Interaction of Different Modules in Depth Perception: Stereo and Shading

Abstract

A method has been developed to measure the perceived depth of computer generated images of simple solid objects. Computer graphic techniques allow for independent control of different depth queues (stereo, shading, and texture) and enable the investigator thereby to study psychophysically the interaction of modules for depth perception. Accumulation of information from shading and stereo and vetoing of depth from shading by edge information have been found. Cooperativity and other types of interactions are discussed. If intensity edges are missing, as in a smooth-shaded surface, the image intensities themselves could be used for stereo matching. The results are compared with computer vision algorithms for both single modules and their integration for 3D vision.