Disparity modification in stereoscopic images for emotional enhancement

ABSTRACT This paper describes an experiment that focuses on disparity changes in emotional scenes of stereoscopic (3D) images, in which an examination of the effects on pleasant and arousal was carried out by adding binocular disparity to 2D images that evoke specific emotions, and applying disparity modification based on the disparity analysis of prominent 3D movies. From the results of the experiment, it was found that pleasant and arousal was increased by expanding 3D space to a certain level. In addition, pleasant gradually decreased and arousal gradually increased by expansion of 3D space above a certain level. Keywords: stereoscopic images, disparity modi fication, emotion, pleasant, arousal 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years stereoscopic (3D) images have become established worldwide, mainly in the motion picture field. The characteristic of 3D images is that the contents have binocular disparity, and it is necessary to investigate the setting and modification of binocular disparity from the points of view of both viewing safety and comfort. Recently there have been efforts to systematize the methods of production of 3D images by creators [1], and attempts at disparity analysis of prominent 3D images by researchers [2]. It is considered that these efforts are important in terms of clarifying the merits of 3D images and increasing added value. The authors have continuously investigated the question of whether 3D images are more impressive than 2D images. First, using disparity analysis we investigated whether or not there was any 3D dramatic interpretation in emotionally-expressive scenes in prominent 3D movies of the world, in other words whether a characteristic change in binocular disparity could be seen [3]. In this research the characteristic change is referred to as disparity modification. From the results of disparity analysis, a trend in disparity modifica tion was seen in each type of the basic emotions [4]. Next, an experimental investigation into the effect of disparity modification when applied to different images that evoke emotion was carried out [5]. Specifically, using the International Affective Picture System (IAP S) [6], a set of large scale color photographs, the emotional effect (pleasant and arousal) was compared and analyzed for 2D condition on the original images, 3D condition converted by adding binocular disparity based on monocular cues included in each image, and modified 3D (M3D) condition in whic h disparity modification was further adde d for each emotion. From the results it was found that the degree of arousal increased by thM3D conversion and the disparity modification.