vehicle movements. *(military)*
- A self-driving car's camera system detects a pedestrian stepping off the curb by orienting its sensors toward the crosswalk. *(robotics)*

## Used by
- [browse](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-browse.visual) (L16)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-look.visual*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-look.visual.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*