Biomaterial Database

Distance Perception in Virtual Reality: A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Head-Mounted Display Characteristics. 2023

Jonathan W Kelly

Distances are commonly underperceived in virtual reality (VR), and this finding has been documented repeatedly over more than two decades of research. Yet, there is evidence that perceived distance is more accurate in modern compared to older head-mounted displays (HMDs). This meta-analysis, based on 137 samples from 61 publications, describes egocentric distance perception across 20 HMDs and examines the relationship between perceived distance and technical HMD characteristics. Judged distance was positively associated with HMD field of view (FOV), positively associated with HMD resolution, and negatively associated with HMD weight. The effects of FOV and resolution were more pronounced among heavier HMDs. These findings suggest that future improvements in these technical characteristics may be central to resolving the problem of distance underperception in VR.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003196	Computer Graphics	The process of pictorial communication, between human and computers, in which the computer input and output have the form of charts, drawings, or other appropriate pictorial representation.	Computer Graphic,Graphic, Computer,Graphics, Computer
D004215	Distance Perception	The act of knowing or the recognition of a distance by recollective thought, or by means of a sensory process which is under the influence of a set of prior experiences.	Distance Discrimination,Discrimination, Distance,Discriminations, Distance,Perception, Distance
D000076142	Virtual Reality	Using computer technology to create and maintain an environment and project a user's physical presence in that environment allowing the user to interact with it.	Virtual Reality, Educational,Virtual Reality, Instructional,Educational Virtual Realities,Educational Virtual Reality,Instructional Virtual Realities,Instructional Virtual Reality,Realities, Instructional Virtual,Reality, Educational Virtual,Reality, Instructional Virtual,Reality, Virtual,Virtual Realities, Educational,Virtual Realities, Instructional
D000080310	Smart Glasses	Computerized eyewear with multiple technological applications for advanced computing and interoperability. Smart glasses are optimized to facilitate information and data access, capture, display, transfer, and manipulation.	Google Glass,Head Mounted Display,Head Up Display,Head Worn Display,Smartglasses,Display, Head Mounted,Display, Head Up,Display, Head Worn,Displays, Head Mounted,Displays, Head Up,Displays, Head Worn,Glass, Google,Glasses, Google,Glasses, Smart,Google Glasses,Head Mounted Displays,Head Up Displays,Head Worn Displays,Mounted Display, Head,Mounted Displays, Head,Up Display, Head,Up Displays, Head,Worn Display, Head,Worn Displays, Head