Stereoscopic Displays: Factors Affecting Realism

This paper presents the final outcome of the Final Year Project entitled Stereoscopic Displays: Factors Affecting Realism. The term "Stereoscopic Displays" refers to the stereoscopic technology that is being used in Virtual Reality in order to project a realistic image. The aim of the study is to find out the factors that affect the realism of the projected image in stereoscopic displays as well as to identify image parameter that gives the most impact to user's depth perception of a 3D scene. The study is done by undertaking intensive research from previous literatures, and then carrying out an experiment to determine the parameters that gives the most impact to the depth perception of user. By knowing which parameters that affects the depth perception the most, it can be useful in designing an application that will project a quality 3D image, which will therefore increase the realism effect and then also increases the sense of presence in the users. The research has found out that the factor that affects the realism revolves around on the technical and the human issues. The experiment have been focusing on the testing of 4 parameters, which are motion cues, number of edges on objects, background brightness and distances of objects from the user. From there it has been proven that motion cues, background brightness and distances of objects from user have a positive impact on the depth perception, while the number of edges on the objects is proven to have an impact, but the extent of its effect is inconclusive. As a conclusion to the study, the author believes that this study is only complete at a preliminary level, and still needs continuation to further support the findings that have been made