Thinking Outside the Eyebox: Evaluation of Perceptual Effects Deriving from Pupil Swim Distortions in Head-Mounted Displays

I am currently investigating the perceptual consequences of eye position in virtual reality, focusing on optical systems. Using a blend of computer vision, action-perception, and some intuition, I am evaluating pupil swim in various head-mounted displays spanning 20 years of virtual reality development. For a deeper dive, consider watching my talk below!

None of my work would be possible without the support of my best bud and officemate, Atlas. Atlas is my Borzoi–also known as a Russian Wolfhound. He oscillates from 2-dimensional floor decor to a 38mph 5-star recruit several times per day. Atlas is an incredibly intelligent and independent dog that spends as much effort untying knots and solving puzzles for rewards as he does keeping our squirrels from ever touching our lawn. Atlas also has a unique perspective of the world. Nearly 5000 years ago, sighthounds were discovered to be exceptional at hunting by sight, as the name suggests. It wasn’t until relatively recently that sighthounds, like Borzois, have an entirely different photoreceptor density as compared to other breeds or humans. Humans have a fovea, a circular patch in the center of their vision, and objects appear to be the clearest. In contrast, Atlas has a visual streak. A thin horizontal line across their entire field of view allows visual clarity spanning the 270 degrees of their vision. Imagining how Atlas views the world compared to our 2-degree fovea and 180-degree vision reminds me that no matter the optics of a situation, anyone could be seeing it from a different perspective.