Using Virtual Reality to Improve Space and Depth Perception

Abstract

Executive Summary Space perception is not a congenital faculty of human beings, but it evolves during the first few years of life. Experts are of the opinion that depth perception can be improved during the first 15-16 years of life. It is very important to help our up coming generation acquire good space perception as this is essential to be able to perform in a high number of occupations. We have developed virtual reality programs with animations that were used by students to practice space perception tasks and to acquire better space perception. For testing the programs students were screened for their space perception, and then performed paper tests. One group was permitted to practice using the virtual reality programs ; the other used only traditional tutorial methods. A second paper test was then performed. The evaluation of the two tests showed that the possibility of using the virtual reality programs increased the space perception of the students.