Virtual space in spherical perspective

This paper points out that flat images obtained in the framework of systems of classical linear perspective and nonlinear perspective according to B. V. Raushenbakh reproduce the surrounding world in a distorted way. It is sh own that, from the viewpoint of geometry, physiological optics, and the psy chology of visual perception, the requirements of virtualization of three-d imensional space are most fully met by spherical perspective, which forms i mages on a sphere without geometrical, interpositional, and brightness or c olor distortions. A spherical projective transformation is obtained, as wel l as a model of image space for a moveable eye, taking accommodation into a ccount. It is shown that retinal displays have advantages when spherical vi rtual images are constructed. (C) 1999 The Optical Society of America. [S10 70-9762(99)02006-0].