Serguei Endrikhovski

Creating a comfortable stereoscopic viewing experience: effects of viewing distance and field of view on fusional range

In stereoscopic display systems, there is always a balance between creating a “wow factor,” using large horizontal disparities, and providing a comfortable viewing environment for the user. In this paper, we explore the range of horizontal disparities, which can be fused by a human observer, as a function of the viewing distance and the field of view of the display. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the performance of human observers in a stereoscopic viewing environment. The viewing distance was varied in the first study using a CRT with shutter glasses. The second study employed a large field-of-view display with infinity focus, and the simulated field of view was varied. The recorded responses included fusion/no fusion, fusion time, and degree of convergence. The results show that viewing distance has a small impact on the angular fusional range. In contrast, the field of view has a much stronger impact on the angular fusional range. A link between the degree of convergence and the fusional range is demonstrated. This link suggests that the capability of the human observer to perform eye vergence movements to achieve stereoscopic fusion may be the limiting factor in fusing large horizontal disparities presented in stereoscopic displays.

33.1: Invited Paper: Image Quality is FUN: Reflections on Fidelity, Usefulness and Naturalness

Differences in perceived naturalness and image quality have led to an information-processing approach towards understanding image quality, thus challenging the traditional, signal-processing approach. This paper presents a general image quality model integrating both approaches. The model assumes the existence of three constraints, i.e. fidelity, usefulness and naturalness. Image quality is modeled as the weighted sum of these constraints whereby the weighting depends on task, context, image content etc. Model predictions will be confronted with experimental data on optimizing color reproductions of natural scenes.

Predicting individual fusional range from optometric data

A model was developed to predict the range of disparities that can be fused by an individual user from optometric measurements. This model uses parameters, such as dissociated phoria and fusional reserves, to calculate an individual user’s fusional range (i.e., the disparities that can be fused on stereoscopic displays) when the user views a stereoscopic stimulus from various distances. This model is validated by comparing its output with data from a study in which the individual fusional range of a group of users was quantified while they viewed a stereoscopic display from distances of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 meters. Overall, the model provides good data predictions for the majority of the subjects and can be generalized for other viewing conditions. The model may, therefore, be used within a customized stereoscopic system, which would render stereoscopic information in a way that accounts for the individual differences in fusional range. Because the comfort of an individual user also depends on the user’s ability to fuse stereo images, such a system may, consequently, improve the comfort level and viewing experience for people with different stereoscopic fusional capabilities.