Obstacles Affect Perceptions of Egocentric Distances in Virtual Environments

Daisuke Mine,Kazuhiko Yokosawa,Sakurako Kimoto

doi:10.3389/frvir.2021.726114

Abstract

Distance perception in humans can be affected by oculomotor and optical cues and a person’s action capability in a given environment, known as action-specific effects. For example, a previous study has demonstrated that egocentric distance estimation to a target is affected by the width of a transparent barrier placed in the intermediate space between a participant and a target. However, the characteristics of a barrier’s width that affect distance perception remain unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether visual and tactile inputs and actions related to a barrier affect distance estimation to a target behind the barrier. The results confirmed previous studies by demonstrating that visual and tactile presentations of the barrier’s width affected distance estimation to the target. However, this effect of the barrier’s width was not observed when the barrier was touchable but invisible nor when the barrier was visible but penetrable. These findings indicate the complexity of action-specific effects and the difficulty of identifying necessary information for inducing these effects.

Highlights

We assume that our perception of the environment is precise and wholly dependent on visual inputs, including oculomotor and optical cues
We focused on the effect of action imagination on distance perception when people imagined an action with the lowest costs under a given situation
We investigated tactile feedback on obstacles and related action imagery on action-specific effects

Summary

Introduction

We assume that our perception of the environment is precise and wholly dependent on visual inputs, including oculomotor and optical cues. Witt et al (2005) showed that participants estimated a target as being close when holding a hand-held tool than not holding one These studies suggest that the perception of geometrical properties of space is determined by visual inputs and by the energy costs of activities in that space. Several other studies have provided evidence of similar action-specific effects on distance perception (see Creem-Regehr and Kunz, 2010; Philbeck and Witt, 2015, for a review). These studies have used a variety of experimental paradigms and manipulated constraints or extensions of intended actions, including the effort needed for action (Witt et al, 2011; Kirsch et al, 2012), weight on the body (Lessard et al, 2009), and tool-use

Methods

Results

Conclusion