Visualizing the structure of virtual objects using head tracked stereoscopic displays

The study investigated the effects of stereopsis and head tracking on presence and performance in a desktop virtual environment. Twelve subjects viewed the virtual image of a bent wire and were required to select the correct representation of the virtual wire from one of three drawings presented on paper. After each trial, subjects completed a questionnaire designed to access their level of presence in the desktop virtual environment. The results indicated that neither stereopsis nor head tracking improved the accuracy of selecting the correct paper representation of the virtual wire. However, responses to the presence survey indicated that head tracking significantly improved the reported level of presence, whereas the addition of stereopsis did not. Implications of the results for the design of desktop virtual environments are discussed.