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Lightness constancy in reality, in virtual reality, and on flat-panel displays
Khushbu Y Patel1, Laurie M Wilcox2, Laurence T Maloney3
1Department of Psychology and Centre for Vision Research, York University, Toronto, Canada. khushbuypatel1234@gmail.com.
Behavior Research Methods
|March 5, 2024
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) and flat-panel displays show good lightness constancy, but real environments offer superior perception. VR is a viable alternative for many applications, though observer variability is higher.
Area of Science:
- Visual Perception
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Display Technology
Background:
- Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly used, but realistic perception in virtual environments is not guaranteed.
- Accurate perception of surface color, specifically lightness, is crucial for realistic scene perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how well virtual reality platforms support realistic perception of achromatic surface color.
- To compare lightness constancy across real environments, VR headsets, and flat-panel displays.
Main Methods:
- Assessed lightness constancy using a physical apparatus with real lights and surfaces.
- Evaluated lightness constancy within a commercial virtual reality headset.
- Measured lightness constancy on a traditional flat-panel display.
Main Results:
- Lightness constancy was good across all three environments, but significantly better in the real environment than on the flat-panel display.
- Observer variability was significantly greater in virtual reality and on the flat-panel display compared to the physical environment.
Conclusions:
- Discrepancies in perception between real and virtual environments must be considered for critical applications.
- Virtual reality offers a flexible alternative to flat-panel displays and can serve as a reasonable proxy for real environments in many cases.
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