Use and Misuse of Linear Perspective in the Perceptual Reconstruction of 3-D Perspective View Displays

Abstract

Despite the increasing prevalence of three-dimensional (3-D) perspective views of scenes, there remain a number of concerns about their utility, particularly for precise relative position tasks. Here, we empirically measure and then mathematically model the perceptual biases found in participants' perceptual reconstruction of perspective views. Participants reconstructed the length of 10 test posts scattered across a 3-D scene to match the physical length of a reference post. The test posts were all oriented in the X, Y or Z cardinal directions of 3-D space. Four viewing angles from 90 degrees (“2-D”) down to 22.5 degrees (“3-D”) were used. Matches systematically underestimated the compression of distances into the scene (Y) and systematically overestimated the compression of height (Z). A simple computational model is developed to account for the results that posits that linear perspective (that only operates in X) is inappropriately used to scale matching lengths in all three dimensions of space. The model suggests a novel account of the systematic underestimation of egocentric distances in the real world.

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