How to Mitigate Perceptual Limits of OST Display for Guiding Manual Tasks: a Proof of Concept Study with Microsoft HoloLens

In this paper, we propose a simple solution, based on the use of a magnifier (i.e., a positive lens) placed in front of a commercial optical see-through head-mounted display to mitigate the focus rivalry conflict between the virtual content and the real environment in the peripersonal space. Our ambition is to leverage the profitable use of the current generation of optical see-through headsets for high-precision manual tasks. The results of the preliminary user test suggest that consistent mitigation of the focus rivalry can be achieved, even if further research is needed for the compensation of the motion-parallax and magnification mismatch between virtual content and the image of the real target that is being projected at the display focal distance.

Automated summary

This paper proposes a simple solution to mitigate the focus rivalry conflict between virtual content and the real environment by using a magnifier placed in front of a commercial optical see-through head-mounted display. The preliminary user test suggests that consistent reduction of the focus rivalry can be achieved, although further research is needed to compensate for motion-parallax and magnification mismatch.