This research was conducted to achieve four objectives. The first objective was to develop an analytic model to predict the expected luminance distribution through the shadow mask structure on a color CRT display system. The model incorporates functions to describe the unique features of a color CRT, that is, the discrete sampling imposed by the shadow mask/ phosphor-dot arrangement as well as the electron beam phase relationships. The model also includes a flexible beam profile which allows the user to specify the desired shape of the beam profile, that is, whether the profile is described with a Gaussian, leptokurtic, or platykurtic distribution. This objective was fully satisfied with a computer program written in Lightspeed C which runs efficiently on Macintosh computers. The second objective was to determine detection thresholds for various levels of misconvergence of the three electron guns. When the three guns are properly registered, the luminance profiles converge and one perceives a color combination rather than the separate red, green, and blue luminances. Misconvergence is perceived by a change in the overall color or by color fringes, for example, a red edge to a yellow line. Past research has shown that threshold detection of misconvergence occurs when the primary beams are misconverged by 1 to 2 visual arcminutes of separation. This finding was replicated in this research for the two-color beam combinations which have previously been investigated, as well as for a white pixel, which involves all three guns. The third objective was to demonstrate the effect of misconvergence on the performance of a visual task and on subjective estimates of image quality. While subjective quality and threshold detection have previously been investigated for some color combinations, the three tasks (i.e., threshold detection, visual task performance, and subjective estimates) have not been systematically combined within the same data set for a variety of misconvergence conditions. This research provides such a composite data set. The subjective quality estimates were significantly correlated with the threshold detection data. In other words, as misconvergence of the display image increased, the probability of detection of misconvergence increased and the subjective quality rating decreased. However, the selected visual task (a short reading task with average reading time of 6.5 s) was not significantly affected by very large levels of misconvergence. Rather than conclude that the levels of misconvergence used in this research do not affect reading task performance, a more comprehensive visual task (e.g., a longer editing task, a random search task, or a map reading task) should be evaluated. The final objective was to evaluate the ability of selected image quality metrics which are computed from the model to predict threshold detection, subjective quality ratings, or visual task performance. The three metrics computed in this model (MTF Area, MTFA, and SQRI) are all based upon the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the display. These three computed metrics were for all practical purposes constant across the range of misconvergence. While this result was unexpected, it does suggest (1) that a model based only on luminance may be deficient because of the omission of chromaticity, and (2) that MTF-based metrics may not be an appropriate representation because misconvergence does not change the display’s ability to transmit information, but is a phase shift along the shadow mask. As summarized, this research successfully met three of the stated objectives. Further, it points toward future research opportunities to further this type of modelling effort and to successfully develop image quality metrics for color displays. / Ph. D.

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of color CRT misconvergence and display luminance on reading performance and perceived image quality. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the effects of color CRT misconvergence on reading time and errors, (2) to determine the effects of color CRT misconvergence on subjective ratings of image quality, and (3) to examine the interaction between color CRT misconvergence and display luminance upon reading performance and subjective ratings of image quality. Ten participants performed a Tinker Speed of Reading Test on a shadow-mask, color CRT computer workstation. Both search time to find the out-of-context word and errors were recorded. Following the reading task, each participant rated the image quality of the display using a 9-point subjective scale. Reading performance was not affected by CRT misconvergence or character luminance. Increasing misconvergence did result in lower image quality ratings; however, it was found that participants perceived the more luminous displays to have higher image quality. Also, it was determined that image quality ratings were lowest for magenta misconvergence. However, using normalized ratings, it was found that image quality ratings decreased quickest for the yellow characters with increasing misconvergence. These findings indicate that lower levels of misconvergence (1 to 2.5 arcmin) may not affect reading performance adversely. However, since individuals perceive display quality to be poor at these levels of misconvergence, color CRTs should be used only when application absolutely requires them. / Master of Science

Our information-oriented society relies on the widespread use of color CRT displays. Misconvergence of the primary colors of a shadow-mask CRT is a problem with this technology that deserves human factors engineering consideration. The purpose of this research was as follows: (1) to determine the effects of misconvergence type and amount and font type on reading performance (time required and errors made), (2) to determine the effects of misconvergence type and amount and font type on subjective image quality ratings, (3) to determine the role of luminance and chrominance contrasts in predicting performance or subjective ratings. Ten participants performed a simple reading task and rated the image quality of the text they had just seen using a nine-point scale. The text was presented on a shadow-mask CRT. Different misconvergence types and amounts and different font types were presented. Neither font type, misconvergence type, nor misconvergence amount affected the time required to perform the reading task. Only misconvergence type affected the rate at which errors occurred, with blue misconvergence of a white character resulting in the most errors and cyan misconvergence resulting in the fewest errors. Font type, misconvergence type, misconvergence amount, and the misconvergence type and amount interaction all affected subjective ratings, with 1 to 2 arcmin being the largest acceptable misconvergence amounts. The Yu'v’ chrominance contrast between the stationary misconvergence fringe and the background was positively correlated with subjective preference ratings. / Master of Science

This dissertation examines those attributes of full-color display systems (particularly color matrix displays) which degrade image quality. Based on this analysis, it is suggested that a comprehensive metric should measure image quality in terms of transmitted signal and noise modulation, both achromatic and chromatic. Moreover, it is suggested that these signal and noise measurements be weighted in terms of human spatial-chromatic visual characteristics. A review of extant image quality metrics reveals several limitations of these metrics which make them unsuitable for the evaluation of color matrix displays. These limitations include the inability to account for chromatic modulation transfer and chromatic noise as well as the general inability to account for spatial and grey-scale sampling. This work describes a new methodology for assessing image quality that can be applied to full-color as well as monochromatic, and sampled as well as continuous, display systems. Unlike most display quality metrics, the proposed methodology is not based on the tools of linear systems analysis. Rather, it is based on more veridical models of the human visual system (HVS), including multi-channel models of spatial vision, the zone theory of color vision, physiological models of retinal processes, and models of the optics of the eye. A display evaluation system consisting of the HVS model used in conjunction with a display simulator is described. The HVS model employs nine image processing stages to account for nonlinear retinal processes, opponent color encoding, and multiple spatial frequency channels. A detailed procedure for using the HVS model to evaluate display systems is provided. The validity of the HVS model was tested by conducting contrast detection, discrimination, and magnitude estimation experiments on the model. The results of these experiments correspond closely with published human performance data The utility of the display evaluation system was assessed by making image quality predictions for the display systems used in three image quality studies. Image quality predictions using the proposed system correlate strongly with ratings of image quality provided by human subjects. Results of these validation studies indicate that the proposed method of display evaluation is viable and warrants further development. / Ph. D.

Current interest in three-dimensional (3-D) information displays has focused on the use of field-sequential CRT techniques to present binocular stereoscopic images. Although it is widely believed that stereopsis provides a potent depth information cue, numerous monocular cues exist which may augment, detract from, or even supplant stereopsis. Unfortunately, few guidelines or well-controlled analyses on the use of depth cues are available to direct engineering implementations of stereoscopic display systems. This dissertation describes three experiments using 3-D images presented on a Tektronix SGS 620 field-sequential stereoscopic CRT (19-inch diagonal, 120-Hz field rate, passive glasses). In the first experiment, 10 participants with normal vision judged the relative apparent depth ordering of three simple geometric figures (planar circle, square, and triangle). Four sources of depth information (cue types) were factorially combined to construct exemplary images of planar figures in apparent depth: Relative Size (angular subtense decreased with increasing apparent depth); Disparity (binocular disparity varied from crossed to uncrossed with increasing apparent depth); Interposition (closer figures partially occluded ones farther away in apparent depth); and Luminance (luminance decreased with increasing apparent depth). The three monocular cues (Interposition, Size, and Luminance) produced significantly faster depth judgments when used alone; however, when used in combination, Interposition dominated the response time data trends. Although the Disparity cue received moderately high "perceived effectiveness" ratings, response time measures indicated that it played a minor role in the relative depth judgment task. The second experiment was conducted to investigate further the subjective value of the various depth cues. Participants rated subjective image quality (quality of depth) rather than making rapid relative depth judgements. As anticipated, the most satisfactory ratings of depth were made for display images which included stereoscopic depth (Disparity), with the very highest ratings given to display images which included all four depth cues. The results of these first two experiments illustrated a task-demand (objective vs. subjective) discrepancy in the utility of stereoscopic depth cues. The third experiment extended the initial work to include more geometrically complex stimuli in visual search and cursor positioning tasks. In these task environments, stereoscopic disparity and monocular depth cues had an interactive effect on improving visual search times and reducing cursor positioning errors on the depth axis, with the best performance associated with the presence of all depth cues. The complementary nature of these effects was attenuated when depth cue salience was elevated to suprathreshold levels. Based on the results of this research, recommendations are presented for the display of depth information with the stereoscopic CRT. The importance of this research is underscored by the fact that while technological advances have been made in the field of stereoscopic display, very few usability data exist either from laboratory testing or from the implementation of such displays in operational systems. This research provides information to complete cost/performance benefit analyses for 3-D display designs which could in turn significantly impact industry acceptance of the field-sequential stereoscopic CRT. / Ph. D.

The effects of physical image quality on reading and on perceived image quality from CRT and hard copy were studied in this experiment. The results showed that as the image quality of a display increased, indicated by an increase in the value of the MTFA, the reading speed increased and subjective image quality V; ratings increased. This change in reading speed and perceived image quality occurred in the hard copy as well as in the soft copy condition. Image quality, therefore, is concluded to be the major determinant of subjects' performance with respect to displayed information. This implies that if the image quality the displayed text ls the same on the display techniques used, subjects will read from CRT displays as fast as from hard copy displays. / Master of Science