Abstract
We assessed the contribution of binocular disparity and the pictorial cues of linear perspective, texture, and scene clutter to the perception of distance in consumer virtual reality. As additional cues are made available, distance perception is predicted to improve, as measured by a reduction in systematic bias, and an increase in precision. We assessed (1) whether space is nonlinearly distorted; (2) the degree of size constancy across changes in distance; and (3) the weighting of pictorial versus binocular cues in VR. In the first task, participants positioned two spheres so as to divide the egocentric distance to a reference stimulus (presented between 3 and 11 m) into three equal thirds. In the second and third tasks, participants set the size of a sphere, presented at the same distances and at eye-height, to match that of a hand-held football. Each task was performed in four environments varying in the available cues. We measured accuracy by identifying systematic biases in responses and precision as the standard deviation of these responses. While there was no evidence of nonlinear compression of space, participants did tend to underestimate distance linearly, but this bias was reduced with the addition of each cue. The addition of binocular cues, when rich pictorial cues were already available, reduced both the bias and variability of estimates. These results show that linear perspective and binocular cues, in particular, improve the accuracy and precision of distance estimates in virtual reality across a range of distances typical of many indoor environments.
Highlights
Identifying the distances between oneself and other objects are essential for our everyday actions; from reaching to pick up an object, to perceiving how much leeway there is before stubbing your toe on a table, or cautiously keeping a safe distance from a cliff edge
There are many visual cues to depth, and they can be broadly categorized into those that are available via a single monocular image; those that depend on the differences in the vantage points of our two eyes; those that depend on the motion of objects or the observer and physiological aspects which are guided by distance
In virtual reality (VR), perceived depth may be affected by system-related factors such as the field of view of the display or the accommodation distance required to bring this into focus
Summary
Identifying the distances between oneself and other objects are essential for our everyday actions; from reaching to pick up an object, to perceiving how much leeway there is before stubbing your toe on a table, or cautiously keeping a safe distance from a cliff edge. Cues inevitably vary in both the nature and reliability of information that they provide, and our visual system needs to take this into account in best weighing up the evidence when judging distance. The aim of this three-part study was to determine how visual cues are combined in the perception of distance in complex, naturalistic settings. Distance estimation is influenced by environmental context, the availability of depth cues, and the task for which it is used (Proffitt and Caudek 2003; Wickens 1990). In VR, perceived depth may be affected by system-related factors such as the field of view of the display or the accommodation distance required to bring this into focus
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