65‐5: Invited Paper: Resolving the Vergence Accommodation Conflict in VR and AR via Tunable Liquid Crystal Lenses

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) head mounted displays project stereoscopic virtual images to the eyes to obtain a three-dimensional illusion. The mismatch between the vergence and accommodation focus cues, known as the vergence-accommodation conflict (VAC), can cause physical discomfort and limit the immersive experience of these systems. In AR systems, even monocular vision is affected by the focus mismatch, since the eye cannot focus simultaneously on a close real object and a close virtual object. We present a dynamic focus compensation approach to resolve VAC in which an electronically controlled dynamic lens is used to correct the focus of the virtual content. The dynamic lens is implemented using a pixel grid, enabling rapid lateral movement of the lens, thus increasing the lens quality and field of view.

Brass Haptics: Comparing Virtual and Physical Trumpets in Extended Realities

“…Percussionists in particular may find it necessary to have their instrument accurately presented in the virtual space in order to initially align themselves with the instrument. Unfortunately, based on Meta's guidelines and our observations, placing a wind instrument model directly in the user's vision while played produces eye strain and simulation sickness due to the conflict between accomodative and vergence demand (Yadin et al 2018). Heavy instruments or two-handed instruments pose additional problems due to the lack of weight and rigid structure between the hands (Stellmacher et al 2022).…”

“…VR HMDs create a conflict between accomodative demand, in which a user's eyes must change the lens size to accommodate depth, and vergence demand, which refers to the degree a user's eyes must rotate to focus on an item, as virtual objects presented on the screen are always at a set distance, but the user's eyes must still rotate to converge on the item of interest (Yadin et al 2018). To avoid simulation sickness generated by this conflict, items the user will be required to focus on should be displayed at a comfortable viewing distance, which Meta suggests is between 0.5 and 1m.…”