Supra-threshold control of peripheral LOD

  • Authors:
  • Benjamin Watson;Neff Walker;Larry F. Hodges

  • Affiliations:
  • Northwestern University;UNICEF;UNC-Charlotte

  • Venue:
  • ACM SIGGRAPH 2004 Papers
  • Year:
  • 2004

Quantified Score

Hi-index 0.00

Visualization

Abstract

Level of detail (LOD) is widely used to control visual feedback in interactive applications. LOD control is typically based on perception at threshold -- the conditions in which a stimulus first becomes perceivable. Yet most LOD manipulations are quite perceivable and occur well above threshold. Moreover, research shows that supra-threshold perception differs drastically from perception at threshold. In that case, should supra-threshold LOD control also differ from LOD control at threshold?In two experiments, we examine supra-threshold LOD control in the visual periphery and find that indeed, it should differ drastically from LOD control at threshold. Specifically, we find that LOD must support a task-dependent level of reliable perceptibility. Above that level, perceptibility of LOD control manipulations should be minimized, and detail contrast is a better predictor of perceptibility than detail size. Below that level, perceptibility must be maximized, and LOD should be improved as eccentricity rises or contrast drops. This directly contradicts prevailing threshold-based LOD control schemes, and strongly suggests a reexamination of LOD control for foveal display.