The “10,000 Bowls of Oatmeal Problem” describes when an algorithm can produce many artifacts that can be completely unique but aren’t necessarily perceived as different. Hence, Compton argues that if 10,000 bowls of oatmeal were generated and each oat was mathematically unique, the user might not perceive the oats as different.
When generating hundred or thousands of artifacts that vary slightly, creating perceptual uniqueness is difficult. Perceptual uniqueness is when an artifact has a distinct personality and is memorable amongst the other artifacts. Compton uses the example of a main character versus another face in the crowd.
On the other hand, when creating landscapes or environments, perceptual differentiation is useful. Perceptual differential is when a user can spot a difference at a glance but the artifacts aren’t particularly memorable.
Artists could utilize perceptual differential and create environments while perceptual uniqueness can be explored through other means and techniques.