Dynamic Visual Masking in a Virtual Environment

Virtual environments (VEs) offer more than just simulation; they allow us to create perceptual effects not feasible in the real world. Arising from perception research, one technique that can be used is visual masking: under certain temporal and spatial conditions a masking stimulus can be used to prevent explicit, visual awareness of a target stimulus although the target may still be processed non-consciously. This positional paper describes ongoing work into the use of visual masking within VEs. Our previous work has shown that it is possible to use static, visually masked objects within a VE to alter navigation and preference behaviour, without the participant being consciously aware of the stimuli. Building on this, it is intended to animate masked virtual faces to see if larger effects are possible.