Incorporating Models of Early Vision Processing into Virtual Reality

Recent models of early visual processing espouse a computational approach to vision. Such computational theories can in principle be implemented on a computer system to demonstrate their utility and e cacy. However with the development of computer graphics technology, another form of computer simulation can be envisioned: that is, to visually experience the effects of a model. Thus, a model of human early visual processing has been incorporated into a real-time, 3D graphics system; commonly referred to as virtual reality (VR). Speci cally, it will be demonstrated how models of spatiotemporal contrast sensitivity can be encoded e ciently into a VR system. With this knowledge, the VR system can then decide to remove certain regions of detail from a scene which it believes to be sub-threshold (based upon attributes of the model such as its velocity, eccentricity, distance, orientation etc.). E ectively, by degrading the sensations which are presented to the visual system, we can investigate the information that is available to the higher vision processes. Also, because the inherent latencies of contemporary VR systems are aggravated by the amount of detail in a scene, this also has the potentially bene cial e ect of improving the interactivity of VR technology. However, it is hoped that the development of this kind of tool will not only produce a more e cient interactive graphics system, but also provide a exible mechanism to evaluate models of threshold vision in a simulated, real-world and full-colour environment.