2D and 3D representation of objects in architectural and heritage studies: in search of gaze pattern similarities

Abstract

The idea of combining an eye tracker and VR goggles has opened up new research perspectives as far as studying cultural heritage is concerned, but has also made it necessary to reinvestigate the validity of more basic eye-tracking research done using flat stimuli. Our intention was to investigate the extent to which the flattening of stimuli in the 2D experiment affects the obtained results. Therefore an experiment was conducted using an eye tracker connected to virtual reality glasses and 3D stimuli, which were a spherical extension of the 2D stimuli used in the 2018 research done using a stationary eye tracker accompanied by a computer screen. The subject of the research was the so-called tunnel church effect, which stems from the belief that medieval builders deliberately lengthened the naves of their cathedrals to enhance the role of the altar. The study compares eye tracking data obtained from viewing three 3D and three 2D models of the same interior with changed proportions: the number of observers, the number of fixations and their average duration, time of looking at individual zones. Although the participants were allowed to look around freely in the VR, most of them still performed about 70–75% fixation in the area that was presented in the flat stimuli in the previous study. We deemed it particularly important to compare the perception of the areas that had been presented in 2D and that had evoked very much or very little interest: the presbytery, vaults, and floors. The results indicate that, although using VR allows for a more realistic and credible research situation, architects, art historians, archaeologists and conservators can, under certain conditions, continue to apply under-screen eye trackers in their research. The paper points out the consequences of simplifying the research scenario, e.g. a significant change in fixation duration. The analysis of the results shows that the data obtained by means of VR are more regular and homogeneous. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].