Many augmented reality (AR) applications operate within near-field reachingdistances, and require matching the depth of a virtual object with a realobject. The accuracy of this matching was measured in three experiments, whichexamined the effect of focal distance, age, and brightness, within distances of33.3 to 50 cm, using a custom-built AR haploscope. Experiment I examined theeffect of focal demand, at the levels of collimated (infinite focal distance),consistent with other depth cues, and at the midpoint of reaching distance.Observers were too young to exhibit age-related reductions in accommodativeability. The depth matches of collimated targets were increasinglyoverestimated with increasing distance, consistent targets were slightlyunderestimated, and midpoint targets were accurately estimated. Experiment IIreplicated Experiment I, with older observers. Results were similar toExperiment I. Experiment III replicated Experiment I with dimmer targets, usingyoung observers. Results were again consistent with Experiment I, except thatboth consistent and midpoint targets were accurately estimated. In all cases,collimated results were explained by a model, where the collimation biases theeyes' vergence angle outwards by a constant amount. Focal demand and brightnessaffect near-field AR depth matching, while age-related reductions inaccommodative ability have no effect.
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