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Article
Is Stereopsis Effective in Breaking Camouflage for Moving Targets?
Vision Research
  • Scott N. J. Watamaniuk, Wright State University - Main Campus
  • Suzanne P. McKee
  • Julie M. Harris
  • Harvey S. Smallman
  • Douglas G. Taylor
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-1997
Abstract

Investigated whether stereopsis is less effective in breaking camouflage for moving targets than for static ones. Observers were asked to detect a single dot moving on a straight trajectory amidst identical noise dots in random motion. In the 3-dimensional (3-D) condition, the noise dots filled a cylindrical volume 5.7 cm in height and diameter; the trajectory signal dot moved on an oblique 3-D trajectory through the center of the cylinder. In the 2-dimensional (2-D) control condition, observers viewed one half-image of the 3-D cylinder binocularly. Trajectory detection in the 3-D condition was only slightly better than in the 2-D condition. Stereoscopic tuning for motion detection was also measured with a novel target configuration. As the disparity between the noise planes and the fixation plane was increased, trajectory detection improved, and then declining to the 2-D level at larger disparities. Similar tuning measurements were made for detecting a static pattern. Adding disparity to the noise planes produced a greater improvement in static detection than in motion detection. It is speculated that the temporal characteristics of the stereo system are not well suited for responding to moving targets, with the result that stereo does not greatly enhance motion detection in noise.

DOI
10.1016/S0042-6989(96)00330-6
Citation Information
Scott N. J. Watamaniuk, Suzanne P. McKee, Julie M. Harris, Harvey S. Smallman, et al.. "Is Stereopsis Effective in Breaking Camouflage for Moving Targets?" Vision Research Vol. 37 Iss. 15 (1997) p. 2047 - 2055 ISSN: 0042-6989
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/scott-watamaniuk/16/