Light field imaging technology for virtual reality content creation: A review

Abstract

AbstractThe light field (LF) imaging technique can capture 3D scene information in 4D by recording both 2D intensity and 2D direction of incoming light rays. Due to this capability, LF has shown a great interest in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) for enhanced immersion, improved depth perception and reconstruction of realistic 3D environments. This paper presents a comprehensive review of LF imaging technology and other approaches used for VR content creation. The applications of LF technology beyond VR and AR are also discussed. The challenges and limitations of other approaches for VR content creation are examined. State‐of‐the‐art research has focused on how VR experiences benefit from LF technology and identified the challenges to creating comfortable, immersive and realistic VR content such as (1) image size and resolution, (2) processing speed, (3) precise calibration and (4) depth reconstruction. Recommendations that can be considered for creating immersive VR content are provided to enhance user experience. These recommendations aim to contribute to developing more comfortable and realistic VR content, extending the potential applications of LF imaging technology in diverse fields.