Visual suppression of monocularly presented symbology against a fused background in a simulation and training environment

Marc D. Winterbottom; Robert Patterson; Byron J. Pierce; Amanda Taylor

doi:10.1117/12.666267

18 May 2006 Visual suppression of monocularly presented symbology against a fused background in a simulation and training environment

Marc D. Winterbottom, Robert Patterson, Byron J. Pierce, Amanda Taylor

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6224, Helmet- and Head-Mounted Displays XI: Technologies and Applications; 622402 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.666267
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2006, Orlando (Kissimmee), Florida, United States

Abstract

When wearing a monocular head-mounted display (HMD), one eye views the HMD symbology while both eyes view an out-the-window scene. This may create interocular differences in image characteristics that could disrupt binocular vision by provoking visual suppression, thus reducing visibility of the background scene, monocular symbology, or both. However, binocular fusion of the background scene may mitigate against the occurrence of visual suppression, a hypothesis that was investigated in the present study. Observers simultaneously viewed a static background scene and HMD symbology while performing a target recognition task under several viewing conditions. In a simulated HMD condition observers binocularly viewed a background scene with monocular symbology superimposed. In another condition, viewing was dichoptic (i.e. completely different images were presented to the left and right eyes). Additionally, one control condition was implemented for comparison. The results indicate that for continuously presented targets binocular rivalry did not have significant effects on target visibility. However, for briefly presented targets, binocular rivalry was shown to increase thresholds for target recognition time in HMD and dichoptic viewing conditions relative to the control. Impairment was less in the HMD condition. Thus, binocular fusion of a background scene can partially mitigate against the occurrence of visual suppression. However, some suppression still exists which occurs between monocular pathways. Implications for the integration of monocular HMDs into Air Force training environments will be discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Marc D. Winterbottom, Robert Patterson, Byron J. Pierce, and Amanda Taylor "Visual suppression of monocularly presented symbology against a fused background in a simulation and training environment", Proc. SPIE 6224, Helmet- and Head-Mounted Displays XI: Technologies and Applications, 622402 (18 May 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.666267

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available