Processing image sequences based on eye movements

Abstract

Subjects rated the subjective image quality of video sequences that were processed using gaze- contingent techniques. Gaze-contingent processing was implemented by adaptively varying image quality within each video field such that image quality was maximal in the region most likely to be viewed and was reduced in the periphery. This was accomplished by blurring the image or by introducing quantization artifacts. Results showed that provision of a gaze- contingent, high-resolution region had a modest beneficial effect on perceived image quality, compared to having a high-resolution region that was not gaze-contingent. Given the modest benefits and high cost of implementation, we conclude that gaze-contingent processing is not suitable for general purpose image processing.