Utilizing 6D head-tracking data for stereoscopic computer-graphics perspective transformations

Stereoscopic display systems, with both left and right eye fields appearing on a single display surface, have recently been used in combination with head-tracking technology. The result has been a new Virtual Reality paradigm, where the display surface represents a window into a virtual world. Within this paradigm, the user may intuitively alter the rendered perspective by changing his head position or orientation. This paper outlines a methodology for generating real-time projection transformations that apply to single-display stereoscopic viewing systems with head-tracking. Numerous transformations may be applied to a scene in response to head-tracking data. These include scene rotation, scene translation, field of view angle changes, variation of the stereoscopic interaxial separation, parallax axis rotation, and stretching of the displayed projections. I will describe the implementation of these operations. In some situations, software should respond to head-tracked input in an exaggerated manner. In other cases, graphics transformations should be moderated. Certain head-tracked input may not be useful at all. The overall goal is for the user to experience the three-dimensional scene in a convenient, natural, and intuitive manner.