News Stories

The zone of comfort: Predicting visual discomfort with stereo displays

7.23.2011

The full text of the study that Marty Banks presented at the SMPTE 3D conference is posted here: http://www.journalofvision.org/content/11/8/11.full

Abstract

Recent increased usage of stereo displays has been accompanied by public concern about potential adverse effects associated with prolonged viewing of stereo imagery. There are numerous potential sources of adverse effects, but we focused on how vergence–accommodation conflicts in stereo displays affect visual discomfort and fatigue. In one experiment, we examined the effect of viewing distance on discomfort and fatigue. We found that conflicts of a given dioptric value were slightly less comfortable at far than at near distance. In a second experiment, we examined the effect of the sign of the vergence–accommodation conflict on discomfort and fatigue. We found that negative conflicts (stereo content behind the screen) are less comfortable at far distances and that positive conflicts (content in front of screen) are less comfortable at near distances. In a third experiment, we measured phoria and the zone of clear single binocular vision, which are clinical measurements commonly associated with correcting refractive error. Those measurements predicted susceptibility to discomfort in the first two experiments. We discuss the relevance of these findings for a wide variety of situations including the viewing of mobile devices, desktop displays, television, and cinema.

 

Authors

  1. Takashi Shibata
  2. Joohwan Kim
  3. David M. Hoffman
  4. Martin S. Banks

IEEE Call for paper : "Special Issue on Emerging Techniques in 3D"

7.19.2011

The IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing is preparing a special issue on “Emerging Techniques in 3D: 3D Data Fusion, Motion Tracking in Multi-View Video, 3DTV Archives and 3D Content Protection“. The journal launched today a call for papers to be included inthat special issue. The submission of manuscripts has a deadline of 01 August 2011. Final versions of the papers are due for 01 March 2012.

A list of related topics

 

  • Creation of 3D Content
  • 3D multi-view and multimodal data fusion
  • Calibration methods for 3D multi-camera system Tracking, Registering and Processing of 3D Content
  • 3D multi-view image/video processing
  • 3D registration of multi-view data
  • Motion tracking in stereo and multi-camera systems Archiving of 3D Content
  • Creation, compression in 3D digital archives
  • Indexing and retrieval of 3D content Security Issues for 3D Content
  • Methods for 3D content protection
  • 3D digital watermarking, fingerprinting and related security solutions 3D Objective Quality Measures
  • Artifacts Characterization
  • Full-reference and partial-reference measures Multimedia systems and applications using emerging techniques in 3D

 

Go to this link for further information: http://www.signalprocessingsociety.org/uploads/special_issues_deadlines/Emerging_Techniques.pdf

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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