Visibility and acceptance of continuous parallax distortions (Position 1 of 2 - ESR7)

Lightfield displays potentially have the ability to produce 3D images of polychromatic, incoherently-illuminated extended scenes to audiences of more than one person. The displayed images attempt full parallax and fairly continuous perspective. Still, lightfield displays inevitably display only a finite number of rays and so fail to achieve the goal of perfectly reproducing a real-world scene. As the viewer moves, they will experience abrupt parallax shifts between images, which can disrupt image quality, if they are large enough (“tearing”). Stereoscopic 3D displays are already associated with decreased viewer comfort and increased visual fatigue. Parallax shift between discrete views in a lightfield display could also be a source of discomfort and fatigue. To design successful displays, we need to measure viewer sensitivity to parallax shifts, both in terms of how visible shifts are to viewers, and in terms of their effect on user comfort and perceived image quality. This is a novel aspect, not yet studied in relation to available lightfield displays.

Objectives: This research project aims to quantify core metrics in full parallax visualization with respect to the human visual system. Core metrics include: the minimum perceptive and maximum allowable parallax shifts between consecutive views and the effect of visible parallax shifts on visual comfort and viewing fatigue. Develop a suitable psychophysical task to be used for collecting data through extensive subjective tests (200+ persons) and extracting the desired properties. Perform multi-factorial statistical analysis of the collected data.
Expected Results: Quantitative analysis to reveal minimum parallax shift visible to the observer, and parallax shift required to approximate the performance and comfort achieved with real objects.

Planned secondments: The successful researcher will have the opportunity and be encouraged to perform secondments at research organizations and innovative companies from the European Training Network on Full Parallax Imaging. Up to 6 months of research visits are planned including to Holografika, Budapest, Hungary and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, helping the researcher to gather hands-on experience with emerging light field displays, create content and run psychophysical tasks.

PhD Studentship in Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN ETN-FPI : viewer experience with Full-Parallax Imaging Displays

Current displays fall far short of truly recreating visual reality. This can never be achieved by painting an image on a flat surface such as a TV screen, but requires a full-parallax display which can recreate the complete light field, i.e. the light travelling in every direction through every point in space.

The European Training Network on Full-Parallax Imaging offers a position for an Early-Stage Researcher (ESR) in Prof Read’s vision science group at the Institute of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom. You will be employed at Newcastle University, and will also be enrolled onto a PhD. You will carry out experiments designed to measure human perceptions in full-parallax displays.

You will have a BSc (optionally, a Masters) in a science subject, and will be in the first four years of your research career. You must not have a PhD.

Eligibility: Only candidates complying with the Early Stage Researcher requirements (less than 4 years of research experience following a graduation from a degree qualifying for entry to PhD) and mobility (less than 12 months spent in the UK within the last three years) are eligible in order to comply with the funding body requirements.

The position is to start 1st June 2016, with some flexibility either side where required and tenable for 3 years.

There is no restriction on nationality/citizenship, and international as well as EU applicants are encouraged.

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Jenny Read, [Email Address Removed]

European Training Network on Full Parallax Imaging:
http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/198327_en.html

Prof Read’s research group: jennyreadresearch.com

The Institute holds a silver Athena SWAN award in addition to the University’s bronze Athena SWAN award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality, and the University holds the HR Excellence in Research award for our work to support the career development of our researchers. We are also a member of the Euraxess network.