The importance of accurate convergence in addressing stereoscopic visual fatigue

Christopher A. Mayhew

doi:10.1117/12.2083472

17 March 2015 The importance of accurate convergence in addressing stereoscopic visual fatigue

Christopher A. Mayhew

Proceedings Volume 9394, Human Vision and Electronic Imaging XX; 93941A (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2083472
Event: SPIE/IS&T Electronic Imaging, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Visual fatigue (asthenopia) continues to be a problem in extended viewing of stereoscopic imagery. Poorly converged imagery may contribute to this problem. In 2013, the Author reported that in a study sample a surprisingly high number of 3D feature films released as stereoscopic Blu-rays contained obvious convergence errors.1 The placement of stereoscopic image convergence can be an “artistic” call, but upon close examination, the sampled films seemed to have simply missed their intended convergence location. This failure maybe because some stereoscopic editing tools do not have the necessary fidelity to enable a 3D editor to obtain a high degree of image alignment or set an exact point of convergence. Compounding this matter further is the fact that a large number of stereoscopic editors may not believe that pixel accurate alignment and convergence is necessary. The Author asserts that setting a pixel accurate point of convergence on an object at the start of any given stereoscopic scene will improve the viewer’s ability to fuse the left and right images quickly. The premise is that stereoscopic performance (acuity) increases when an accurately converged object is available in the image for the viewer to fuse immediately. Furthermore, this increased viewer stereoscopic performance should reduce the amount of visual fatigue associated with longer-term viewing because less mental effort will be required to perceive the imagery. To test this concept, we developed special stereoscopic imagery to measure viewer visual performance with and without specific objects for convergence. The Company Team conducted a series of visual tests with 24 participants between 25 and 60 years of age. This paper reports the results of these tests.

Citation Download Citation

Christopher A. Mayhew "The importance of accurate convergence in addressing stereoscopic visual fatigue", Proc. SPIE 9394, Human Vision and Electronic Imaging XX, 93941A (17 March 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2083472

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