Ecological approach to partial binocular overlap

A partial binocular-overlap helmet-mounted display (HMD) allows the presentation of wide-field-of-view imagery with no loss of resolution and a reduction in size and weight. One trade-off with these attributes is binocular rivalry created by the edge of the imagery seen by one eye overlaying continuous imagery seen by the other eye. Three distinct methods are considered that reduce this rivalry--and there are trade-offs with each approach. These three methods are the use of optical stops or filters that provide a luminance gradation that softens the overlapping binocular edges, left/right eye assignment for the flanking monocular regions, and contour lines superimposed on the imagery that correspond to the binocular/monocular borders. These approaches to improving the quality of partial binocular- overlap HMD imagery are considered within an ecological framework, where departures from ecological validity may impact visual perception and system performance.