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Devices and methods for visual output

As stated before ( 2.1.2 ), the human visual system has large dynamic ranges. Presently there are many tools available for generation of stimulating the visual sense for many of its properties, with computer displays being the predominant output communication channel. Modern computer display technology can generate stimulations which cover full or significant part of practical dynamic ranges for visual properties like color and temporal resolution. While the computer displays are far from being completely 'transparent', they get high marks for their overall perceptual impact. In the near future one can expect full integration of high-quality video and TV-like capabilities with a computer-like contents, integrating and improving the information output from the different sources.

The biggest single deficiency in output devices appears in the spatial vision stimuli, as displays capable of covering a high-resolution wide field of view and especially of 3D visualization are uncommon. The display resolution will be still growing and its aspect ratio may change in the future to the 16:9 from the current 4:3, allowing for greater perceptual involvement. However, stereoscopic and 3D visualization need new solutions to become practical (the difference between the stereoscopic vision and 3D is that in the latter motion parallax is carried on, that is the objects will look differently from different angles of view). The lack of spatial effects has diminishing effect on the sensation of reality and involvement in the content of the scene. A more advanced aspect of this problem is the lack of full immersion in visual scenes, which is being tried to be solved with virtual reality devices. The virtual reality technology in its present form is nonergonomic in the sense that it can be used only for a limited time during one session. Wide-field high-resolution visualization with spatial effect would be optimal from the ergonomic point of view.



next up previous contents
Next: Devices and methods Up: Computer Output Media Previous: Output modalities



Esprit Project 8579/MIAMI (Schomaker et al., '95)
Thu May 18 16:00:17 MET DST 1995