G.M. Um (Korea), F. Speranza, W.J. Tam, L. Zhang, R. Renaud, and L.B. Stelmach (Canada)
Visual Comfort, Stereoscopic Video, Depth- of-Field
The use of blurring has been shown to improve the Visual Comfort of stereoscopic video images, by either blurring the background or using a synthetic depth-of field. However, techniques that are based on blur can compromise image quality. We approached this problem by using the combined approach of asymmetrical processing and disparity-based blurring. We applied blur in one eye only, an asymmetrical technique, which has proven useful in maintaining overall image quality. The image in the other eye was not altered, and served to offset possible degradation arising from the monocular blur. Severity of filtering was based on disparity magnitude. Subjective ratings of Visual Comfort and Sharpness were obtained from twenty-five viewers for video sequences that were processed using this disparity-based asymmetrical filtering technique. Subjective evaluations were based on a modification of the Rec. ITU-R BT.500 Double Stimulus Continuous Quality Scale method. It was found that the disparity-based asymmetrical filtering approach did not improve ratings of Visual Comfort and Sharpness compared to the reference stereoscopic sequences, which were not filtered. These findings are discussed with respect to reports in the literature that blurring techniques can improve the Visual Comfort of stereoscopic video images.
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