Persistence of vision is the visual effect that makes rapidly changing images appear continuous. It is not a separate feature of a screen; it is how human perception blends brief light changes into a single scene. POV displays, rotating LED devices, and other motion-based interfaces depend on this effect to draw shapes, text, or images without a conventional pixel grid.
In cyber security, this matters because attackers and defenders both work around human perception. A malicious actor can use flashing signs, animated overlays, or rapidly changing code to mislead a viewer, hide details from a casual glance, or create a different result for cameras than for people. Defenders also need to account for it when designing visual alerts, access indicators, or covert status signals, since timing and viewing angle affect what users actually notice. Understanding persistence of vision helps explain why some visual tricks are effective and why security-critical displays should not rely on perception alone.