Expression of Interest:Stereoscopic Video Comfort Study

Invitation

You are invited to take part in a research study about the viewing comfort of short stereoscopic 3D videos.

Before deciding whether to participate, please read this information carefully. It explains why the research is being conducted, what you will be asked to do, the possible risks and benefits, and how your information will be handled. Please ask the research team if anything is unclear or if you would like more information.

Taking part is voluntary.

What is the purpose of the study?

This study investigates how different video depth-processing methods affect the comfort and visual quality of stereoscopic video.

Stereoscopic video presents slightly different images to the left and right eyes to create a perception of depth. Different processing methods may produce differences in perceived depth, visual stability, and viewing comfort.

The study will compare short videos produced using different depth-processing settings. The findings may inform the development of 2D-to-3D video-conversion methods for XR and stereoscopic displays; the study does not assume that any method improves comfort.

Why have I been invited?

You have been invited because you are 18 years of age or older, can attend an in-person session, have normal or corrected-to-normal vision, and meet the study's stereoscopic-viewing eligibility requirements.

Approximately 150 participants are expected to be recruited, subject to the approved ethics protocol.

Do I have to participate?

No. Participation is entirely voluntary. Choosing not to participate will not disadvantage you or affect your relationship with Monash University, studies, grades, employment, access to services, or relationship with the research team.

If you agree to participate, you may still stop at any time without giving a reason.

What will I be asked to do?

You will attend one in-person session at a location that is still awaiting approval. During the session, you will:

1. read this Participant Information Sheet and complete a separate Consent Form;
2. complete a short eligibility or viewing check;
3. receive instructions and view practice examples;
4. view pairs of short stereoscopic video clips using AR glasses while a binocular camera captures your hands;
5. choose which clip in each pair is more comfortable to watch;
6. choose “no perceptible difference” or “unable to judge” where available;
7. optionally explain your choice, such as depth being too strong, weak, flat, unstable or pulsing; uncomfortable motion; distortion or other artifacts; or blur; and
8. answer brief questions about viewing comfort before and after the session.

The clips in each pair will show the same source content with the same playback and display settings, but may use different depth-processing methods. Their order and position will be randomised, and you will not be told which method produced each clip.

How long will the study take?

The session will take approximately 15–30 minutes, including instructions and practice, approximately 15–20 video comparisons, scheduled rest breaks, and brief pre-session and post-session questions. You may request additional breaks at any time.

What equipment will be used?

The videos will be shown using one or more of the following devices: RayNeo AR Glasses GT, RayNeo AR Glasses GT Max, RayNeo AR Glasses AIR 4, or an unpublished RayNeo AR Glasses model.

The team will adjust the equipment and explain its use. Unless advised otherwise, use your usual glasses or contact lenses. The approved procedure will specify whether glasses can be worn with each device and whether any device adjustment, seated viewing, head movement, recording, or telemetry is required. No unlisted measurements should be assumed.

Are there any risks or discomforts?

Viewing stereoscopic or 3D content may cause temporary eye strain, tired eyes, headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred or double vision, difficulty focusing, discomfort from strong or unstable depth, or temporary disorientation. Likelihood and severity vary between individuals.

This study concerns short-term perceived viewing comfort. It does not assess long-term fatigue, simulator sickness, or long-term health effects.

What happens if I feel uncomfortable?

Tell the researcher immediately. You may pause the video, take another break, skip a video or comparison, remove the glasses or stop looking at the display, or end the session. You do not need to give a reason. The researcher may also stop the session if continuing appears unsuitable or unsafe.

If symptoms continue, avoid driving or other affected activities until you feel normal. Seek appropriate medical advice if symptoms are severe or do not resolve. These instructions remain subject to supervisor and ethics review for the final approved procedure.

Are there any benefits?

You may receive no direct personal benefit. Your responses may contribute to research on video-depth processing and may inform future stereoscopic video-conversion methods.

Will I be paid or reimbursed?

Compensation or reimbursement arrangements are still awaiting approval. The research team will provide the approved details before you consent to participate.

What information will be collected?

The study may collect your comparison responses, optional reasons, brief comfort reports, a coded participant identifier, session date and display configuration, approved eligibility or vision information, optional demographics listed in the Consent Form or questionnaire, and hand imagery captured by the binocular camera as described in the approved procedure.

Your name and contact details will be used only for recruitment, scheduling, and study administration. Unnecessary sensitive personal information will not be requested.

How will my privacy be protected?

You will be assigned a random 32-character participant code. Your name, email address, and other contact details will be stored separately from your research responses, which will use that code.

While a link between your identity and participant code is retained, the data are coded or pseudonymised, not fully anonymous. Only authorised research-team members will have access to directly identifying information unless disclosure is required by law or institutional oversight.

How will the data be stored?

Research data will be stored on secure Monash University-approved systems, with access limited to authorised research personnel. Contact and scheduling information will be stored separately from research responses.

The proposed retention period is three years, subject to the approved ethics application and research-data plan. After the required period, identifiable information will be securely destroyed or otherwise managed according to applicable Monash University requirements.

How will the information be used?

De-identified or coded data may be used in this project's analysis; an academic report, thesis, or final-year project; conference presentations; journal or conference publications; and evaluation of methods in the approved protocol.

Outputs may include summary statistics, graphs, tables, and de-identified preference labels. Your directly identifying information will not appear in publications or public outputs.

Subject to ethics approval and the approved sharing plan, de-identified preference records and derived metadata may be shared in a research repository for verification and future research. Media that cannot be redistributed will be represented only by a source reference or reconstruction instructions where licences permit.

Will my data be used in future research?

Only with the permission described in the Consent Form, de-identified data may be retained and used in future research related to stereoscopic video, perceptual video quality, XR displays, or human preference modelling. Future use remains subject to applicable ethics, privacy, and data-governance requirements.

Can I withdraw?

You may withdraw before or during the session without giving a reason. You may request removal of information that can still be linked to you by contacting Yunfeng Long or Xingyu Yang.

The final deadline for removing linked information is awaiting ethics approval. Once data have been permanently de-identified, combined with other participants' data, or included in completed analyses, removing individual responses may no longer be possible.

What if new information becomes available?

If new information could affect your willingness or ability to participate, the research team will provide it where appropriate. Procedures affecting participants will not change without the required ethical review and approval.

What happens to the study results?

Results may be reported in a thesis, project report, academic publication, or conference presentation in aggregate or de-identified form. Individual participants will not be named.

You may request a plain-language summary from the research team. It is expected to be available after December 2026.

Who can I contact about the study?

Contact the student researchers Yunfeng Long at ylon0013@student.monash.edu or Xingyu Yang at xyan0147@student.monash.edu. Supervisor contact details will be added after confirmation.

Who can I contact if I have a complaint?

If you have a concern or complaint about this research that you do not wish to discuss with the research team, contact Mr. Wooi King Soo, Unit Coordinator, at Soo.WooiKing@monash.edu.

Please quote the project title, Stereoscopic Video Comfort Study, and the ethics project number once it has been issued.

Ethics approval statement

This document is a draft. Recruitment and study participation must not begin until the required Monash University ethics approval has been obtained. The final approved Participant Information Sheet will include the ethics project number, approved location, compensation arrangements, withdrawal deadline, supervisor contact details, and any required recording or device-specific information.