Representational Thickness: A Quantitative Comparison between Physical, CAVE and Panorama Environments

Abstract

This study compares aspects of spatial perception in a physical environment and its virtual representations in a CAVE and Panorama. To measure accuracy of spatial perception, users were asked to look at identical objects in the three environments and then locate them and identify their shape on scaled drawings. Results were then statistically compared for differences. In a discussion of the results, the paper addresses three hypothetical assertions – that depth perception in physical reality and its virtual representations in CAVE and Panorama are quantifiably different; that differences are attributable to prior contextual experience of the viewer; and that design professionals and laypeople have different perceptions of what they see in VR. In conclusion, the concept of ‘representational thickness’ is suggested by the results.