Indoor vs. Outdoor Depth Perception for Mobile Augmented Reality

• Published in: 2009 IEEE Virtual Reality Conference pp. 55 - 62
• Main Authors: Livingston, Mark A., Ai, Zhuming, Swan, J. Edward, Smallman, Harvey S.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.03.2009
• Subjects: and virtual realities; augmented; Augmented reality; Data analysis; Displays; H.1.2 [Models and Principles]: User/Machine Systems-Human factors; H.5.1 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: Multimedia Information Systems-Artificial; H.5.2 [Information Interfaces and Presentation]: User Interfaces-Evaluation/Methodology; Indoor environments; Laboratories; Layout; Multimedia systems; System testing; Virtual environment; Virtual reality
• ISBN: 9781424439430; 1424439434
• ISSN: 1087-8270
• DOI: 10.1109/VR.2009.4810999

We tested users' depth perception of virtual objects in our mobile augmented reality (AR) system in both indoor and outdoor environments using a depth matching task. The indoor environment is characterized by strong linear perspective cues; we attempted to re-create these cues in the outdoor environment. In the indoor environment, we found an overall pattern of underestimation of depth that is typical for virtual environments and AR systems. However, in the outdoor environment, we found that subjects overestimated depth. In addition, our synthetic linear perspective cues met with a measure of success, leading users to reduce their estimate of the depth of distant objects. We describe the experimental procedure, analyze the data, present the results of the study, and discuss the implications for mobile, outdoor AR systems.