Distance Estimation in Virtual Reality Is Affected by Both the Virtual and the Real-World Environments

The experience in virtual reality (VR) is unique, in that observers are in a real-world location while browsing through a virtual scene. Previous studies have investigated the effect of the virtual environment on distance estimation. However, it is unclear how the real-world environment influences distance estimation in VR. Here, we measured the distance estimation using a bisection (Experiment 1) and a blind-walking (Experiments 2 and 3) method. Participants performed distance judgments in VR, which rendered either virtual indoor or outdoor scenes. Experiments were also carried out in either real-world indoor or outdoor locations. In the bisection experiment, judged distance in virtual outdoor was greater than that in virtual indoor. However, the real-world environment had no impact on distance judgment estimated by bisection. In the blind-walking experiment, judged distance in real-world outdoor was greater than that in real-world indoor. On the other hand, the virtual environment had no impact on distance judgment estimated by blind-walking. Generally, our results suggest that both the virtual and real-world environments have an impact on distance judgment in VR. Especially, the real-world environment where a person is physically located during a VR experience influences the person’s distance estimation in VR.

Errors of Analysis in Distance Assessment: Effects of Vertical on Horizontal Components

(a) Participants indicated, for pairs of circles whose locations varied on the horizontal and vertical axes of a frontal plane, whether the horizontal distance between the circles exceeded a target horizontal distance. The error rate depended on the vertical as well as the horizontal distance between the circles. (b) Participants indicated, for pairs of circles that were varying horizontal (or vertical) distances and a constant vertical (or horizontal) distance apart in a frontal plane, whether the horizontal (or vertical) distance between them matched a target horizontal (or vertical) distance. Incorrect “match” responses were more likely if the horizontal (or vertical) distance between the circles was less than as opposed to greater than the target distance. The results suggest that distance judgments for pairs of stimuli varying on the horizontal and vertical axes are based on the overall distance between the stimuli, with the relevant axis given more weight than the irrelevant axis in assessment of the distance. The results do not support the view that that such distance judgments are based on the relevant distance between the stimuli, with the relevant and irrelevant axes being erroneously interchanged on some iterations of the assessment process.