Top-down processing is defined as the development of pattern recognition through the use of contextual information.
At the time, the chief steward hadnât yet learned of the Titanicâs fate, so he wasnât even on the lookout for icebergs. He simply spotted a streak of red paint along the icebergâs base, which most likely meant a ship had collided with it in the last 12 hours.
1 The time interval from first sighting of the iceberg to impact was a little over 30 seconds. 2  The Titanic sank 2 hours and 40 minutes after hitting the iceberg.  It probably took Titanic about 15 minutes to sink to her final resting place on the ocean floor.