Restricting the Vertical and Horizontal Extent of the Field-of-View: Effects on Manoeuvring Performance

It is known that Field-of-view restrictions affect distance estimation, postural equilibrium, and the ability to control heading. These are all important factors when manoeuvring on foot through complex structured environments. Although considerable research has been devoted to the horizontal angular extent of the Field-of-View (FoV), rather less attention has been paid to the vertical angle. The present study investigated the effects of both vertical and horizontal FoV restriction on manoeuvring performance and head movement while traversing an obstacle course consisting of three different types of obstacles. A restriction of both the horizontal and vertical angle of the visual field resulted in increased time needed to traverse the course. In addition, the extent of head movement during traversal was affected by vertical, but not horizontal viewing restriction. Furthermore, it was investigated if performance could be improved by altering the orientation of the visual field instead of its dimensions. The results do not indicate this. The findings of this study can be used to formulate requirements for the selection and development of field-of-view limiting devices, such as head-mounted displays and night-vision goggles.