Comparing estimated gaze depth in virtual and physical environments

Abstract

We show that the error in 3D gaze depth (vergence) estimated from binocularly-tracked gaze disparity is related to the viewing distance of the screen calibration plane at which 2D gaze is recorded. In a stereoscopic (virtual) environment, this relationship is evident in gaze to target depth error: vergence error behind the screen is greater than in front of the screen and is lowest at the screen depth. In a physical environment, with no accommodation-vergence conflict, the magnitude of vergence error in front of the 2D calibration plane appears reversed, increasing with distance from the viewer.