"Wk. 2: Research Techniques in Human Factors and Perception; psychophysical techniques, method of limits, method of constant stimuli, method of adjustment, signal detection, the ROC curve."

 

            The signs of detection are everywhere-- 

            in acronyms like Morse Code dahs and dits 

            made letters themselves signals to detect, 

            like R.O.C., not meaning  

            bird (very large, mythical and cinematic-- 

 

                  When it raised its beak 

                  larger than my most majestic leap 

                  across a playground swamp, 

                  it clashed its feathers, 

                  struck sparks off the most casual pinions, 

                  grew a turkey-buzzard neck 

                  as it emerged from behind piled stones, 

                  shouldering its way through gritty winds 

                  and grainy moving pictures, just as real 

                  as research, just as tame as science.) 

 

            I'm into it, I'd say. I'm just glad 

            to say so from right here. I'm sure the sound  

            of talons curved and slipping through bloody meat  

            is not much like my daughters' friends' smacking gum  

            as the study of war and language proceeds. Some  

            is signal to all. But we can't count it, or on it.