Layered motion field visualization: perceptual issues

ABSTRACT

Layered motion fields arise in natural vision in many situations, including self-motion in a cluttered scene, motion of a fluid, and transparency. Layered motion fields have the property that there are multiple velocities present near each 2D spatial location. As such, standard 2D motion visualization methods do not apply, since they allow for only a single velocity vector at each image position. This paper examines perceptual issues that arise in visualizing layered motion fields. A key issue is that the human visual system is severely limited in how well it can process such fields. We give a thorough review of the relevant psychophysical literature, and focus on experiments that test how well the human visual system can detect spatial discontinuities and discrete layers in motion fields. We then present a specific layered motion visualization method. We demonstrate the limitations of the human visual system in perceiving the layered motions produced by this method.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.7 Three-Dimensional Graphics and Realism
          Subjects: Animation