Virtual Reality Technology for the Visual Perception Study

Abstract

Lately the virtual reality (VR) techniques were applied successfully to investigate 3D visual perception. In our study the effects of 2D vs. 3D displays on lightness perception was assessed using the CAVE system. In current models of lightness perception it has been suggested that 2D visual cues in a scene play a crucial role in lightness estimations. In some studies the role of depth cues was investigated, but the results were contradictory. In our study the effect of 2D vs. 3D displays of the simultaneous lightness contrast (SLC) illusion on its strength was investigated. Namely the articulation effect was studied for 2D vs. 3D displays of the SLC illusion. Three modified configurations of 2D SLC articulated displays were constructed having a) depth cues for test squares and b) depth cues for background squares. For all configurations test squares were equally moved out of their backgrounds. The background squares consisted of different objects: 2D patches for the first configuration, 3D cubes or 3D balls for the other configurations. The number of objects in any configuration remained constant. Twenty five observers were tested. They were asked to estimate the illusion strength for 2D and three 3D versions of the SLC illusion. The method of constant stimuli was used. The results showed that the illusion strength decreased for all 3D displays relative to the 2D displays of the SLC illusion. There were no significant differences in illusion strength between three modified versions of the SLC displays with 3D backgrounds. The results allowed introducing the modified articulation rule for 3D complex scenes.