The perceptual gap between video see-through displays and natural human vision

2026-01-06

arXiv.org

AI Summary

This study addresses the persistent challenge of faithfully replicating human visual perception in video see-through (VST) headsets, particularly under complex lighting conditions. For the first time, it systematically quantifies perceptual discrepancies between several mainstream commercial VST devices—including the Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest 3—and the human eye across key visual dimensions: visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and color vision. Using psychophysical methods evaluated under diverse ambient illumination, the research reveals that none of the tested devices match the human eye’s dynamic range or adaptation capabilities. While high-end systems approach human-level performance under ideal lighting, their fidelity degrades significantly in low-light environments. These findings establish critical perceptual benchmarks and provide a technical roadmap toward achieving imperceptible integration of digital content into real-world visual experiences.

Technology Category

• Computer Vision: 3D Computer Vision
• Humans and AI: Interaction Techniques and Devices
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Simulating Human Behavior

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Responsible Web: Human-perceived consequences of algorithmic deployment on the web
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

Video see-through (VST) technology aims to seamlessly blend virtual and physical worlds by reconstructing reality through cameras. While manufacturers promise perceptual fidelity, it remains unclear how close these systems are to replicating natural human vision across varying environmental conditions. In this work, we quantify the perceptual gap between the human eye and different popular VST headsets (Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest 3, Quest Pro) using psychophysical measures of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and color vision. We show that despite hardware advancements, all tested VST systems fail to match the dynamic range and adaptability of the naked eye. While high-end devices approach human performance in ideal lighting, they exhibit significant degradation in low-light conditions, particularly in contrast sensitivity and acuity. Our results map the physiological limitations of digital reality reconstruction, establishing a specific perceptual gap that defines the roadmap for achieving indistinguishable VST experiences.

Problem

• perceptual gap
• video see-through
• human vision
• visual fidelity
• environmental conditions

Innovation

• video see-through
• perceptual gap
• psychophysical evaluation
• visual acuity
• contrast sensitivity