Lost in projection - Implicit features experience of 3D architectural forms and their projections

Area of Science:

• Perception studies
• Human-computer interaction
• Visual arts

Background:

• Implicit object features influence perception.
• Digital representations (photographs, drawings, VR) may alter how these features are experienced compared to real 3D objects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how object presentation format (real 3D, VR, photograph, drawing) affects the experience of implicit object features.
• To compare the impact of different visual representations on perceived attractiveness, regularity, arousal, and calmness.

Main Methods:

• 46 participants evaluated 10 objects presented as real 3D models, VR models, photographs, and drawings.
• Evaluations used 12 bipolar adjectives measuring attractiveness, regularity, arousal, calmness, and aesthetic experience.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found in attractiveness, regularity, arousal, and calmness based on presentation type.
• Real 3D objects were rated higher in attractiveness and calmness.
• VR presentations resulted in lower arousal compared to other formats.
• VR and real 3D objects were perceived as more regular than drawings and photographs.
• No significant differences were observed in aesthetic experience across presentation types.

Conclusions:

• The format of object presentation significantly influences the perception of its implicit features, particularly attractiveness, regularity, arousal, and calmness.
• While aesthetic experience remains stable, digital and real-world object interactions elicit distinct perceptual responses.