Spatial Discrimination in Three-Dimensional Displays as a Function of Computer Graphics Eyepoint Elevation and Stereoscopic Viewing

Abstract

In this study we investigate the effects of computer graphics eyepoint elevation, display type (perspective vs. stereoscopic), and location of computer-generated images within a particular quadrant on the accuracy of spatial judgments. Twelve volunteer participants judged the azimuth and elevation separation between two computer-generated cubes using different computer graphics eyepoint elevation angles and either a stereoscopic or perspective display. The results indicated that eyepoint elevations between 15|dG and 45|dG led to the best overall performance for judgments of both elevation and azimuth. Whereas an eyepoint elevation of -15|dG resulted in significantly degraded judgments in azimuth because of depth compression, an eyepoint elevation of 75|dG resulted in significantly degraded judgments in elevation because of vertical compression. Furthermore, when objects were located in the quadrant closest to the computer graphics eyepoint, significant degradation in elevation judgments were observed because of vertical compression. In addition, the data indicated that stereoscopic viewing did not enhance performance over perspective displays because the monocular depth cues in the scene were effective in aiding participants in their performance of the spatial tasks. We discuss the implications of the results for display design.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alluisi, E. A. (1961). Lineal inclination in encoding information symbolically on cathode ray tubes and similar displays (Tech. Report AF33(616)-6166). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Armstrong Laboratory, Human Engineering Division.

Barfield, W. (1997). Effect of computer graphics enhancements on spatial performance using perspective displays. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Barfield, W. , & Hendrix, C. (1995). The effect of update rate on the sense of presence within virtual environments. Virtual Reality: Research, Development, and Application, 1, 3–17.

Barfield, W. , Lim, R. , & Rosenberg, C. (1990). Visual enhancements and geometric field of view as factors in the design of a three-dimensional perspective display. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 34th Annual Meeting (pp. 1470–1473). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Barfield, W. , & Rosenberg, C. (1995). Judgments of azimuth and elevation as a function of monoscopic and binocular depth cues using a perspective display. Human Factors, 37, 173–181.

Buffett, A. R. (1980). The visual perception of depth using electro-optical display systems. Displays, 2, 39–45.

Ellis, S. R. (Ed.). (1991). Pictorial communication in virtual and real environments. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Ellis, S. R. , & Hacisalihzade, S. S. (1990). Symbolic enhancement of perspective displays. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 34th Annual Meeting (pp. 1465–1469). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Ellis, S. R. , McGreevy, M. W. , & Hitchcock, R. J. (1984). Influence of a perspective cockpit traffic display format on pilot avoidance maneuvers. In Proceedings of the AGARD Aerospace Medical Panel Symposium on Human Factors Considerations in High Performance Aircraft (pp. 16-1–16-9). Neuilly-sur-Seine, France: Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development.

10.

Ellis, S. , Tharp, G. , Grunwald, A. , & Smith, S. (1991). Exocentric judgments in real environments and stereoscopic displays. In Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 35th Annual Meeting (pp. 1442–1446). Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

11.

Gregory, R. L. (1977). Eye and brain. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

12.

Hendrix, C. , & Barfield, W. (1994). Compression and geometric field of view as factors in the design of perspective displays. In 5th European Symposium on Space Environmental Control Systems (pp. 1–8, Paper no. 941441). Friedrichshafer, Germany: Society of Automotive Engineers.

13.

Hendrix, C. , & Barfield, W. (1995). Relationship between monocular and binocular depth cues for judgments of spatial information and spatial instrument design. Displays, Technology and Applications, 16, 103–113.

14.

Keene, G. C. (1963). The effect on response codes on the accuracy of making absolute judgments of linear inclination. Journal of General Psychology, 69, 37–50.

15.

Kim, W. S. , Ellis, S. R. , Tyler, M. E. , Hannaford, B. , & Stark, L. W. (1987). Quantitative evaluation of perspective and stereoscopic displays in three-axis manual tracking tasks. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 17, 61–71.

16.

McGreevy, M. W. , & Ellis, S. R. (1986). The effect of perspective geometry on judged spatial information instruments. Human Factors, 28, 439–456.

17.

Reese, E. P. (1953). Psychophysical research summary report (Tech. Report 131-1-5, pp. 1946–1952). South Hadley, MA: Mount Holyoke College, Psychophysical Research Unit, USN Special Development Center.

18.

Rock, I. (1983). The logic of perception. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

19.

Rosenberg, C. , & Barfield, W. (1995). Estimation of spatial distortion as a function of geometric parameters of perspective. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, 25, 1323–1333.

20.

Smith, J. D. , Ellis, S. R. , & Lee, E. C. (1984). Perceived threat and avoidance maneuvers response to cockpit traffic displays. Human Factors, 26, 33–48.

21.

Tharp, G. K. , & Ellis, S. R. (1990). Modeling changes in errors of perceived direction in perspective displays (NASA Tech. Memorandum 102792). Moffett Field, CA: NASA Ames Research Center.

22.

Wickens, C. D. , Todd, S. , & Seidler, K. (1989). Three dimensional displays: Perception, implementation, and applications (CSERIAC State-of-the-Art Report 89-01). Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH: Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.

23.

Winer, B. J. (1971). Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw-Hill.

24.

Yeh, Y. , & Silverstein, L. D. (1992). Spatial judgments with monoscopic and stereoscopic presentation of perspective displays. Human Factors, 34, 583–600.