Evaluating the accuracy of size perception on screen-based displays: Displayed objects appear smaller than real...

Area of Science:

• Computer Graphics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Perceptual Psychology

Background:

• Accurate size perception in computer-generated imagery (CGI) is crucial for applications like medical visualization and architecture.
• Understanding visual cues influencing size perception differences between virtual and real worlds is essential.
• Developing effective evaluation methods for CGI scale perception is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish perceived affordances (graspability, reaching through apertures) as evaluation methods for CGI near the observer.
• To compare size perception in high-fidelity CGI with the real world.
• To assess if graphical displays are perceived similarly to real-world environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two affordance judgments: perceived graspability of objects and reaching through apertures.
• Compared size perception of high-fidelity graphical models on a large screen display against the real world.
• Varied affordance task type and stereo presentation conditions.

Main Results:

• Affordance judgments (grasping, reaching) are effective with screen-based displays.
• Objects in CGI were perceived as smaller than in the real world.
• The size underestimation was reduced with stereo viewing or when viewing the virtual display before the real world.

Conclusions:

• Perceived affordances are viable for evaluating CGI scale perception.
• Virtual displays tend to induce size underestimation compared to reality.
• Stereo presentation and viewing order can mitigate distortions in virtual size perception.