Influence of Virtual Target Size Scaling on Depth Estimation Bias in Optical See-Through Augmented Reality
Keywords:
Depth bias, optical see-through AR, size scaling, perceptual calibration, spatial perception, mixed realityAbstract
Perceived depth in OST-AR may be influenced by target size cues, leading to systematic bias. This study quantifies the relationship between virtual target scaling and perceived depth distortion. Twenty-eight participants estimated distances to virtual targets rendered at 0.5×, 1×, and 1.5× physical scale equivalents across distances from 0.3 m to 1.2 m. Linear regression analysis revealed a consistent compression bias at smaller scales, with mean underestimation of 12.6%. Size-matched rendering reduced bias to 4.3%, while exaggerated scaling introduced overestimation errors. Results demonstrate that accurate scale calibration is essential for reliable depth perception in OST-AR interaction tasks.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Luca Bianchi, Matteo Conti, , Giulia Romano
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