Visual Enhancements and Geometric Field of View as Factors in the Design of a Three-Dimensional Perspective Display

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of providing visual enhancements to a three-dimensional (3D) perspective display on the observers ability to judge the azimuth and elevation which separated two computer-generated images. The 3D perspective scenes were modeled after displays presented previously by McGreevy and Ellis (1986) but with several visual enhancements designed to assist users in performance of the experiment tasks. The visual enhancements included: (1) the capability to rotate the perspective scenes in near real-time and, (2) the presentation of solid shaded objects in the computer-generated scenes. The results provide information on the magnitude of the errors which occur when observers are required to make directional judgements using perspective displays and on the effectiveness of several visual enhancements on the accuracy of directional judgements using a 3D perspective display.