All through this work I have tried to explain why, in some cases, artificial stereoscopy can be stressful for the visual system. As with all technologies, it has its advantages and disadvantages and it is important to know all its ins and outs to draw the maximum benefit while minimizing the disadvantages. In fact, if we wish to use stereoscopy to best effect to improve depth perception, it is important to know its mechanisms as well as its implications in terms of oculomotor stresses to guarantee comfortable visualization for future users.
At the beginning of this book, I explained why and how stereoscopy is tiring for the visual system and what the short- and medium-term consequences of this fatigue might be. The second part of the book presents my research in trying to limit the conflicts caused by stereoscopy, particularly vergence-accommodation conflicts. Two major paths were explored:
The first path is explored in Chapter 6, where we explain the algorithms for suppressing uncomfortable high spatial frequencies. This means those high frequencies situated in areas where the conflict is most marked, corresponding to the largest stereoscopic depths. We show the impact of this suppression on the subjects’ oculomotor faculties to show that this kind of treatment can be put in place with beneficial effects.
The second path explored is that of the progressive suppression of depth. It is presented in Chapter 7. Since depth is not always present, it is important to show the effect on the oculomotor faculties of the subjects, but also on their perception in the presence of very simple tasks.
I hope that this book has enlightened you on the exciting technology that is stereoscopy, and that it will give you some idea of how to optimize the interfaces that you want to create; or, if you do not have an interface planned, it has interested you and given you at least as much pleasure as I got from writing it.