Allison, RobertVinnikov, Margarita2024-11-072024-11-072015-04-282024-11-07https://hdl.handle.net/10315/42537Gaze-contingent displays are applications that are driven by the user's gaze. They are an important tool for many multi-modal and multi-sensory domains. They can be used to precisely control the retinal image in real time to study visual control of natural behaviour through experimentation, or to improve user experience in virtual reality applications. In this dissertation, I explored the application of gaze-contingent display technology to dierent models and senses and evaluate whether such applications can be useful for simulation, psychophysical research and human-computer interaction. Specically, I have looked at the visual gaze-contingent display and an audio gaze-contingent display. I examined the effects of simulated visual defects on user's perception and control of self-motion during locomotion. I found that gaze-contingent display simulations of visual defects signicantly altered visual patterns and impaired the accuracy and precision of judgement of heading. I also examined the impact of simulating gaze-contingent depth-of-field for monocular and stereoscopic displays. The experimental data showed that the alleviation of negative eects associated with stereo displays depends on the user's age and the types of scenes that are viewed. Finally, I simulated gaze-contingent audio displays that imitated the cocktail party effect. My audio enhancement techniques turned to be very benecial for applications that have to deal with user's attention to multiple sources of sounds (speakers) such as teleconferences and social games. Finally, in this dissertation, I demonstrated that gaze-contingent systems can be used in many aspects of virtual system design and if combined together (used for multiple cues and senses) can be a very powerful tool for augmenting and improving the overall user experience.Author owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.Computer scienceCognitive psychologyElectronic Thesis or Dissertation2024-11-07Gaze-contingent DisplaysEye-trackingVisual simulationDepth-of-fieldMulti-modalMulti-sensory interfacesVirtual realityAudioDepthHeadingSteeringCocktail partyAugmenting user experience