Fovography: A naturalistic imaging media

This paper broadly describes a novel approach to representing the three-dimensional world in a two-dimensional image. Rather than just relying on the physical behavior of light rays projected onto a surface, as is the case with most current imaging technologies, we are attempting to create a new imaging technology that emulates the subjective appearance of the world as perceived via the human visual system. We do so by computationally modelling a number of complex psychological processes occurring in visual perception. This approach results in a new non-linear projection framework called Fovography that we have shown has higher ratings than standard projections when measured across a range of psychological factors, including sense of presence, comfort, and ecological validity. Moreover, Fovographs are rated as being equally immersive when compared to a large format 180° cylindrical projection screen, and on a par with a virtual reality system, despite needing no glasses, headsets, or specialist display hardware to view.