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Parallactic movement beats binocularity in the presence of external visual noise
Author(s) -
Voges Nicole,
Bach Michael,
Kommerell Guntram
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
ophthalmic and physiological optics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.147
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1475-1313
pISSN - 0275-5408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2012.00917.x
Subject(s) - binocular vision , monocular , monocular vision , computer vision , artificial intelligence , noise (video) , binocular rivalry , computer science , optics , communication , physics , psychology , visual perception , neuroscience , image (mathematics) , perception
Citation information: Voges N, Bach M & Kommerell G. Parallactic movement beats binocularity in the presence of external visual noise. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32 , 308–316. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2012.00917.x Abstract Purpose: Binocular vision provides a considerable advantage over monocular vision when stationary particles partly obstruct the view. Such situations occur in real life, e.g., when drivers are trying to identify objects through a windshield dotted with snowflakes. In the process of driving, any bumpiness of the road will bring about a parallactic movement of particles on the windshield with respect to the visual object. We investigated whether this parallactic movement diminishes the advantage of binocular over monocular vision. Methods: Using computer graphics, we simulated a driving situation with snowflakes represented by noise particles on the windshield. Ten observers tried to identify a Landolt ring (8 possible orintations, gap always 2.5 arcmin) presented for 2 s at a viewing distance of 2 m. The partly obstructing noise particles, either stationary or moving vertically at three sinusoidal velocities, were presented at a viewing distance of 0.8 m, corresponding to a stereodisparity well beyond Panum’s fusional area. We compared the percentage of correct responses and the reaction time between binocular and monocular vision. Results: When the ‘snowflakes’ were stationary, binocular vision yielded more correct responses than monocular vision (52.2 ± 1.8% vs 39.7 ± 1.7%). When the ‘snowflakes’ were moving, the task was much easier and the binocular advantage less pronounced (95.8 ± 1.4% vs 85.3 ± 5.2%). The reaction time with stationary noise was 1.25 s for binocular and 1.31 s for monocular vision. With moving noise, averaged over all three velocities, the reaction time was 1.23 s for binocular and 1.36 s for monocular vision. Conclusion: Parallactic movement of partly obstructing particles reduces the advantage of binocular over monocular vision to practically irrelevant values.