Performance comparison of multiple image depth and shape cues

This research has implications for tasks in human‐computer interaction where the user must interact with display information that is organized on multiple axes. We describe the results of an experiment that compared the effectiveness of five different techniques for shape and depth discrimination. The methods evaluated were binocular parallax, alternating horizontal parallax, alternating vertical parallax, motion parallax, and motion parallax in conjunction with the Pulfrich effect. Binocular parallax, closely followed by motion parallax and the Pulfrich effect, was most effective for the depth discrimination task in terms of both correctness and response time. Alternating parallax techniques provided cues for distinguishing between foreground and background in a scene but did not provide cues that were intuitively translated into depth. Response time of subjects for the shape discrimination task was fastest with alternating parallax. For depth discrimination, subjects preferred binocular parallax. For shape discrimination, binocular parallax and motion parallax were both highly rated.